Video Poker Strategy: Play Like a Pro
Master video poker with optimal strategy charts, understand pay tables, and learn which hands to hold for maximum returns. Complete guide for beginners.
Video poker is one of the few casino games where skill significantly impacts your results. With perfect strategy, some variants offer over 99% RTP—better than almost any other casino game. Here's how to play optimally.
How Video Poker Works
Video poker combines the hand rankings of poker with the simplicity of slot machines:
- Place your bet (1-5 coins)
- Receive 5 cards
- Choose which cards to hold
- Discarded cards are replaced
- Final hand determines payout
Hand Rankings and Payouts
Standard Jacks or Better pay table:
| Hand | 1 Coin | 5 Coins | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 250 | 4,000 | 0.0025% |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 250 | 0.011% |
| Four of a Kind | 25 | 125 | 0.24% |
| Full House | 9 | 45 | 1.15% |
| Flush | 6 | 30 | 1.10% |
| Straight | 4 | 20 | 1.12% |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 15 | 7.45% |
| Two Pair | 2 | 10 | 12.9% |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 5 | 21.5% |
Basic Strategy Rules
Follow this priority list when deciding what to hold:
1. Never Break a Winning Hand
- Keep any made hand (pair of Jacks+, two pair, etc.)
- Exception: Break a low pair for 4 to a Royal Flush
2. Four-Card Draws
- Always draw to 4 cards of a Royal Flush
- Draw to 4 cards of a Straight Flush
- Draw to 4 cards of a Flush
- Draw to 4 cards of an outside Straight
3. High Cards
- Keep any pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces
- Keep 2-3 high cards (J, Q, K, A) if unsuited
- Keep suited high cards for Royal potential
4. Low Pairs
- Keep low pairs (2-10) over single high cards
- A low pair has 29% chance to improve vs 24% for two high cards
Strategy Chart: Jacks or Better
When dealt your initial hand, hold these (in order of priority):
- Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind
- 4 to a Royal Flush
- Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind
- 4 to a Straight Flush
- Two Pair
- High Pair (Jacks or better)
- 3 to a Royal Flush
- 4 to a Flush
- Low Pair (2s-10s)
- 4 to an Outside Straight
- 2 Suited High Cards
- 3 to a Straight Flush
- 2 Unsuited High Cards (keep lowest 2)
- Suited 10/J, 10/Q, or 10/K
- 1 High Card
- Discard everything
Understanding Pay Tables
Not all video poker is created equal. Compare these "Jacks or Better" pay tables:
| Type | Full House | Flush | RTP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/6 (Full Pay) | 9 | 6 | 99.54% |
| 8/5 | 8 | 5 | 97.30% |
| 7/5 | 7 | 5 | 96.15% |
| 6/5 | 6 | 5 | 95.00% |
Variants to Try
- Deuces Wild: All 2s are wild. Different strategy, can exceed 100% RTP with perfect play
- Bonus Poker: Higher payouts for four-of-a-kind hands
- Double Bonus: Even higher quad payouts, lower full house/flush
Bankroll Management
Video poker requires adequate bankroll due to variance:
| Session Length | Recommended Bankroll |
|---|---|
| 1 hour (~300 hands) | 200x base bet |
| 2 hours (~600 hands) | 350x base bet |
| Extended session | 500x+ base bet |
Practice Makes Perfect
Video poker rewards study and practice:
- Use strategy cards until decisions become automatic
- Start with Jacks or Better—it's the foundation
- Learn one variant well before moving to others
- Review your sessions—look for mistakes
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