Video Poker Explained: How To Beat Jacks Or Better
While they look similar to traditional slot machines, Video Poker games are fundamentally different in almost every conceivable way.
Video Poker is one of the few games on the casino floor where your decisions mathematically impact the outcome of the hand.
Because skill is involved, the casino must offer significantly better odds; a skilled player can often reduce the house edge to under 0.5%.
The most common and foundational version of the game is called "Jacks or Better," making it the perfect starting point for beginners.
Let's break down the rules of the game, the importance of the paytable, and the basic strategy you need to win.
The Basics: How to Play Jacks or Better
The goal is simply to create the best possible five-card poker hand according to standard poker hand rankings.
This is where the skill element begins; you must now evaluate your hand and make a critical decision.
You have the option to "Hold" any number of cards, from zero up to all five, by pressing the buttons below them.
Any hand lower than a pair of Jacks (like a pair of Tens, or high card Ace) results in a total loss of your bet.
The stronger your poker hand (Two Pair, Flush, Full House, Royal Flush), the exponentially larger your final payout will be.
Why You Must Play 5 Coins Per Hand
The most common mistake beginners make is failing to understand how the coin betting system affects the jackpot.
For example, a Flush might pay 6 coins for a 1-coin bet, 12 for a 2-coin bet, and 24 for a 4-coin bet.
But if you press the "Max Bet" button and wager 5 coins, the Royal Flush payout suddenly jumps to a massive 4,000 coins.
If you play less than max coins, the house edge is significantly higher, effectively penalizing you for playing cautiously.
Missing a 4,000-coin Royal Flush payout because you only bet one coin is the most painful experience in the casino.
Basic Strategy: What to Hold and What to Fold
You must ignore your "gut feelings" and rigidly follow a strategy chart that dictates the best mathematical move for any given hand.
For instance, if you are dealt a Low Pair and four cards to a Flush, the chart tells you which option yields the highest expected value.
Holding the high card drastically reduces your chances of drawing Three of a Kind or Four of a Kind, mathematically ruining your expected value.
Another common dilemma is deciding between a guaranteed winning hand and drawing for a massive jackpot.
The strategy can feel counterintuitive to players used to playing against humans, where bluffing and psychology matter.
What to Hold (From Best to Worst)
Tier 1: Dealt winning hands (Straight or better). Take the guaranteed money immediately.
Priority 2: 4 cards to a Royal Flush. (Break a high pair or a flush to chase the Royal).
Tier 3: Three of a Kind or a High Pair. These guarantee your money back or better.
Tier 4: Low Pairs. Always hold a low pair over a single high card. You need to draw to three of a kind.
Flush Draws: Keep four suited cards and discard the outlier.
Priority 6: 4 cards to an outside Straight (e.g., 5-6-7-8), or two unsuited high cards.
The "Full Pay" Paytable Explained
Hand Ranking5-Coin PayoutThe 9/6 Identifier
Royal Flush4,000 CoinsThe jackpot. Always bet 5 coins to unlock this specific massive multiplier.
Flush30 Coins (6 per coin)This is the "6" in a "9/6" machine. Lower machines pay only 5.
Jacks or Better5 Coins (1 to 1)Pushes your bet. Returning your original wager to spin again.
Not all Jacks or Better machines are created equal; casinos quietly lower the payouts on specific hands to increase their edge.
If the machine only pays 8 for a Full House and 5 for a Flush (an 8/5 machine), the RTP drops significantly to around 97.3%.
Never play an 8/5 or lower machine if a 9/6 machine is available in the same casino.
Master the strategy, hit the Max Bet button, and enjoy the intellectual thrill of beating the casino at its own game.