Video poker is available for free or real money at Betway Casino, but you might have also seen several multihand variants of the game.

Multihand video poker lets you play five hands in one game. With some sensible strategy, you can improve your video poker prospects. Let's take a closer look.

How to play Multihand Video Poker

There are various multihand video poker games available at Betway Casino. Let's take Jacks or Better Power Poker as our example.

Jacks or Better Power Poker is a multihand version of the popular video poker game from Microgaming.

In regular video poker, the aim is to make the best winning 5-card hand possible. In multihand video poker like Jacks or Better 4-Play Power Poker, however, you must try and make five poker hands in a single game.

At the start of a game, you will be dealt one 5-card hand. This is your 'decision hand'. You now have the option of holding any of the cards, or discarding them all.

The held cards will then be replicated across the four video poker hands. After you hit the 'Deal' button, the remaining cards will be dealt. Five poker hands are created, and you will be paid out based on the strength of your hands:

Payouts when playing one coin

Royal Flush - 250 coins

Straight Flush - 50 coins

4 of a Kind - 25 coins

Full House - 9 coins

Flush - 6 coins

Straight - 4 coins

3 of a Kind - 3 coins

Two Pairs - 2 coins

Pair of Jacks or Better - 1 coin

For example, let's say we get dealt K-3-7-7-A. We decide to hold the sevens. These are replicated across the other four hands and the cards are re-dealt.

Our final hands are as follows:

4-7-7-3-7

4-8-7-Q-7

8-J-7-2-7

7-K-7-9-7

We have made three of a kind twice and receive 6 coins (2 x 3 coins).

In Jacks or Better Power Poker, you also have the option to double your winnings or collect your cash. One card will be flipped over. Simply select one of four cards you think is higher than the one displayed.

Advantages and disadvantages of multi-hand video poker

In regular video poker, you can only bet on one hand at a time. If you miss out on a straight or flush, it can really affect your bankroll.

That's why multihand video poker is so advantageous. If you decision hand has good starting cards, you can replicate them across four more hands. This gives you four times as many chances to win big.

All players need to watch their bankrolls when playing multihand video poker. On every hand you are betting four times your bet - one bet for each hand. If you go on a losing streak, that can really affect your profits.

Top three multihand video poker tips

With so many hands in play, multihand video poker requires a little more strategy than regular video poker games online.

Let's take a closer look at three basic tips you should be employing.

1. Select the maximum number of coins

In single hand video poker, players have the option to increase the number of coins. The jackpots also increase.

The same applies to multihand poker. If you select the maximum number of coins (5) you will be eligible for a bigger Royal Flush jackpot worth 4,000 coins.

2. Adjust your starting bets

While selecting the maximum coins gives you access to a bigger jackpot, the real strategy comes in managing your bankroll.

Because you are betting four hands per game, you need to lower your regular stakes. For example, if you bet 5% of your bankroll per hand in single-hand video poker, consider dropping down to 1.25% per hand in multihand video poker.

The variance also changed when you switch to multihand video poker. A winning hand can be lucrative, but a downswing can be damaging.

3. Hold the right starting cards

In multihand video poker, you are playing four hands a game, not one. Therefore, holding the right starting cards is essential.

In Jacks or Better 4-Play Power Poker, use the same strategy you would if playing the single-hand variation.

So, hold your straight draws, flush draws and straight flush draws to maximise your chances of hitting a big payout.

You can also hold a high card like a king or ace if your other cards are terrible. This gives you a chance of making a winning pair in your four other hands.

Because you only get paid a minimum prize for a pair of jacks, don't hold any low or medium pairs. The best you can hope for is hitting a three of a kind, and you will need at least two to return a profit.

Try multihand video poker for free at Betway Casino

Multihand video poker offers players the chances of hitting four winning hands at once. And with some sensible hand selection, you can turn your sessions into a successful one.

Test out Betway Casino's video poker lobby today. There are 20 variants to try from, including big-action multihand varieties like Jacks or Better 4 Play Power Poker. Test them out for free today.