Video Poker Strategy Basics
While luck certainly plays a role in video poker, what sets it apart from slot machines is that your skill directly influences your chances of winning. By mastering a few fundamental strategy principles, you can significantly reduce the house edge, maximizing your returns over time.
Whether you’re playing Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, or Double Bonus Poker, the foundation of success begins with understanding pay tables and making optimal decisions based on probabilities and expected value (EV).
Understanding Pay Tables: The Foundation of Strategy
A pay table in video poker clearly outlines how much you’ll win for each hand. It’s essential to know the pay table you’re playing because it significantly affects your overall returns. For instance, in Jacks or Better (9/6), a Full House pays 9 coins, and a Flush pays 6 coins, resulting in an impressive 99.54% return with optimal play. Conversely, playing on a less favorable 6/5 pay table reduces your expected return to around 95%.
Always check pay tables before you play, and choose games offering the highest potential returns. For a detailed breakdown, see our guide to Jacks or Better pay tables.
Basic Strategy Tips: How to Make the Right Choices
Optimal video poker strategy revolves around making mathematically sound decisions. Here are key guidelines to follow, regardless of variant:
- Always bet maximum coins (five coins) to ensure you qualify for the maximum Royal Flush payout (4,000 coins versus 250 coins per coin wagered).
- Hold High Pairs: Always keep pairs of Jacks or better—these pairs guarantee at least a break-even payout.
- Prioritize Potential Royal Flush Draws: Keep any hand with potential to form a Royal Flush, as these rare hands significantly impact your long-term returns.
- Manage Your Bankroll Carefully: Choose games aligning with your bankroll and acceptable variance level. Higher payouts often mean higher volatility, leading to bigger bankroll swings.
Key Strategy Tips by Variant
Each variant of video poker has unique strategic nuances. Here’s a quick overview:
- Jacks or Better:
Prioritize holding pairs, Royal Flush draws, and four-card flushes or straights. Detailed Jacks or Better Strategy → - Deuces Wild:
Wildcards (2s) shift strategy dramatically. Always hold deuces, and aim for hands leveraging their wild-card advantage. Detailed Deuces Wild Strategy → - Double Bonus Poker:
Strategy changes slightly due to higher payouts on specific Four-of-a-Kind hands, demanding careful attention to the pay table specifics. Learn Double Bonus Strategy →
Key Video Poker Strategy Tips for Beginners
- Never Guess—Use Strategy Charts:
Following an optimal strategy chart significantly improves your returns compared to intuitive guessing. - Manage Your Bankroll Wisely:
Avoid higher-variance games initially if your bankroll is limited. Stick with lower-variance games to extend your gameplay and learn steadily. - Understand Variance:
Even optimal play has swings—accept variance, but minimize it by choosing games suited to your risk tolerance.
Remember, your ability to minimize mistakes is directly correlated to your long-term profitability.