Video Poker Basics
Video poker combines elements of traditional poker with the simplicity of slot machines. Unlike slots, your decisions directly impact the outcome, making it one of the few casino games where skill significantly affects your expected return.
Why Video Poker?
With optimal play, many video poker variants offer RTPs exceeding 99%, making them some of the best odds in the casino. Full-pay Jacks or Better returns 99.54% with perfect strategy, while some Deuces Wild variants exceed 100% RTP.
How Video Poker Works
- 1. Place Your Bet: Choose your coin denomination and number of coins (always bet max coins for best RTP)
- 2. Initial Deal: Receive 5 cards from a standard 52-card deck (or 53 with joker)
- 3. Make Decisions: Choose which cards to hold and which to discard
- 4. Draw: Discarded cards are replaced with new cards from the remaining deck
- 5. Get Paid: Final hand is evaluated and paid according to the paytable
The Importance of Max Coins
Always play maximum coins (usually 5) to qualify for the Royal Flush bonus. Here's why:
4 coins bet:
Royal Flush pays 1000 coins (250x)
5 coins bet:
Royal Flush pays 4000 coins (800x)
Hand Rankings & Typical Payouts
Understanding hand rankings is fundamental to video poker strategy. Payouts vary by game variant and paytable, but here are typical values for full-pay Jacks or Better:
| Hand | Description | Payout (per coin) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | A-K-Q-J-10 of same suit | 800* | 1 in 40,391 |
| Straight Flush | 5 consecutive cards, same suit | 50 | 1 in 9,148 |
| Four of a Kind | 4 cards of same rank | 25 | 1 in 423 |
| Full House | 3 of a kind + pair | 9 | 1 in 87 |
| Flush | 5 cards of same suit | 6 | 1 in 91 |
| Straight | 5 consecutive cards | 4 | 1 in 89 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 cards of same rank | 3 | 1 in 13 |
| Two Pair | 2 different pairs | 2 | 1 in 8 |
| Jacks or Better | Pair of jacks or higher | 1 | 1 in 4.7 |
| Nothing | No qualifying hand | 0 | 54.5% |
*Royal Flush pays 250 per coin for 1-4 coins, 800 per coin for 5 coins
Jacks or Better Optimal Strategy
Jacks or Better is the foundation of video poker strategy. Master this variant first, as its principles apply to most other games. The following strategy chart shows the optimal decision for every possible hand.
Strategy Chart - Hold in Order of Priority
- 1.Royal Flush, Straight Flush, 4 of a Kind - Always hold
- 2.4 to a Royal Flush - Break anything except made royal/straight flush
- 3.Full House, Flush, Straight, 3 of a Kind - Hold complete hands
- 4.4 to a Straight Flush - Break pairs and two pairs
- 5.Two Pair - Always hold both pairs
- 6.High Pair (JJ, QQ, KK, AA) - Hold the pair
- 7.3 to a Royal Flush - Hold if no pairs
- 8.4 to a Flush - Hold over low pairs
- 9.Low Pair (22-TT) - Hold the pair
- 10.4 to Open-Ended Straight - 8 cards complete it
- 11.2 Suited High Cards - JQ, JK, QK suited
- 12.3 to a Straight Flush - With 0-2 gaps
- 13.KQJ Unsuited - 3 high cards to straight
- 14.2 Unsuited High Cards - If no ace
- 15.Suited JT, QT, KT - 10 with one high card
- 16.One High Card - Jack, Queen, King, or Ace
- 17.Discard Everything - Draw 5 new cards
Common Hand Examples
Example 1: High Pair vs Flush Draw
Correct Play: Hold the pair of Kings
High pair (EV: 7.68) beats 4 to flush (EV: 6.06)
Example 2: Low Pair vs Straight Draw
Correct Play: Hold the pair of 5s
Low pair (EV: 4.12) beats open-ended straight draw (EV: 3.40)
Example 3: 4 to Royal vs Made Flush
Correct Play: Discard the 3♥, go for Royal
4 to royal (EV: 92.31) beats made flush (EV: 30.00)
Example 4: 3 High Cards
Correct Play: Hold K-Q-J
3 to straight beats 2 high cards
Deuces Wild Strategy
Deuces Wild transforms all 2s into wild cards, dramatically changing optimal strategy. The minimum paying hand increases to Three of a Kind, but the wild cards create more winning combinations.
Deuces Wild Key Differences
- • No payment for pairs or two pair (minimum is 3 of a kind)
- • Four deuces pays 200 coins per coin bet (1000 for 5 coins)
- • Wild Royal Flush (with deuces) pays less than Natural Royal
- • Strategy completely changes based on number of deuces held
Deuces Wild Strategy by Number of Deuces
No Deuces - Hold in Order:
- 1. Natural Royal Flush or 4 to Royal
- 2. Straight Flush or 4 to Straight Flush
- 3. Three of a Kind or better
- 4. 3 to Royal Flush
- 5. 3 to Straight Flush (0-2 gaps)
- 6. One pair (discard second pair if two pair)
- 7. 4 to Flush
- 8. 4 to Open-Ended Straight
- 9. 3 to Straight Flush (with 2 gaps)
- 10. 4 to Inside Straight (except A345)
- 11. 2 to Royal (JQ, JK, QK)
- 12. Discard everything
One Deuce - Hold in Order:
- 1. Wild Royal or Five of a Kind
- 2. Straight Flush
- 3. Four of a Kind
- 4. 4 to Royal Flush
- 5. Full House
- 6. 4 to Straight Flush (0-1 gap)
- 7. Three of a Kind, Straight, or Flush
- 8. 4 to Straight Flush (2 gaps)
- 9. 3 to Royal Flush
- 10. 3 to Straight Flush (0-1 gap)
- 11. Deuce only
Two Deuces - Hold in Order:
- 1. Wild Royal or Five of a Kind
- 2. Straight Flush
- 3. Four of a Kind or better
- 4. 4 to Royal Flush
- 5. 4 to Straight Flush
- 6. Two deuces only
Three or Four Deuces:
Three Deuces: Keep all three, discard others unless you have a wild royal or five of a kind
Four Deuces: Always keep all four deuces
Common Video Poker Micobras to Avoid
Even experienced players make these costly errors. Avoiding them can significantly improve your returns.
Micobra #1: Not Playing Maximum Coins
Playing less than max coins reduces RTP by 1-2%. The Royal Flush bonus only applies to max coin bets.
Solution: Always bet 5 coins. If you can't afford it, move to a lower denomination.
Micobra #2: Keeping a Kicker
Holding an ace "kicker" with a pair reduces your chances of improving to two pair, three of a kind, or four of a kind.
Solution: Only keep the pair. Discard all kickers unless going for a specific draw.
Micobra #3: Breaking a Winning Hand for a Long Shot
Breaking a paying pair to chase an inside straight draw or three to a flush is mathematically incorrect.
Solution: Follow the strategy chart hierarchy. Made hands usually beat draws.
Micobra #4: Playing Without Knowing the Paytable
A single unit difference in Full House or Flush payouts can change RTP by 1-2%.
Solution: Always check paytables. Look for 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54% RTP) or better.
Micobra #5: Playing Too Fast
Speed leads to strategy errors. One micobra per 100 hands can cost 0.5% or more in RTP.
Solution: Take your time. Perfect play beats fast play. Use strategy cards when unsure.
Micobra #6: Ignoring Variance
Not understanding variance leads to poor bankroll management and playing at cobras you can't afford.
Solution: Expect swings. Royal Flushes account for 2% of return but occur once per 40,000 hands.
Video Poker Bankroll Management
Proper bankroll management is essential for weathering the variance inherent in video poker, especially while waiting for rare high-paying hands like Royal Flushes.
Bankroll Requirements by Risk Tolerance
| Risk Level | Risk of Ruin | Bankroll (in bets) | For $1.25/hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 1% | 6,000-8,000 | $7,500-$10,000 |
| Moderate | 5% | 3,000-4,000 | $3,750-$5,000 |
| Aggressive | 10% | 1,500-2,000 | $1,875-$2,500 |
| Recreational | 25% | 500-750 | $625-$940 |
The Kelly Criterion for Video Poker
The Kelly Criterion suggests optimal bet sizing based on your edge and bankroll:
Bet Size = (Edge × Bankroll) / Variance
For 9/6 Jacks or Better with 99.54% RTP (0.46% house edge), Kelly suggests risking only 0.3% of bankroll per session to minimize ruin risk while maximizing growth.
Session Management Tips
Win Goals
Set realistic win goals of 20-30% of session bankroll. Video poker is a grind, not a get-rich-quick game.
Loss Limits
Never risk more than 10% of total bankroll in one session. Walk away when you hit your limit.
Time Management
Limit sessions to 2-3 hours. Fatigue leads to errors that cost money.
Comps & Rewards
Factor in cashback and comps. They can add 0.2-0.5% to your effective RTP.
Popular Video Poker Variants Compared
| Game Variant | Full Pay RTP | Variance | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacks or Better (9/6) | 99.54% | Low | Best for beginners, simple strategy |
| Deuces Wild (Full Pay) | 100.76% | Medium | All 2s are wild, positive expectation |
| Bonus Poker (8/5) | 99.17% | Medium | Bonus for four of a kind |
| Double Bonus (10/7) | 100.17% | High | Big payouts for quads, high variance |
| Double Double Bonus (10/6) | 100.07% | Very High | Kickers matter for four of a kind |
| Joker Poker (Kings+) | 100.65% | Medium | 53-card deck with joker wild |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best video poker game for beginners?
Jacks or Better (9/6) is ideal for beginners. It has straightforward strategy, low variance, and excellent 99.54% RTP with perfect play. Master this game before moving to more complex variants.
Can video poker be beaten long-term?
Yes, with perfect play on full-pay Deuces Wild (100.76% RTP) or when combining near-100% RTP games with cashback and comps. However, finding these games and playing perfectly is challenging.
How important is playing speed?
Accuracy beats speed. Playing 600 hands/hour with perfect strategy is better than 800 hands/hour with errors. Each 1% strategy error costs more than playing slower.
Should I use a strategy card at the casino?
Absolutely! Casinos allow strategy cards for video poker. There's no shame in referencing optimal play, especially when learning. Even experienced players use them for unfamiliar variants.
How often do Royal Flushes occur?
With optimal play in Jacks or Better, expect a Royal Flush approximately once every 40,391 hands. At 600 hands/hour, that's about 67 hours of play on average, though variance means it could happen much sooner or later.
Key Takeaways
- ✓Always play maximum coins to qualify for the Royal Flush bonus payout
- ✓Learn and follow basic strategy – it can mean a 5% difference in returns
- ✓Check paytables carefully – one unit difference changes RTP significantly
- ✓Manage your bankroll to withstand variance while waiting for rare hands
- ✓Practice with free games before playing for real money
- ✓Speed is less important than accuracy – take your time to make correct decisions
Master Video Poker Strategy
Practice optimal video poker strategy with our free simulator. See your decisions analyzed in real-time and track your improvement.