Over Poker – Cryptologic New Video Poker Format

About couple of years ago, Microgaming had launched a new video poke format called Level Up Video Poker. Even though this format had elicited interest initially amongst players, thanks to the excitement of wagering by providing four hands with doubled payouts each time, as there was nothing in the game that required complex skill or strategy, the initial thrill slowly fizzled out as déjà vu set in the video poker players.

Now, Cryptologic seems to have climbed this barrier. A week ago, they had released a video poker variety called Over Poker that should make online video poker players think more than they are used to. In Cryptologic’s own text, “Over Poker is an exciting, patented video poker-style game that gives you more control over the cards and the hands you play.”

The players are expected to do nothing different than usual in Over Poker. They must try to get the highest hand possible. The hand rankings are also the same as in traditional poker hands. The payouts are shown on the pay table. Even though the payouts start from Jacks or better, the amounts are lesser than in the standard Jacks/Better payout table. But this is done to offset the advantage that players gain from the mechanics of the game.

The game has levels. But players should not confuse it with that of Level Up Poker. In other words, in Over Poker, one can have cards at higher levels sans completing the lower level game. Two cards are dealt upfront in the lowest level, following which cards are dealt one at a time. For each new card being dealt (not replacement cards), players have to exercise one of three options – Hold, Discard or Shift. Shift moves the card to a higher level. One could move the card upwards, but for each level they start, they have to place a new wager identical to their original one. Ultimately, players need to complete games at each level.

The new game also lets players choose one from the three skins army, factory and wooden.