Video Poker Strategy Guide
Video poker is one of the few casino games where skilled players can reduce the house edge to under 0.5%. This guide covers optimal strategy charts, pay table analysis, and the math behind every decision.
Written by the DeucesCracked coaching team | Updated April 2026
Why Video Poker Rewards Strategy
Unlike slot machines, where every spin is purely random with a fixed house edge you cannot influence, video poker gives you decisions that directly affect your expected return. After the initial five-card deal, you choose which cards to hold and which to discard. These decisions, made correctly over thousands of hands, are the difference between losing at 3-5% per hand (slot-level returns) and losing at under 0.5% (approaching blackjack-level odds).
The reason video poker offers such favorable odds is straightforward: the game uses a standard 52-card deck with known probabilities, and the pay table is displayed on the machine before you put in a single coin. You can calculate the exact expected value of every possible hold decision, and the optimal play for every situation has been mathematically solved. There is no hidden information, no dealer edge, and no other players to worry about.
If you already understand poker hand rankings, you have the foundation. Video poker uses the same hierarchy — royal flush at the top, high card at the bottom. The strategic layer is knowing when to break a made hand to chase a higher one, and that comes down to expected value calculations.
Understanding Pay Tables
The pay table is the single most important factor in video poker. Two machines that look identical can have vastly different returns based on their pay tables. Here are the standard Jacks or Better pay tables you will encounter:
| Hand | 9/6 (Full Pay) | 8/6 | 8/5 | 7/5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 800 | 800 | 800 | 800 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Four of a Kind | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Full House | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Flush | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Straight | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Return % | 99.54% | 98.39% | 97.30% | 96.15% |
Pay tables shown are per-coin payouts for one coin bet. Royal Flush pays 800 per coin at max bet (4,000 for 5 coins). Always bet max coins to capture the Royal Flush bonus.
Jacks or Better Optimal Strategy Chart
This chart lists hold decisions in priority order from top to bottom. Find the highest-ranking combination in your dealt hand and hold those cards. When multiple options exist, always choose the one that appears first in this list.
Advanced Video Poker Concepts
Expected Value and the Math Behind Holds
Every video poker decision comes down to expected value (EV). When you are dealt five cards, there are 32 possible ways to hold or discard (from holding all five to discarding all five). Each option has a calculable EV based on the probability of each resulting hand and the pay table payouts. Optimal strategy simply means choosing the hold option with the highest EV every time.
For example, if you are dealt K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ 9♥ in a 9/6 Jacks or Better game, you have a made straight paying 4 coins. But holding K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ and discarding the 9♥ gives you a 1-in-47 shot at the A♠ for a Royal Flush (800 coins at max bet) plus chances at a straight flush, flush, and straight. The EV of the four-to-a-royal draw is higher than the guaranteed straight payout, so the correct play is to break the straight. This kind of counterintuitive decision is what separates optimal from casual play.
Choosing the Right Machine
Before you sit down, check the pay table. The difference between a 9/6 and an 8/5 Jacks or Better machine is 2.24% in house edge — that means on a dollar machine playing $5 per hand at 500 hands per hour, you lose an extra $56 per hour on the worse machine. Full-pay machines are becoming harder to find on casino floors, but they still exist — particularly at higher denominations ($1 and above), at casinos that cater to locals (like many in Las Vegas), and in online casinos where overhead is lower.
Other variants worth learning include Deuces Wild (100.76% return on full-pay with optimal play — one of the very few positive EV casino games), Double Bonus Poker (higher four-of-a-kind payouts but reduced two-pair pay), and Double Double Bonus (even more complex with kicker-dependent quad payouts).
Bankroll Requirements
Video poker has significant short-term variance. A Royal Flush — which accounts for about 2% of your total return — hits on average once every 40,000 hands. Until it hits, you are playing at a deficit even with perfect strategy. For quarter-machine play at max bet ($1.25/hand), a comfortable bankroll is $500-$1,000. For dollar machines ($5/hand), $2,000-$5,000 provides a reasonable cushion. These are guidelines for recreational play, not professional advantage play.
Online vs. Land-Based Video Poker
Online casinos generally offer better video poker pay tables than land-based casinos because of lower overhead costs. Full-pay 9/6 Jacks or Better is common online but increasingly rare on casino floors. Online play also allows you to reference strategy charts without time pressure, which is ideal for learning. The game mechanics are identical — a standard 52-card deck shuffled by RNG with the same probabilities.
If you are looking for online poker (multiplayer, not video poker), see our best poker sites guide or test your skills with our poker odds calculator.
Common Video Poker Mistakes
Holding a kicker with a pair: If you have a pair of jacks and an ace kicker, always discard the ace and draw three cards. Keeping the kicker reduces your chances of improving to three of a kind, full house, or four of a kind.
Breaking a flush to chase a straight flush: Unless you have four to a straight flush, never break a completed flush. The made flush pays 6 coins (on 9/6), while the straight flush draw usually has negative EV compared to the guaranteed payout.
Not betting max coins: The Royal Flush bonus at max bet is substantial. Playing fewer coins gives you the same strategy decisions but significantly worse overall return. If max bet on a dollar machine is too expensive, move to a quarter machine and bet max there.
Playing unfamiliar variants without studying the strategy: Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker, and Double Double Bonus each have completely different optimal strategies. A hold that is correct in Jacks or Better can be a costly mistake in Deuces Wild. Learn one variant thoroughly before moving to the next.
Video Poker Strategy FAQ
What is the best video poker strategy?
The best strategy depends on the variant. For Jacks or Better, follow the optimal hold chart above — prioritize holds from the top of the list down. The key principle is that expected value drives every decision, not the guaranteed payout of your current hand. Memorize the strategy chart and practice with free online video poker trainers until the decisions become automatic.
What is the best video poker game to play?
Full-pay Deuces Wild (100.76% return) is mathematically the best video poker game because it offers positive expected value with perfect play. Full-pay 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54% return) is the most widely available strong game and the easiest to learn optimal strategy for. Always check the pay table before sitting down — the variant name alone does not tell you the return percentage.
Can you make money playing video poker?
With perfect strategy on full-pay machines, combined with casino comps and slot club points, skilled video poker players can achieve break-even or slightly positive expected value. However, the variance is high and the hourly expectation is very small. Most recreational players should view video poker as the lowest-edge entertainment option in the casino, not as an income source.
Should you always bet max coins?
Yes. The Royal Flush payout at max bet is disproportionately higher (800-for-1 instead of 250-for-1 per coin). This bonus accounts for a meaningful portion of the game's overall return. If max bet is too expensive on your current denomination, move to a lower denomination and bet max there.
How do you read a video poker pay table?
Look at the one-coin payouts for Full House and Flush. In Jacks or Better, "9/6" means 9 coins for a Full House and 6 for a Flush — this is full pay (99.54% return). An "8/5" machine pays 8 and 5, reducing the return to 97.30%. Every step down in pay table numbers significantly increases the house edge.
Continue Learning
Build on your video poker knowledge with our complete poker education resources.