The following chart shows the Simplified Playing Strategy for all versions of Jacks of Better video poker. While this playing strategy was developed for short-term play, you may use it for long-term play as well giving up only a few hundreds of a percent of potential return.
Have you been having a tough time learning how to play video poker? Don't feel bad! Everybody has to start somewhere. Learning how to play video poker doesn't have to be an overwhelming experience. We've broken down the process of playing this game variation into baby steps. If you're ready to learn how to play, keep reading!
- How to Play Video Poker. How to play video poker is easy because it incorporates both slots and poker. Similar to slots, players place a bet amount and then start the game. Players are up against a random generator which is technically the dealer. There are five cards dealt and the aim is to have the best hand of five cards.
- Structured to play as stud poker variants, video poker games should be played with the proper strategy in order to maximize one's chances of winning. Video poker payout odds can be different depending on the game, but a Jacks or Better game played with a perfect strategy can give the player a 99.54 percent return on their money.
- You can improve your odds of winning every video poker hand you play by using the steps on this page. It starts with using the right machine, like a Jacks or Better machine, and includes using a strategy chart. Find and use promotions as often as possible, use a 5 coin wager, and keep playing. Your first video poker win is at hand.
Key Terms
There are a few key terms that will come up repeatedly in this video poker guide. We recommend memorizing them, as this will make your learning experience much smoother. Use the short list below or the casino terms glossary on Bob Casino:
- Paytable. A video poker paytable lists the payout for every hand combination.
- Payback. This figure expresses the long-term return of wagers to players if a perfect game is played. Typically, video poker machines have a higher payout than slot machines. Most video poker games have payback percentages greater than 95%.
- House/Player Edge. The edge is the advantage that the casino has over the player (or vice versa).
- Volatility/Variance. Volatility refers to the gains and losses of your bankroll. It focuses on the general pattern. On the other hand, variance puts the ups and downs into mathematical terms.
Step 1: Choose Your Bankroll
How big of a bankroll do you need? Many players are familiar with the rule that you should have 3x-4x the amount you would win when you hit a royal flush. Let's say you are playing a 25 cent Jacks or Better standard game, in which a royal flush pays out 4,000 credits ($1,000). In this case, you would want 3x – 4x that amount in your bankroll ($3,000 — $4,000).
No deposit required casino bonus. Does this sound like too much? The good thing is that this rule applies to your long-term bankroll, not sessions. Long term video poker bankrolls are geared towards players who spend 2-3 days per month playing at the casino. It's necessary for the bankroll to be this large in order to tide these players through losing streaks, which will inevitably occur. On the other hand, if you aren't a regular player, you don't need to have nearly as large a bankroll. People who play irregularly just need to bring a session bankroll.
Step 2: Pick a Machine
When you are still getting the hang of video poker, don't just sit down at any machine. Make sure to check out the game's paytable first and check out how hands pay out. This can help you calculate the probability and return for each hand, based on optimal strategy.
How To Win Playing Video Poker Player
If you want to play an easy game, we recommend Jacks or Better. The proper strategy for this variant is pretty easy to learn, and there aren't any wild cards or bonus payouts to keep track of. If you want more of an exciting experience, then Deuces Wild and Joker Poker are the best video poker machines to play, because wild cards become a thrilling factor. For a profitable experience, try out games that have the best video poker odds.
Progressive machines are another category to keep in mind. These games offer huge jackpots when you hit a royal flush. A portion of each bet you make contributes to the ever-growing jackpot. Once a lucky player gets a royal flush, they receive the entire prize pool, which then reverts back to a pre-determined base size. Typically, progressive video poker machines have low payback percentages. However, having the chance to win so much money can be quite exciting!
Step 3: Add Credits to the Machine
In the past, the only way that gamblers could add credits to a machine was to insert the correct denomination of coins into the machine's coin slot. Today, however, most poker machines will allow you to insert nearly any denomination of currency, such as $1 — $100 bills. You can also insert vouchers printed out from other machines in the casino.
If you know that you are going to be playing multiple hands of video poker, we would recommend inserting a larger denomination of currency. This will let you keep playing without having to break your flow of concentration.
Step 4: Choose the Denomination and Game
Most modern video poker games are multi-denominational. After inserting bills, credits, or a voucher, choose the denomination that you would like to play with (25 cents, $1, $5, and so on). If it is a multi-game machine, you will also need to select the variant of video poker you would like to play.
Step 5: Begin Playing
Most video poker machines have touch screens, so you can choose to either push the game's physical buttons or tap the screen. Typically, using the buttons allows for a faster and more accurate experience. To start playing, press the 'Play Max Credits' button. While there is also an option to bet one credit, we recommend betting the max, as this may give you better payouts. In some games, increasing your bet from 4 to 5 coins will double your Royal Flush payout. After your first hand, you can simply press the Deal/Draw button, as this will replicate your original bet.
After pressing the Play Max Credits button, you'll be dealt your initial hand (or hands, if you are playing a multi-hand game). Press the Hold button located under each card that you want to hold or touch the card on the screen. If you choose to hold a card by mistake, simply press the same button a second time. This will cancel out the hold. To play the cards that you selected, press the Deal/Draw button again. The cards you didn't select will be replaced. If the hand wins, credits will be added to your machine. Now, simply repeat the process until you are finished!
Occasionally, a gaming machine will enable 'Double Up' bets. If you choose to do this, you have the chance to double your win. However, you also run the risk of losing it all.
Step 6: Cash Out
Once you are ready to finish playing video poker, press the Cash Out button and collect the voucher that the machine prints out.
Where to Play Video Poker
You can play video poker at a huge number of casinos across the world. But what if you don't want to travel to a physical casino? What if you prefer playing from the comfort of your own home? If this sounds like you, come sign up for an account at Bob Casino! We have many kinds of online video poker, suitable for newbies and experienced players alike. Signing up for an account is quick and easy. You can start playing online poker in just a few minutes! Come test out your newfound knowledge at Bob Casino today.
Related posts:
Video poker is 1 of the best alternatives the casino offers for slot machine players. Slot machines usually have a high house edge and when you combine this with the ability to play hundreds of spins every hour it drains your bankroll quickly.
You can play almost as many hands every hour playing video poker, but the house edge is much lower than slot machines.
Here's a quick step by step guide on how to win your first video poker wager, and how to keep playing with the best chance to win.
1 – Play on a Jacks or Better Video Poker Machine
This step isn't 100% required, but when you consider everything about trying to win your first video poker wager, a Jacks or Better machine is your best option. Other options that aren't too bad include Deuces Wild and Pick'em Poker machines.
The reasons why Jacks or Better is your best option are because the machines are popular so they're easy to find, they're simple to understand and play, and it's easy to find a strategy chart for the game.
Just finding a Jacks or Better video poker machine isn't quite good enough. You need to find a particular Jack or Better machine.
Video poker machines have pay tables that list how much each paying hand is worth. The pay table doesn't change your odds of winning your first wager, but it does dictate the house edge. The house edge is important because it dictates how much the casino makes and how much you lose every time you play.
How To Win Playing Video Poker
The Jacks or Better machine you need to find is 1 that pays 6 coins for a flush and 9 coins for a full house. This pay table gives you the best chance to win and provides the lowest house edge when you use strategy.
You're going to learn more about Jacks or Better strategy in the next section.
2 – Get a Strategy Chart
Jacks or Better uses playing cards, just like other video poker machines. Because it uses playing cards, it's easy to determine the best way to play every hand.
Some of the hands you start with are easy to play, and others are a little more difficult. For example, if you have 2 pair, like a pair of 7's and a pair of 9's, it's easy to see that you should keep them and draw for a full house.
If you wanted to take the time to do it, you could work out all of the possibilities for every hand you can start with to determine the most profitable long term play. But the good news is that you don't have to waste your time doing this.
You can simply use a strategy chart for Jacks or Better that someone else has already worked out.
A strategy chart has been developed using the odds and probabilities of improving each hand in combination with the amount you can win for each paying hand. When these 2 things are combined, the most profitable long term play can be determined.
Every decision you make when you play Jacks or Better creates an expected long term average value. A strategy chart simply shows you which decisions offer the best long term value. Every time you make a decision that doesn't agree with the strategy chart it cost you money.
This is why you need to always use a strategy chart.
3 – Find a Promotion
The odds in Jacks or Better video poker show that you're going to win your first video poker wager soon after you start playing. You might win your first hand, but even f you don't you're going to win 1 of your first few hands.
How To Win Poker Hands
You're going to learn more about this in the last section on this page, but there's something you can do to improve your chances other than use a strategy chart. And this is something that most video poker players either don't know about or ignore.
Casinos use promotions to get players in the door. Online casinos use bonuses and sometimes free spins. Land based casinos use free spins and things like coupons or free play vouchers.
The list of possible promotions is long and varies from casino to casino and the promotions change over time. For this reason I can't tell you what specific promotions to look for, but I can tell you to look for promotions before you play video poker.
If you can find a free play promotion of some sort it's the best way to get started. But even if you can't find a free play promotion you can probably get a bonus of some sort to play video poker with.
4 – Use the 5 Coin Setting
The truth is that the odds of winning your first video poker wager, or any video poker wager, don't change with the number of coins you use. But you still need to use 5 coins every time you play real money video poker.
The reason why this is important is because most video poker machines, including Jacks or Better, give you a bonus on certain hands when you risk 5 coins instead or 4 or fewer coins.
This might not seem like it's important because the hands that have a bonus aren't hit often. In Jacks or Better you get a bonus when you hit a straight flush. But this extra bonus helps make up for previous losses the few times you do hit it.
In other words, the reason why you risk 5 coins every time you play is because it reduces the long term edge of the machine. If you don't like to risk as much, look for a machine with a lower per coin amount. Look for a Jacks or Better machine with a nickel or quarter coin amount to get started.
5 – It's Just a Matter of Time
No matter what you do, you're just a few hands away from winning your first video poker hand. You might not win the first hand you play, but if you keep playing you're going to win a hand soon. As long as you're using your strategy chart like the 1 I linked to earlier, you're going to win a lot of hands.
I'm not going to dive too deep into the odds and math, but I'm going to give you some basic math about Jacks or Better video poker.
You know that the game uses a deck of cards and what cards are in the deck. You also know that any hand that includes a pair of jacks or better is a winning hand. Here are some basic numbers using this information.
The deck has 4 jacks, 4 queens, 4 kings, and 4 aces. This means that the very first card you receive in your starting hand is going to be a jack or higher happens 16 out of 52 times. And the odds of the second card matching the first card are 3 out of 51 times.
This continues with the odds of the third card matching the first card being 3 out of 50, and the fourth card matching 3 out of 49, and the fifth card matching being 3 out of 48.
This might not seem like good odds, but let's say the first card is a jack and the second card is a queen. The odds of the third card being a jack or a queen are 6 out of 50.
The point is that all of these odds stack up to help you win hands.
Occasionally, a gaming machine will enable 'Double Up' bets. If you choose to do this, you have the chance to double your win. However, you also run the risk of losing it all.
Step 6: Cash Out
Once you are ready to finish playing video poker, press the Cash Out button and collect the voucher that the machine prints out.
Where to Play Video Poker
You can play video poker at a huge number of casinos across the world. But what if you don't want to travel to a physical casino? What if you prefer playing from the comfort of your own home? If this sounds like you, come sign up for an account at Bob Casino! We have many kinds of online video poker, suitable for newbies and experienced players alike. Signing up for an account is quick and easy. You can start playing online poker in just a few minutes! Come test out your newfound knowledge at Bob Casino today.
Related posts:
Video poker is 1 of the best alternatives the casino offers for slot machine players. Slot machines usually have a high house edge and when you combine this with the ability to play hundreds of spins every hour it drains your bankroll quickly.
You can play almost as many hands every hour playing video poker, but the house edge is much lower than slot machines.
Here's a quick step by step guide on how to win your first video poker wager, and how to keep playing with the best chance to win.
1 – Play on a Jacks or Better Video Poker Machine
This step isn't 100% required, but when you consider everything about trying to win your first video poker wager, a Jacks or Better machine is your best option. Other options that aren't too bad include Deuces Wild and Pick'em Poker machines.
The reasons why Jacks or Better is your best option are because the machines are popular so they're easy to find, they're simple to understand and play, and it's easy to find a strategy chart for the game.
Just finding a Jacks or Better video poker machine isn't quite good enough. You need to find a particular Jack or Better machine.
Video poker machines have pay tables that list how much each paying hand is worth. The pay table doesn't change your odds of winning your first wager, but it does dictate the house edge. The house edge is important because it dictates how much the casino makes and how much you lose every time you play.
How To Win Playing Video Poker
The Jacks or Better machine you need to find is 1 that pays 6 coins for a flush and 9 coins for a full house. This pay table gives you the best chance to win and provides the lowest house edge when you use strategy.
You're going to learn more about Jacks or Better strategy in the next section.
2 – Get a Strategy Chart
Jacks or Better uses playing cards, just like other video poker machines. Because it uses playing cards, it's easy to determine the best way to play every hand.
Some of the hands you start with are easy to play, and others are a little more difficult. For example, if you have 2 pair, like a pair of 7's and a pair of 9's, it's easy to see that you should keep them and draw for a full house.
If you wanted to take the time to do it, you could work out all of the possibilities for every hand you can start with to determine the most profitable long term play. But the good news is that you don't have to waste your time doing this.
You can simply use a strategy chart for Jacks or Better that someone else has already worked out.
A strategy chart has been developed using the odds and probabilities of improving each hand in combination with the amount you can win for each paying hand. When these 2 things are combined, the most profitable long term play can be determined.
Every decision you make when you play Jacks or Better creates an expected long term average value. A strategy chart simply shows you which decisions offer the best long term value. Every time you make a decision that doesn't agree with the strategy chart it cost you money.
This is why you need to always use a strategy chart.
3 – Find a Promotion
The odds in Jacks or Better video poker show that you're going to win your first video poker wager soon after you start playing. You might win your first hand, but even f you don't you're going to win 1 of your first few hands.
How To Win Poker Hands
You're going to learn more about this in the last section on this page, but there's something you can do to improve your chances other than use a strategy chart. And this is something that most video poker players either don't know about or ignore.
Casinos use promotions to get players in the door. Online casinos use bonuses and sometimes free spins. Land based casinos use free spins and things like coupons or free play vouchers.
The list of possible promotions is long and varies from casino to casino and the promotions change over time. For this reason I can't tell you what specific promotions to look for, but I can tell you to look for promotions before you play video poker.
If you can find a free play promotion of some sort it's the best way to get started. But even if you can't find a free play promotion you can probably get a bonus of some sort to play video poker with.
4 – Use the 5 Coin Setting
The truth is that the odds of winning your first video poker wager, or any video poker wager, don't change with the number of coins you use. But you still need to use 5 coins every time you play real money video poker.
The reason why this is important is because most video poker machines, including Jacks or Better, give you a bonus on certain hands when you risk 5 coins instead or 4 or fewer coins.
This might not seem like it's important because the hands that have a bonus aren't hit often. In Jacks or Better you get a bonus when you hit a straight flush. But this extra bonus helps make up for previous losses the few times you do hit it.
In other words, the reason why you risk 5 coins every time you play is because it reduces the long term edge of the machine. If you don't like to risk as much, look for a machine with a lower per coin amount. Look for a Jacks or Better machine with a nickel or quarter coin amount to get started.
5 – It's Just a Matter of Time
No matter what you do, you're just a few hands away from winning your first video poker hand. You might not win the first hand you play, but if you keep playing you're going to win a hand soon. As long as you're using your strategy chart like the 1 I linked to earlier, you're going to win a lot of hands.
I'm not going to dive too deep into the odds and math, but I'm going to give you some basic math about Jacks or Better video poker.
You know that the game uses a deck of cards and what cards are in the deck. You also know that any hand that includes a pair of jacks or better is a winning hand. Here are some basic numbers using this information.
The deck has 4 jacks, 4 queens, 4 kings, and 4 aces. This means that the very first card you receive in your starting hand is going to be a jack or higher happens 16 out of 52 times. And the odds of the second card matching the first card are 3 out of 51 times.
This continues with the odds of the third card matching the first card being 3 out of 50, and the fourth card matching 3 out of 49, and the fifth card matching being 3 out of 48.
This might not seem like good odds, but let's say the first card is a jack and the second card is a queen. The odds of the third card being a jack or a queen are 6 out of 50.
The point is that all of these odds stack up to help you win hands.
You also have a chance to try to improve your hand 1 time. So even if your first hand only has 1 high card, you can exchange the other 4 cards for 4 new cards. This increases your odds of receiving a paying hand.
The way Jacks or Better is designed, even when you follow the strategy chart; you're going to lose a little more than you win in the long run. But you're going to win a lot of hands as you play.
Conclusion
You're going to win your first video poker wager soon after you start playing. With a little luck you can win your very first wager. But even if you don't win your first wager, you're going to win soon.
You can improve your odds of winning every video poker hand you play by using the steps on this page. It starts with using the right machine, like a Jacks or Better machine, and includes using a strategy chart.
Find and use promotions as often as possible, use a 5 coin wager, and keep playing. Your first video poker win is at hand.
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