Home >
Online Casinos >
Casino Games > Video Poker
Video Poker Rules and Strategy
Video poker is played the same way as five card poker, but there
are no opponents to bet against. Instead of competing against other
players, your goal in video poker is simply to get the best five
card hand possible. Payouts are based on the strength of your hand.
Even though you are not required to outplay any opponents, video
poker still involves a bit of strategy. Your main focus will be
determining which cards should be held or discarded to give you the
best chance of the highest payout. The amount you bet is also a
factor, as payout rates vary based on the number of credits wagered.
Video Poker Rules
There are several variations of video poker, but they all follow
the same basic set of rules.
Players start by inserting one or more
credits into the machine of their choice. The payout rates are
predetermined and dependent on the number of credits bet. Playing
with more credits is more expensive, but also raises the payouts.
Once the bet is placed, the machine deals five cards at random.
There is one round of discarding where you can hold as many cards as
you like and discard the rest. You will then be dealt new cards to
replace the ones that were discarded.
Your five cards after the drawing new cards is your final hand.
Every game has a specific pay table that determines how much will be
paid out based on the strength of your five card poker hand. The
most common version of video poker at casinos and online gambling sites
is Jacks or Better, and the pay table usually looks like this:
Royal Flush
250
500
750
1000
4000
Straight Flush
50
100
150
200
250
Four of Kind
25
50
75
100
125
Full House
9
18
27
36
45
Flush
6
12
18
24
30
Straight
4
8
12
16
20
Three of Kind
3
6
9
12
15
Two Pair
2
4
6
8
10
One Pair
1
2
3
4
5
As the name implies, the casino only pays out for a pair of jacks
or higher in this version of video poker. Players who have a pair of
tens or lower will not win any money. This is important to keep in
mind when deciding which cards to hold or discard, and is the basis
for Jack or Better video poker strategy.
Poker Hand Hierarchy
No matter what version of video poker you play, the possible
hands do not change. The table below provides a description of five
card poker hands with an example of each one. The hands are listed
from best to worst.
Royal Flush
Straight flush running from ten to ace, all the same suit
Straight Flush
Five consecutive cards of the same suit
Four of Kind
Four cards of the same rank
Full House
Three cards of one rank plus two cards of another rank
Flush
Any five cards of the same suit
Straight
Five consecutive cards of different suits
Three of Kind
Three cards of the same rank
Two Pair
Two cards of one rank plus two cards of another rank
One Pair
Two cards of the same rank
Video Poker Strategy
Strategy in video poker focuses on which cards to keep and which
to discard. Video poker strategy
can seem a little complicated at first, but once you learn the basic
principles it is relatively straightforward.
The optimal strategy varies based on which version of video poker
you play, so we will stick with the most popular version Jacks or
Better.
Jacks or Better Strategy
A major one is the peace of mind they offer. Each one is properly
licensed and regulated; they are subject to a strict code of conduct
and are liable for financial penalties, or even criminal punishment,
if they do not adhere to the necessary standards.
If you would like to read more about how the United Kingdom
regulates online gambling, make sure to read our full article on
their laws and
regulation. The article goes into detail about both the Gambling
Act of 2005 and 2014.
The discarding strategy for Jacks or Better poker involves
looking at your initial five card hand to see if you have been dealt
any of the following. You should progress through this list from top
to bottom. If you do not have the first item, move to the next. If
you progress through all 15 and do not have any, discard all five
cards. Keep the following:
1.Always keep a straight flush (including royal flush) or four
of a kind
2. 4 cards toward making a royal flush
3. Full house, flush, straight, three of a kind
4. 4 cards toward making a straight flush
5. Any two pair
6. Any pair, jacks or higher
7. 3 cards toward making a royal flush
8. 4 cards toward making a flush
9. Any pair, 10's or lower
10. 4 cards toward making an open ended straight
11. 2 suited cards, jack or higher
12. 3 cards toward making a straight flush
13. 2 cards jack or higher, unsuited (keep the lowest two if you
have more than two)
14. Suited 10 + J, Q, or K
15. Any single jack or higher card
Draw five new cards if you are not dealt any of the above.
Following the list above will give you the best chance of winning
in Jacks or Better video poker. The list is based on mathematically
calculated probabilities and is the same for both land based
machines and those played at online casino gambling sites.
Universal Strategy
While your choices during the game ultimately affect the outcome,
there are some important factors to consider before you even start.
First off, not all video poker machines pay out the same. The best
video poker machine is the one with the highest payouts, so you
should compare the payout rates for various hands.
If you play live video poker, finding the best machine is as easy
as taking a lap around the casino. On the other hand, payouts in
online video poker vary from site to site so it is important to
compare gambling sites before diving in. Fortunately, we have done
the work for you and indentified the
best video poker sites
on the internet.
When looking at video poker payouts you likely noticed the 5
credit payout for a royal flush. This is not just an incremental
increase, but a large payout that actually eliminates the house edge
and gives players a slight advantage. While royal flushes are
extremely rare, this does make it most cost-effective to play
with five credits if you can afford the expense.
Additional Casino Games
Online casinos offer hundreds of games and each one comes with
its own set of rules and unique strategy. Learn how to play many
popular gambling games
and find helpful game strategy through the links below.