Video Poker Guide: Strategy for Every Variant

Video poker combines elements of slots and five-card draw poker. You receive five cards, choose which to keep (hold), and draw replacements for the rest. Payouts are based on the strength of your final hand according to a fixed pay table. The RTP can exceed 99% with optimal strategy.

Jacks or Better is the most common variant. You need at least a pair of jacks to win. With optimal strategy, the house edge is just 0.46% on a 9/6 pay table. Always hold any paying hand and learn the priority order for drawing decisions.

Deuces Wild uses all twos as wild cards and requires three of a kind to win. Joker Poker adds one or two jokers as wilds. Double Bonus Poker offers enhanced payouts for four-of-a-kind hands. Each variant requires its own specific strategy.

Not all video poker machines offer the same pay tables. Look for '9/6 Jacks or Better' which pays 9 for a full house and 6 for a flush. Avoid '8/5' or '7/5' pay tables as they significantly increase the house edge.