How to Win at Jacks or Better Video Poker

If you walk through a casino and observe the video poker machines, you will likely see dozens of players mindlessly slapping the “Draw” button as fast as they can.

Video poker is NOT a slot machine. A slot machine is a game of pure, unadulterated luck where you have absolutely zero control over the outcome.

In this article, we are going to break down the absolute perfect mathematical strategy for the most popular and foundational version of the game: Jacks or Better.

Step 1: Finding the “Full Pay” 9/6 Machine

Before you even touch a button or insert a dollar, your absolute first task is to read the payout table printed directly on the glass of the machine.

This means the machine pays exactly 9 coins for a Full House (per 1 coin bet) and 6 coins for a Flush.

This means the casino‘s House Edge is a microscopic 0.46%, making it vastly superior to almost any slot machine or table game in the building.

If the casino does not offer 9/6 Jacks or Better, the correct strategy is to turn around and walk out the door.

The Math Behind the Maximum Bet

Once you find a 9/6 machine, you must adhere to the second unbreakable rule of Video Poker: you must ALWAYS play the maximum number of coins allowed (usually 5 coins).

If you bet 1 coin, a Royal Flush pays 250 coins. But if you bet the maximum 5 coins, the Royal Flush payout jumps massively to 4,000 coins (instead of the mathematically linear 1,250).

This massive, disproportionate bonus for hitting a Royal Flush on Max Bet is the entire mathematical engine that allows the game to achieve a 99.54% RTP.

You must always activate that massive 4,000-coin bonus, regardless of the denomination you are playing.

The Cheat Sheet: What to Hold and What to Fold

The actual strategy of Jacks or Better involves looking at your initial five cards and prioritizing which cards to hold based on a rigid mathematical hierarchy.

The amateur will hold the pair of Jacks to guarantee the small win.

The payout for a standard Flush (30 coins) is not large enough to justify throwing away the guaranteed payout and the chance to draw Three of a Kind or Four of a Kind.

Holding the Ace reduces the number of cards you draw from three to two, drastically reducing your chances of hitting Three of a Kind (which pays 15 coins).

The Simplified Jacks or Better Strategy Hierarchy

• The Monsters: Never break these hands under any circumstances. You have already won the lottery.
• 2. 4 Cards to a Royal Flush: The only hand powerful enough to make you break a guaranteed winner. If you have a High Pair and 4 to a Royal, dump the pair.
• 3. Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind: Hold all of these guaranteed winning hands. DO NOT break a Flush or Straight to chase a Royal.
• 4. 4 Cards to a Straight Flush: Hold these. The payout for a Straight Flush (250 coins) justifies the risk.
• The Workhorse: Two Pair pays 10 coins. It keeps your bankroll afloat while you wait for the massive hands.
• The Baseline Winner: This simply returns your original bet (a “Push”). It is the most frequent winning hand in the game.
• 7. 4 Cards to a Flush: Hold the four suited cards. This is mathematically better than holding a Low Pair (2s through 10s).
• The Foundation: A Low Pair pays nothing, but you hold it because it provides the best foundation to draw into Three of a Kind.
• Never Chase the Gutshot: Drawing to an inside straight is one of the most expensive amateur mistakes in the game.
• 10. Completely Trash Hand: If you have absolutely nothing (no pairs, no 4-card draws, not a single Jack or higher), throw ALL FIVE CARDS in the trash.

The Math of the 9/6 Paytable (For a 5-Coin Bet)

By hunting down a 9/6 machine, playing maximum coins, and flawlessly executing the strategy hierarchy, you are engaging in one of the smartest gambles the casino has to offer.

If you master the math, Video Poker will provide you with thousands of hours of high-EV entertainment.