Poker Pursuit is a table game available at Microgaming online casinos. Being based on casino poker, it is listed under “Other” in the “More Tables” category of the games menu. However, Poker Pursuit is different from many casino poker games because there is no dealer involved. The player’s final hand is compared directly with a payout table, which is displayed on the top half of the screen. The payout table begins with tens or better and moves up following the normal poker hand rankings. The payouts for one coin are as follows: tens or better 2; two pairs 3; three of a kind 4; straight 6; flush 9; full house 12; four of a kind; straight flush 200 and royal flush 1,000. The payouts for two coins and three coins wagered are exactly double and triple of the one coin payouts respectively.

The unique feature about Microgaming Poker Pursuit is that the player is constrained to start the game with only one coin wagered. The player can however choose the coin denomination from the options available, which are 0.50, 1, 2, 5 and 10. When the player clicks the Deal button three cards are dealt to the player in the main playing area in the bottom half of the screen. After seeing these three cards the player can either Raise or Call. Raising requires a second coin to be wagered. In the Call option the Microgaming Poker Pursuit game progresses without any additional bet. The fourth card is dealt to the player. Again the player has to select from the same two options. If the players raises both times he will end up with three coins wagered, if he raises once and calls once he will have wagered two coins and if he calls both times his stake will be the original one coin. After the final choice, the last card is dealt and the final hand is compared with the payout table. The payouts are made in accordance with the hand ranking and number of coins wagered.

Microgaming Poker Pursuit has to be played with an extremely conservative strategy. Aggressive players who disregard optimum strategy will end up losing more often. Generally players should raise only if they already have a winning combination in the cards dealt. Therefore after three cards the player should raise only if he has tens or better pair or any three of a kind. Otherwise he should call. After four cards the player should raise if he has tens or better pair, any three of a kind, any two pairs or any four of a kind. Here the optimum strategy makes an exception to the general rule. Keeping in mind the larger payouts involved the player should also raise with four cards to a flush or four cards to a straight. In all other cases the player should call.

New players who are not comfortable with taking the strategy decisions on their own can play Microgaming Poker Pursuit in the Expert Mode. This mode offers an Auto Play option in which the players can wager on up to 500 deals without manual intervention. The Auto Play uses optimum strategy. If players set the speed to Slow they will understand the strategy employed during the Auto Play. Poker Pursuit is live at all Microgaming online casinos such as 32Red, Platinum Play, Spin Palace and All Slots.