How To Play Video Poker: Strategies For Jacks Or Better

If you wander through the endless rows of flashing slot machines, you will eventually find a quieter section dedicated to Video Poker.


Video Poker is one of the few games on the casino floor where your decisions mathematically impact the outcome of the hand.


Because skill is involved, the casino must offer significantly better odds; a skilled player can often reduce the house edge to under 0.5%.


If you want to master Video Poker, you must start by learning the rules and strategies for the classic "Jacks or Better" variant.


We will guide you through the process of turning from a casual button-masher into a strategic Video Poker player.

The Mechanics of a Video Poker Hand

The goal is simply to create the best possible five-card poker hand according to standard poker hand rankings.


Once you hit the "Deal" button, the machine randomly deals you five playing cards from a standard 52-card deck.


You have the option to "Hold" any number of cards, from zero up to all five, by pressing the buttons below them.


This final five-card hand is then compared to the machine's paytable.


The stronger your poker hand (Two Pair, Flush, Full House, Royal Flush), the exponentially larger your final payout will be.

Why You Must Play 5 Coins Per Hand

Before discussing complex card strategies, there is one absolute, non-negotiable rule you must follow when playing Video Poker.


However, the payout for the ultimate hand, the Royal Flush, breaks this linear scaling dramatically on the 5th coin.


If you bet 1 coin, a Royal Flush typically pays 250 coins. If you bet 4 coins, it pays 1,000 coins.


If you play less than max coins, the house edge is significantly higher, effectively penalizing you for playing cautiously.


Missing a 4,000-coin Royal Flush payout because you only bet one coin is the most painful experience in the casino.

Basic Strategy: What to Hold and What to Fold

Because the machine uses a standard 52-card deck, the probabilities of hitting specific hands are perfectly calculable.


For instance, if you are dealt a Low Pair and four cards to a Flush, the chart tells you which option yields the highest expected value.


Holding the high card drastically reduces your chances of drawing Three of a Kind or Four of a Kind, mathematically ruining your expected value.


Another common dilemma is deciding between a guaranteed winning hand and drawing for a massive jackpot.


Conversely, if you have a guaranteed straight or flush, you almost never break it to chase a single-card draw, unless it is for the Royal.

What to Hold (From Best to Worst)

Top Priority: Always hold Dealt Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, or Straight. (Never break these guaranteed massive wins).
The Chase: 4 to a Royal Flush is mathematically more valuable than a guaranteed High Pair.
Priority 3: Three of a kind, Straight, Flush, High Pair (Jacks or better).
Priority 4: 4 cards to a Straight Flush, or a Low Pair (10s or lower).
Tier 5: Four to a Flush. A strong drawing hand that hits frequently.
Tier 6: Outside Straight draws. Do not draw to "inside" straights (where you need one specific middle card).

The "Full Pay" Paytable Explained

Hand Ranking5-Coin PayoutThe 9/6 Identifier
Straight Flush250 CoinsA rare but highly lucrative hand.
Straight20 CoinsStandard payout across most Jacks or Better variants.
Three of a Kind15 CoinsA frequent hand that keeps your session alive.


Not all Jacks or Better machines are created equal; casinos quietly lower the payouts on specific hands to increase their edge.


You are looking for a "9/6" machine, which means it pays 9 coins for a Full House and 6 coins for a Flush (on a 1-coin bet).


Never play an 8/5 or lower machine if a 9/6 machine is available in the same casino.


Master the strategy, hit the Max Bet button, and enjoy the intellectual thrill of beating the casino at its own game.