Getting Maximum Returns From Jacks Or Better Video Poker

Added: February 6, 2015

Video poker is a popular gambling game in Australia and all online casinos offer several variants. The most played of these is Jacks or Better online video poker. This article offers a few simple tips for new players so that they can get higher returns, as close as possible to the theoretical average return of 99.5%.

Most Australian online casinos offer the 9-6 version of Jacks or Better video poker, but it is better to check this out from the payout tables. The 9-6 version refers to a payout of 9 to 1 for full house and 6 to 1 for flush. Other versions available are 8-6 and 8-5. These should be avoided because they offer lower returns. You have a choice to wager from 1 to 5 coins. You must always select 5 coins, because this offers a jackpot payout for royal flush. If you choose less than 5 coins and get a royal flush you will be kicking yourself. The optimum strategy outlined below assumes that 5 coins will be wagered.

After you are dealt your first five cards you must check whether you have any winning combination. Hands without winning combinations are referred to as unmade hands and the strategy for playing these is discussed first. You have to memorize a list of hand rankings. You then have to hold cards so to have the highest hand ranking from the list. The list in descending order is as follows: four to a royal flush, four to a straight flush, three to a royal flush, four to a flush, low pairs, four to a straight, three to a straight flush, two to a royal flush, two unpaired cards higher than jack and one card higher than jack. Low pairs are a pair of tens or lower, which do not appear in the payout table for Jacks or Better. If you do not have any of these combinations you should discard all five cards and take five new ones.

The Jacks or Better online video poker optimum strategy states that never break a winning combination. There are two exceptions to this rule. The first exception is that when you hold four cards to a straight flush and a jacks or better pair, you should break the pair and retain four cards to a straight flush. The second exception is that when you hold four cards to a royal flush then the fifth card must be discarded even if it contributes to a winning combination.