- Jacks Or Better Strategy Guide
- Jacks Or Better Strategy Card
- Jacks Or Better Video Poker Strategy: Play To Win | PokerNews
- The Best Jacks Or Better Strategy Tips To Win | Planet 7 Magazine
- Free Jacks Or Better Poker
Simple Strategy Table For 9/6 Jacks or Better 1. Straight Flush 3. 4 card Royal Flush 5. 4 card Straight Flush 10. 4 card inside Straight Flush 12. High Pair (Jacks or higher) 13. 3 card Royal Flush 14. 4 card Flush 15. 4 card straight with 3 high. Jacks or Better Strategy Rules. With video poker, and playing Jacks or Better Strategy, only the ranking of the hands is the same as in table poker. Since the game is played on a machine, your only objective is to get the best-paying hand. J or B is the original video poker game. How to Use the Jacks or Better Strategy Card Video poker is always played the same way. You are dealt 5 cards (your starting hand). You tgeb choose which ones of the 5 you wish to keep, and then receive new cards to replace the ones you decided to discard.
The internet has caused a lot of things to change since its inception, one of the most striking is in the world of Video Poker. Although the first versions were released back in the 1970s, the look, feel and variations that are now available compared to when the internet was first launched are vastly different. The rules for each are very simple and only very slightly from one game to another, the easiest to play and one of the oldest and most popular is Jack or Better, which we outline below.
Before you read this strategy, ensure you know poker hand rankings.
Once you have mastered this, you are ready to consider the best way to play the Jacks or Better Video Slot.
How to Play Jacks or Better
There are lots of versions of video poker and although some differences between versions are fairly minor, the version does affect the best strategy.
All versions share the same basic rules, however, which involve you choosing your stake, receiving 5 cards from a standard 52 card deck (some versions have an extra Joker – not Jacks or Better though) after which you can discard as few or as many as you want. Any cards you discard are replaced using the remaining cards in the deck, at which point winnings are paid depending on the strength of your hand. You don't need to worry about what the dealer or other players get as there are none, it is just you against the machine.
This article concentrates on the most popular version of Video Poker, Jacks or Better which pays out on any hand that has a pair of Jacks or better all the way up to a Royal Flush. A screenshot of a typical Jacks or Better Video Poker game is below.
Jacks-or-Better gives you a 99.54% expected rate of return when played correctly. On the front of the machine, you can check the payouts and pick the ones with the best odds.
Here are payouts for a Full House and a Flush respectively on various machines.
The best odds when you play Jacks or better Are best on a 9 / 6 machine, it simply pays out more money to go with this machine.
Jacks or Better Paytables
Paytables can vary a small amount when playing Jacks or Better at different casinos, generally speaking though, the following is fairly standard:
Hand | Payoff |
---|---|
Royal Flush | 800 |
Straight Flush | 50 |
Four of a Kind | 25 |
Full House | 9 |
Flush | 6 |
Straight | 4 |
Three of a Kind | 3 |
2 Pair | 2 |
Pair of Jacks or Better | 1 |
As you can see, the difference between a Royal Flush and all other hands is huge, in order to win we, therefore, need to maximize the chances of getting a Royal Flush whilst banking as many smaller wins as we can to keep us ticking over until the Royal Flush arrives.
Another thing to realize when playing Jacks or Better is that around 79% of hands will be losing hands, so don't feel despondent if you go several hands without a win. Perseverance is the key to playing any form of Video Poker, what you need to do is keep plugging away picking up small wins wherever possible to keep your funds ticking over until the big one arrives.
When you decide on the stake to play, ensure you play the maximum coins if you can, this will give the biggest possible payout when the Royal Flush does arrive and ensures you get a nice return. It is much better to reduce the value of a coin and play maximum coins than play a higher value coin but only bet 1 coin per go.
Another thing to realize when playing Jacks or Better is that around 79% of hands will be losing hands, so don't feel despondent if you go several hands without a win. Perseverance is the key to playing any form of Video Poker, what you need to do is keep plugging away picking up small wins wherever possible to keep your funds ticking over until the big one arrives.
When you decide on the stake to play, ensure you play the maximum coins if you can, this will give the biggest possible payout when the Royal Flush does arrive and ensures you get a nice return. It is much better to reduce the value of a coin and play maximum coins than play a higher value coin but only bet 1 coin per go.
Patience is key, so take your time to study the strategies and make the right move, there is no time limit on Video Poker unlike some games as you are playing by yourself and others won't be waiting on your move like you will get in some forms of Roulette and Blackjack. Make the most of this and get the decision correct to maximize your chances of a payout.
Jacks Or Better Strategy Guide
We have listed 2 strategies below, get used to the simple version if you are new to Video Poker, feel free to jump straight to the advanced version if you are more experienced.
Jacks Or Better Strategy
Using this strategy should increase the return over time to around 99.45% if played correctly. Reducing the House Edge in any casino game is important and although this may not seem like much, over a long period of time, it can make a big difference.
As with all Video Poker, patience is key. The only real way to make money is by hitting a Royal Flush, and due to the low odds of this happening, it can take a long time. Tropica casino no deposit bonus codes.
Start from the top of the table below, and hold the first set of cards that are applicable to the hand you are dealt:
Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind |
4 cards to a Royal Flush |
Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind |
4 cards to a Straight Flush |
2 Pair |
High Pair |
3 to a Royal Flush |
4 to a Flush |
Low Pair |
4 to an Outside Straight |
2 Suited High Cards |
3 to a Straight Flush |
2 Unsuited High Cards – Choose just 2 if more than 2 |
Suited 10/J, 10/Q, 10/K |
One High Card |
Discard All |
Terminology
In the above table, the following applies:
High Card – Jack, Queen, King or Ace. A Pair of these returns your stake, so it is worth holding.
Outside Straight – 4 Cards that are consecutive and where a card at either end can provide you with a Straight – EG. 5,6,7,8
Inside Straight – 4 Cards where there is one number missing that would complete a Straight. EG 5,6,8,9
Advanced Strategy
Once you have mastered the above, take a look at our more in-depth Advanced Strategy. This will increase the payout percentage to around 99.54%, one of the highest returns of any casino game. If you are lucky enough to hit a Royal Flush early, a nice return is on offer…
As with the Simple Strategy, start at the top of the below table and work your way down until you find the cards applicable to your hand.
Dealt Royal Flush |
Dealt Straight Flush |
Dealt 4 of a Kind |
4 to a Royal Flush |
Dealt Full House |
Dealt Flush |
3 of a Kind |
Dealt Straight |
4 to a Straight Flush |
Two Pair |
High Pair |
3 to a Royal Flush |
4 to a Flush |
Unsuited 10, J, Q K, A |
Low Pair |
4 to an Outside Straight that includes 2 High Cards |
3 to a Straight Flush |
Suited JQ |
4 to an Inside Straight, all High Cards |
Suited QK or JK |
Suited AK, AQ or AJ |
4 to an Inside Straight, 3 High Cards |
Unsuited JQK |
Unsuited JQ |
Suited 10J |
2 Unsuited High Cards with K s the highest |
J |
Suited 10 K |
Q |
K |
A |
Discard Everything |
Slot machine tournaments las vegas. Borderline Hands
The below are hands that very nearly make it into the above list, but an optimal play would be to make a different decision.
Suited 10 A – Hold the A only
3 Unsuited High Cards with A as the highest – Keep the lowest 2 High Cards as the chances of a Straight are higher when open-ended
4 to an Inside Straight with 2 High Cards – Keep the 2 High Cards
4 to an Inside Straight with 1 High Card – Keep the 1 High Card
4 to an Inside Straight with 0 High Cards – Discard all
Jacks or Better Tips
The jacks or better tips are the same for any video poker game, the only thing that's different is the strategy card. I will go over some of the basic tips as part of our jacks or better strategy.
- Always play the maximum number of coins in order to be eligible for the bonus payout for a royal flush. You can't win without hitting it in any video poker game so this is the hand that is vital. To do this you need to be able to play for a long time banking smaller wins until you hit it.
- Take your time to study every hand and play correctly. The machines at casinos are in no hurry when you play Jacks or Better and neither should you be.
- Only 21% of the hands dealt are winning ones in Jacks or Better, meaning 79% are losing hands. The difference between success and failure for players is the ability to convert the 79% of losing hands to potential winners and this involves using strategy. If you follow the rules below you will convert a good number of losing hands to winners in Jacks or Better video poker
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Home > Online Casinos > Casino Games > Video Poker > Strategy
Video poker is one of the few casino games where strategy can drastically influence the outcome. Players can lower the house edge and improve their odds of winning by correctly holding or discarding their initial five cards. In some versions, such as Deuces Wild, players can even gain a slight advantage over the casino.
In order to achieve the maximum return, players should bet the full number of credits each hand. Payout percentages are highest and the house edge is lowest when the maximum credits are wagered. Otherwise, the entire outcome relies on holding and discarding strategy, which must be followed exactly.
There several versions of video poker, each with their own strategy. We start with Deuces Wild, since this version is one of the easiest to gain an advantage over the casino. The appropriate strategy guide is listed, followed by advice on Jacks or Better, the most popular video poker game.
Deuces Wild
One of the highest paying is 'Deuces Wild.' This is played exactly as it sounds: all twos are wild. When the correct strategy is applied, Deuces Wild has a return as high as 100.8%.
The payout schedule for Deuces Wild video poker is very unique due to the frequency of high-ranking hands caused by the introduction of wild cards. In fact, about one-third of all payouts are rewarded for a four of a kind, which occurs approximately every fifteen hands. Below is a typical Deuces Wild payout table found at various casinos and online gambling sites.
Deuces Wild video poker strategy is based on making the right choice of which cards to hold and which to discard. The difference from other forms of video poker is that the strategy is dependent on how many twos you are dealt.
The following recommendations should be followed from top to bottom. Move down the list until you locate your hand and follow the corresponding discard strategy.
Deuces Wild strategy seems tricky at first glance, but the recommendations follow a basic pattern. Never discard a deuce, and never keep two pairs. If you look at the payout table above you will notice that these video poker machines only pay for hands ranked three of a kind or better. Discarding one of the pairs and drawing three cards is mathematically more profitable than keeping both pairs and only drawing one card.
Jacks or Better
Jacks Or Better Strategy Card
The most popular version of video poker is Jacks or Better. This is played the same way as five card draw, but players are only awarded money for a pair or Jacks or higher. The typical version of this video poker variety is 9/6 Jacks or Better, which is named after the payouts for a Full House and a Flush.
Jacks Or Better Video Poker Strategy: Play To Win | PokerNews
The table below represents a standard payout schedule for 9/6 Jacks or Better video poker.
Jacks or Better strategy can be found on our video poker page. There you will find a comprehensive list of which cards to hold and which to discard no matter what hand you are dealt.
Another way to ensure the lowest house edge is to pick the right games. Free game kiss. Not all online gambling sites and land-based casinos offer the same payouts for Jacks or Better video poker. Refer to the next section for which games to avoid when gambling.
Avoid Low Pay Variations
There are many Jacks or Better variations with altered pay tables that reduce the amount players receive for a win. This raises the house edge and ultimately leads to more income for the casinos. Obviously, these variations are best avoided if you want to achieve the maximum return on your money. Stick with 9/6 Jacks or Better and stay away from the following video poker games.
9/5 Jacks or Better
Flush payout cut from 6 times your bet to 5 times your bet.
The Best Jacks Or Better Strategy Tips To Win | Planet 7 Magazine
8/6 Jacks or Better
Full House payout cut from 9 times your bet to 8 times your bet.
8/5 Jacks or Better
Free Jacks Or Better Poker
Full House payout cut from 9 times your bet to 8 times your bet.
Flush payout cut from 6 times your bet to 5 times your bet.
7/5 Jacks or Better
Full House payout cut from 9 times your bet to 7 times your bet.
Flush payout cut from 6 times your bet to 5 times your bet.
6/5 Jacks or Better
Full House payout cut from 9 times your bet to 6 times your bet.
Flush payout cut from 6 times your bet to 5 times your bet.
The general concept behind video poker strategy is fairly simple. You want to find the highest paying machines and follow the recommendations for holding and discarding your cards. The goal is to get at least the minimum required poker hand to win your money back and score the occasional big win. Play at the right online casino sites and use the advice above, but always remember to gamble responsibly.