Playing tips for Video Poker

Progressive games offer the best value because they give you the opportunity to win a larger jackpot than flat top games.

The overall return for a game is usually expressed as a percentage. With some games it is possible to get a return of over 100 per cent if they are played over a long term. Look for a game that has already accumulated a large jackpot. In order to win the jackpot around 45 hours of fast play is required. This requires a bankroll of several thousand coins. If a large jackpot has already accumulated it will be possible to win it in a shorter time.

Always play the maximum possible stake as a smaller bet pays out lower odds. The maximum possible bet it usually five coins. A jackpot with five coins inserted pays on average 4000 coins. With only one coin inserted it pays around 250.

Learn the playing strategy for video poker. This differs from traditional five-card draw because with video poker there is no bluffing involved. Strategies like keeping a kicker to a pair are not correct for video poker.

Master jacks or better before graduating to other games. Jacks or better is the simplest game to learn.

Make sure the strategy you use is the correct one for the game you are playing. Games with wildcards like deuces and joker wild are more complex and require a different strategy to jacks or better.

Play slowly and carefully while you are learning. Hands like straights are not always immediately obvious, as the cards will rarely be displayed in the correct ascending or descending order. Don’t forget that in a straight an ace can be used as a high or a low card.

 

Basic strategy for jacks or better
Here is a simple strategy for jacks or better that is suitable for beginners:

1 Hold any hand of a straight or over in the ranking.
2 If four cards to a royal flush are held draw one (including to a winning flush).
3 Four cards to a straight flush or a flush – draw one.
4 Three of a kind – draw two.
5 Two pair – draw one.
6 Pair – draw three.
7 Three card royal flush – draw two.
8 Four card straight – draw one.
9 Three card straight flush – draw two.
10 Two high cards J, Q, K, A – draw three.
11 Three high cards (jack and over) – hold two of the same suit. If different suits, hold the two lowest high cards.
12 Four card straight – draw one.
13 High card – draw four.
14 Nothing – draw five.

 

Deuces wild strategy
The strategy depends on how many deuces are held:

Four deuces – draw no cards.
Three deuces – if no royal flush or five of a kind – draw two.
Two deuces: with four of a kind or better do not draw; with four cards to a royal flush – draw one; other hands – hold the deuces and draw three.
No deuces: hold any royal flush, straight or flush.
Four cards to a royal straight, straight or flush – draw one.
Four of a kind – draw one.
Three of a kind – draw two.
One pair – draw three.
Three cards to a straight flush – draw two.
Same suited high cards 10, J, Q, K – hold two.
Nothing – draw five.

 

Kings or better joker wild strategy
The strategy depends on whether or not you hold a joker.

Joker held
Hold hands that are three of a kind or higher.
Hold four cards to a royal flush.
Hold any four-card straight flush and a four-card flush if it includes K or A or both.
Hold three cards to a royal flush.
Hold a paying pair of high cards (king, ace).
Hold any three cards to a straight flush.
Hold any four-card flush without king or ace.
Hold consecutive four-card straights.
If none of these, hold the joker.
 
No joker held
Hold all paying hands.
Hold a four-card royal flush.
Hold any four cards to a straight flush and any three cards to a royal flush.
Hold four cards to any flush.
Hold any pair of twos to queens.
Hold any three cards to a straight flush.
Hold any four-card consecutive straight.
Hold two cards to a royal flush if one of the cards is a ace or king.
Hold unsuited king and ace.
Hold king or ace alone.
Hold two suited royal flush cards lower than king or ace.
If none of these, draw five.