Video Poker Strategy: Rules, Hands & Payouts Explained
Video poker strategy is what separates this game from every slot machine on the casino floor. Unlike slots, where the outcome is entirely random, video poker gives you five cards and lets you decide which to keep and which to discard. Make the right decisions consistently and you can push the house edge below 0.5% — better than almost any other game in the casino. This guide covers the rules, hand rankings, pay tables, hold strategy, and the most popular variants.
Updated Written by Jonathan Williams
What Is Video Poker?
Video poker is a single-player card game played on a screen. It combines the hand rankings of five-card draw poker with the simplicity of a slot machine — no opponents, no bluffing, and no dealer to beat. Your only goal is to build the strongest possible poker hand from the five cards you are dealt.
The game uses a standard 52-card deck (or 53 with a Joker in certain variants). A random number generator determines which cards are dealt, and every card in the deck has an equal chance of appearing. What makes video poker unique among casino games is that your hold and discard decisions have a direct, measurable impact on your expected return. This is why it appeals to players who prefer blackjack-style strategy over pure chance.
How a Hand of Video Poker Works
Every round follows the same five-step sequence. There are no rounds against other players — it is just you and the machine.
- Choose your bet. Select the coin denomination and number of credits (1 to 5). Always bet the maximum five credits to unlock the full Royal Flush payout.
- Press Deal. Five cards are dealt face-up from a freshly shuffled virtual deck.
- Hold or discard. Tap the cards you want to keep. Any card not held will be replaced.
- Press Draw. The discarded cards are replaced with new cards from the same deck.
- Collect your payout. The machine evaluates your final five-card hand against the pay table and pays automatically.
The entire process takes a few seconds. There is no dealer, no waiting for other players, and no pressure to act quickly — you can take as long as you need to decide which cards to hold.
Video Poker Hand Rankings
Winning hands in video poker follow standard poker rankings. In Jacks or Better — the most common variant — the minimum qualifying hand is a pair of Jacks or higher. Anything below that pays nothing.
| Hand | Description | 9/6 Jacks or Better Payout (5 credits) |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | A, K, Q, J, 10 — all same suit | 4,000 credits (800:1) |
| Straight Flush | Five consecutive cards, same suit | 250 credits (50:1) |
| Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same rank | 125 credits (25:1) |
| Full House | Three of a kind + a pair | 45 credits (9:1) |
| Flush | Five cards of the same suit | 30 credits (6:1) |
| Straight | Five consecutive cards, mixed suits | 20 credits (4:1) |
| Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same rank | 15 credits (3:1) |
| Two Pair | Two different pairs | 10 credits (2:1) |
| Jacks or Better | Pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces | 5 credits (1:1) |
The Royal Flush jackpot is the reason you should always bet maximum credits. At five credits, a Royal pays 4,000 — but at four credits, it pays only 1,000 (250:1 instead of 800:1). This single difference shifts the overall RTP by roughly 1.5%.
How to Read a Video Poker Pay Table
The pay table is displayed at the top of every video poker machine, and it is the most important thing to check before you play. It tells you exactly how much each hand pays and determines the game’s overall return percentage.
Pay tables are identified by shorthand based on the Full House and Flush payouts. A “9/6” Jacks or Better machine pays 9 credits for a Full House and 6 for a Flush per credit wagered. A “8/5” machine pays 8 and 5. The difference seems small, but it shifts the RTP from 99.54% down to 97.30% — a massive gap over hundreds of hands.
| Pay Table | Full House | Flush | RTP (Optimal Strategy) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/6 (full pay) | 9:1 | 6:1 | 99.54% |
| 8/6 | 8:1 | 6:1 | 98.39% |
| 8/5 | 8:1 | 5:1 | 97.30% |
| 7/5 | 7:1 | 5:1 | 96.15% |
Always look for 9/6 or better when playing Jacks or Better. If only short-pay machines are available, you are better off choosing a different variant with a higher return. Our casino guides cover how to evaluate game value across different casino offerings.
Basic Video Poker Strategy
Optimal video poker strategy tells you which cards to hold in every possible situation. Unlike roulette or baccarat, your decisions directly change the expected return — following correct strategy on a 9/6 Jacks or Better machine gives you 99.54% RTP, while playing on gut feeling drops it below 97%.
The Hold Priority List
When deciding which cards to keep, work down this list from top to bottom. Hold the first combination that matches your hand:
- Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind (hold all five)
- Four cards to a Royal Flush (discard the fifth, even if it breaks a made Flush or Straight)
- Full House, Flush, Straight (hold all five)
- Three of a Kind (hold the three, discard two)
- Two Pair (hold both pairs, discard the fifth card)
- High Pair — Jacks or better (hold the pair, discard three)
- Four cards to a Straight Flush
- Three cards to a Royal Flush
- Four cards to a Flush
- Low Pair — 2s through 10s (hold the pair, discard three)
- Four cards to an open-ended Straight
- Two suited high cards (e.g., King-Queen of spades)
- Three cards to a Straight Flush
- Two unsuited high cards (keep the lowest two if three or more)
- One high card (Jack, Queen, King, or Ace — hold it, discard four)
- Nothing useful — discard all five
Key Strategy Rules to Remember
- Always bet max credits. The Royal Flush bonus at five credits is too valuable to give up.
- Never hold a kicker. If you have Three of a Kind, discard the other two cards — keeping a “kicker” reduces your chances of improving to Four of a Kind or a Full House.
- Break a made hand for a Royal draw. Four cards to a Royal Flush has a higher expected value than a completed Flush or Straight. Discard the fifth card and go for the Royal.
- Always hold a low pair over a single high card. A pair of 4s has a higher expected return than holding a single Ace.
Popular Video Poker Variants
Several video poker variants exist beyond Jacks or Better. Each uses different pay tables, wild cards, or qualifying hands, and each requires its own adjusted strategy.
| Variant | Key Difference | Best RTP (Optimal Strategy) |
|---|---|---|
| Jacks or Better (9/6) | Standard — minimum win is pair of Jacks | 99.54% |
| Bonus Poker (8/5) | Higher payout for Four Aces (80 credits) | 99.17% |
| Double Bonus (10/7) | Even higher Four of a Kind payouts; Two Pair pays only 1:1 | 100.17% |
| Deuces Wild (full pay) | All 2s are wild; minimum win is Three of a Kind | 100.76% |
| Joker Poker | 53-card deck with one Joker wild; minimum win varies | ~100.64% (full pay) |
Deuces Wild and Double Bonus can actually give the player a mathematical edge over the house when played with perfect strategy — something that does not exist in any other standard casino game. However, the full-pay versions of these machines are increasingly rare. Always check the pay table before playing, because short-pay versions of the same variant can have significantly worse returns.
Video Poker vs Slots
Video poker and slots look similar on the surface — both are screen-based, single-player, and use RNG — but the underlying mechanics are fundamentally different.
- Skill vs chance: Slots are 100% random with no player decisions. Video poker rewards correct strategy with a measurably higher return.
- RTP: Full-pay video poker returns 99–101% with optimal play. Most online slots return 94–97%. You can compare specific slot returns in our free demo slots library.
- Transparency: Video poker pay tables are visible before you play and tell you the exact return. Slot pay tables show multipliers but the hit frequency and volatility are hidden.
- Variance: Video poker has lower variance than most slots. You win smaller amounts more frequently, making sessions more predictable.
If you enjoy the pace and solitude of slots but want better odds and a strategic element, video poker is the natural step up.
Tips for Playing Video Poker Online
A few practical habits help you get the most value from every session.
- Find full-pay machines first. The pay table determines everything. A 9/6 Jacks or Better with perfect strategy returns 99.54%; an 8/5 version returns 97.30%. Always check before you play.
- Always play maximum credits. If the denomination is too high for your bankroll, move to a lower-stakes machine rather than reducing your credits.
- Use a strategy card or trainer. Online play lets you reference a strategy chart with zero penalty. Free trainers exist that flag suboptimal holds in real time.
- Understand how video poker interacts with bonuses. Most casino bonuses count video poker at only 5–25% toward wagering requirements, making it slow for bonus clearing despite the high RTP.
- Start at low stakes. Many new online casinos offer video poker from €0.25 per hand, giving you room to practice strategy without significant risk.
- Play at licensed casinos only. Video poker RNG is certified the same way slot RNG is — by independent labs. Our guide on spotting a safe online casino covers what to verify.
For the best experience, pick a reputable online casino that offers a variety of video poker variants so you can compare pay tables and find the best returns available.
Conclusion
Video poker is one of the only casino games where skill genuinely moves the needle. Find a full-pay machine, learn the hold priorities, always bet maximum credits, and you are playing at a house edge most table games cannot match. The strategy takes practice but the pay table tells you everything you need to know before you start.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best video poker variant for beginners?
Jacks or Better is the best starting point. It has the simplest strategy, the most widely available full-pay tables (9/6), and a clear hand ranking system. Once you are comfortable with the hold decisions, you can move to more complex variants like Deuces Wild or Bonus Poker.
Why should I always bet maximum credits?
The Royal Flush payout at five credits is disproportionately higher than at fewer credits — 800:1 versus 250:1. This bonus shifts the overall RTP by roughly 1.5%. If you cannot afford max credits at your current denomination, move to a lower-stakes machine instead of reducing your bet size.
Can you beat the house at video poker?
Yes — on specific full-pay machines. Deuces Wild (full pay) returns 100.76% and Double Bonus (10/7) returns 100.17% with optimal strategy. However, these machines are increasingly rare, and the player advantage is very small. Most widely available video poker games still have a slight house edge, though it remains far lower than slots or most table games.
How does video poker RTP compare to online slots?
Full-pay video poker offers 99–101% RTP with correct strategy. Most online slots return 94–97%. The difference means that for every €100 wagered, you lose roughly €0.50 at video poker versus €3–€6 at an average slot. However, video poker requires learning and applying strategy to achieve those returns.
Is online video poker fair?
Licensed online video poker uses the same certified random number generators as slots, tested by independent laboratories such as eCOGRA, GLI, and iTech Labs. Each card has an equal probability of being dealt from a virtual 52-card deck (or 53 in Joker variants). The outcomes are audited and regulated by licensing authorities like the UKGC and Malta Gaming Authority.