The Jacks or Better game is the most popular video poker game, and almost all online poker variants are based on that game. So, we will look at the strategy for Jacks or Better here. Once you grasp this basic strategy, it will become easier to play most of video poker games:

  • When you have four cards that could make a Straight or a Flush combination, hold the four cards and draw one card.
  • When you have three cards of a Royal Flush combination, keep the three and draw the rest
  • If you get a pair among your cards (a pair of Jacks or other), hold them and draw an additional three
  • If you have no pairs, hold a card that is equal to or higher than the value of Jacks
  • If you have got the worst hand- no combinations, no pairs, no cards equal to or higher than Jacks- draw all the five cards

The main trick is that if you have three or more cards to a winning combination, hold and draw the rest until you get lucky. This is one of the best video poker tips.

There are mainly four types of casino video poker games. They are Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Double Bonus and Double Double Bonus. Let us learn about each one of them in detail.

Jacks or Better

Jacks or Better video poker is a popular type of video poker game, and almost all the other poker games are a variation of this. You win this game if you have a final hand consisting of a pair of Jacks, at least. The “better” refer to cards that are equal to Jacks or higher in value, like Kings, Queens and Aces. One of the best ways of spending time at a casino is by playing Jacks or Better video poker.

Deuces Wild

In Deuces Wild, all the 2s of every suit are wild cards. It means, if you get a 2 in this game, you can exchange it with any card in the deck (as it is a wild card). Similarly, if you have multiple 2s, you can substitute all of them. The maximum return percentage in this game is over 100%. Thus, you can beat the house edge in this game.

Double Bonus 

In this game, you receive a bonus if your final hand consists of 4 Aces. This game is a variation of Jacks or Better. This version of the game has low payouts for lower card combinations. You can beat the house edge in this game as well.

Double Double Bonus

It is another variation of the Jacks or Better game. This game gives you a bonus if your final hand contains any 4-of-a-kind. The house edge can easily be defeated in this game.

Video Poker Tips

Keep these tips in mind while playing video poker:

  1. Play within your means. Do not bet more than you can afford. Also, play only those games and variants which you understand and are comfortable with. This should be your basic video poker strategy: not to play beyond your means.
  2. Opt for the highest bet, especially in progressive jackpots. But make sure the highest bet is within your budget. Progressive jackpots can give you a lot of money.
  3. Avoid games with wild cards in them as payouts for big hands are generally lowered in such games. 
  4. Make the most of casino freebies. Casinos offer many bonuses on casino games. Do not miss out on them.
  5. Choose video poker machines carefully.
  6. Learn about the hands and their rankings.
  7. Try to play at a 9/6 Jacks or Better table every time. They have the best odds.

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