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:

Hand
1 Credits
2 Credits
3 Credits
4 Credits
5 Credits
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.

Poker Hand Rangkings
Royal Flush
Royal Flush
Straight flush running from ten to ace, all the same suit
Straight Flush
Straight Flush
Five consecutive cards of the same suit
Four of Kind
Four of Kind
Four cards of the same rank
Full House
Full House
Three cards of one rank plus two cards of another rank
Flush
Flush
Any five cards of the same suit
Straight
Straight
Five consecutive cards of different suits
Three of Kind
Three of Kind
Three cards of the same rank
Two Pair
Two Pair
Two cards of one rank plus two cards of another rank
One Pair
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.

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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.

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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.