Video poker strategy is the bridge between casual play and consistent, long-term results. Unlike slot machines, video poker is a game of skill where decisions you make instantaneously—what cards you hold and what you discard—directly change the expected return. Over years of play and analysis, I’ve seen how small adjustments to strategy and machine selection turn frustrating sessions into steady winners. This guide lays out practical, experience-based advice, the math behind decisions, and modern tools you can use to improve today.
Why strategy matters more than luck
At first glance video poker looks like pure chance: five cards are dealt, you choose what to keep, and the rest are drawn. But the difference is that the probabilities of improving a hand are fixed and known. If you make the correct decision every time, you capture the maximum possible expected return from the specific pay table you’re playing. Make poor choices—keep the wrong cards or ignore a high-expected-value hold—and you give money back to the house.
Think of it like driving a car: the road’s conditions (the pay table and variant) determine the speed you can safely travel, but your choices—steering, braking, accelerating—determine whether you arrive efficiently or waste fuel. Video poker strategy reduces variance and compiles your marginal gains into meaningful improvements over time.
Start with pay tables: choose the right machine
Not all video poker machines are created equal. The single biggest strategic decision is which pay table to play. For example, in Jacks or Better, the classic “full-pay” 9/6 machine (9 for full house, 6 for flush) offers about a 99.54% return with perfect play, while a 8/5 version drops significantly. Always check the pay table before you sit down; a tiny difference in payouts can cost you hundreds of dollars over thousands of hands.
Practical checklist:
- Prefer full-pay machines (e.g., 9/6 Jacks or Better) when available.
- For progressive jackpots, calculate when the progressive jackpot pushes the ROI above break-even—don’t chase without math.
- Be wary of denominations: higher denominations often have slightly better pay tables or promotions, but confirm before betting big.
Core strategy principles (the rules to live by)
Rather than memorizing an exhaustive chart for every possible hand, internalize key principles that guide near-optimal decisions across variants:
- Always keep any paying hand (a pair of jacks or better, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, royal flush).
- Favor five-card pat hands over draws. A pat flush beats the expected value of breaking it up for a shot at a higher hand.
- Prefer high-probability draws with greater expected value—e.g., 4 to a royal or 4 to a straight flush often outrank other draws.
- Use rank-based tie-breakers: for example, with a high pair vs. 3 to a royal, keep the high pair on many Jacks or Better pay tables, but shift if the pay table or variant changes.
These principles let you make smart choices in most real-world situations. However, the exact order of holds depends on the variant and pay table, which is why learning a simple strategy chart for your favorite game is worth the time.
Variant-specific tips: Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Double Bonus
Each variant has its own optimal strategy because the presence of wild cards or bonus payouts changes the expected values dramatically.
Jacks or Better
This is the best place to learn video poker strategy because the math is straightforward and full-pay versions exist. The general prioritized strategy (simplified) is:
- Pat hands (paying hands) > 4 to a royal > 4 to a straight flush > 3 to a royal > high pair > 4 to a flush > low pair > 3 to a straight flush, etc.
Example: Dealt A♠ K♠ Q♠ 7♣ 2♦. You should hold A♠ K♠ Q♠ (a 3-card royal with two high cards). But if you have J♣ J♦ 3♠ 4♥ 6♦, keep the pair of jacks because a paying pair beats speculative draws.
Deuces Wild
Wild deuces change the strategy entirely. Deuces are powerful and often entitle you to single-deuce payouts that blow up normal decisions. In this variant, you will frequently break up high non-pair cards to chase wild-involved hands. Specific strategy charts for deuces wild are essential; generic rules are riskier.
Double Bonus, Triple Play and More
Bonus games pay extra for certain four-of-a-kind combinations, so the strategy will often favor chasing four-of-a-kind possibilities when the math supports it. Multi-hand formats (Triple Play, 100-play) emphasize bankroll management and speed—practice on a simulator before playing many hands simultaneously.
Concrete examples with reasoning
Example 1 — Jacks or Better, hand: K♣ Q♣ J♣ 10♦ 3♠
Hold K♣ Q♣ J♣. Why? You have a 3-card royal (KQJ) that can become a royal flush with two more suited cards, but more importantly it’s 4 to a straight or 4 to a royal potential depending on draws. Discarding high singletons would reduce your expected return.
Example 2 — Jacks or Better, hand: Q♠ Q♦ 8♣ 7♦ 3♣
Hold the pair of queens. A mid/high pair pays and offers a much better expected value than breaking it up to chase a 3-card straight or flush where improvement probabilities don’t offset the immediate payout.
These decisions are backed by expected value calculations: compute possible draws, multiply by their payouts, and compare. Strategy charts compress that math into actionable rules.
Bankroll and variance management
Even perfect strategy doesn’t guarantee short-term wins. Variance still exists—especially in games with big bonuses. Bankroll requirements are a function of volatility. For example, Triple Play or high-payoff variants require larger bankrolls to smooth out swings.
Practical advice:
- Set session loss limits and win goals.
- Bet the maximum coin amount when playing for progressive or multiplier jackpots; otherwise, play denominations you can sustain.
- Use smaller session bets to practice a new strategy until you’re comfortable.
Training tools and how to practice
Modern training tools give you immediate feedback on your plays and show expected returns for different choices. Use these to build intuition before you risk real money. Features to look for:
- Instant EV feedback for each decision
- Hand history review
- Custom pay table selection (so you can practice on the exact machine you plan to play)
I started my journey using a handheld strategy trainer and quickly saw my error rates collapse. Within a week, my average hourly loss dropped by a noticeable margin because I stopped making avoidable mistakes like breaking up high pairs for low-probability draws.
Technology and recent developments
The last few years have brought better simulators, mobile apps, and cloud-based solvers that allow players to test millions of hands and refine strategy for niche pay tables. Online casinos have also introduced new variants and multi-hand formats; always verify the pay table and RNG certification. Additionally, progressive video pokers linked across properties can reach enormous jackpots; use software to calculate break-even points before committing to max coins.
Combating common mistakes
Many players lose not because of bad pay tables but because of predictable errors:
- Ignoring pay tables and assuming all Jacks or Better machines are equal.
- Playing max coins without understanding the progressive or bonus math (or not betting max when it’s necessary for jackpots).
- Letting moments of “heat” make you deviate from optimal plays—stick to strategy.
One mistake I see frequently: swapping long-term strategy for short-term superstition after a string of bad beats. The correct response is to review whether your plays were optimal; if they were, variance is the culprit. If not, reset and practice.
Resources and continued learning
Deepen your skills by combining math, practice, and reputable resources. Strategy charts, calculators, and hand history analysis tools are essential. For general gaming resources and community tools, you can visit keywords to find platforms that discuss variants and strategy discussions.
Other recommendations:
- Carry a laminated strategy card for your chosen variant until the plays become automatic.
- Use free online trainers for hundreds of hands a day to build pattern recognition.
- Read up on pay table theory and progressive mathematics—knowing when a progressive becomes a positive EV play is crucial.
Putting it into action: a one-week improvement plan
Day 1–2: Choose a variant (start with Jacks or Better) and study a reliable strategy chart for the specific pay table you plan to play.
Day 3–4: Practice with a trainer, aiming for at least 500 hands per day. Focus on reducing clear errors (e.g., breaking pairs).
Day 5: Play low-denomination real-money sessions applying the strategy; review hand histories afterward.
Day 6–7: Reassess; if error rate is low, gradually increase session length or denomination. Keep track of bankroll swings and adjust bet size accordingly.
Final thoughts
Video poker strategy transforms the game from a guessing exercise into a skill-based pursuit. By selecting the right pay table, learning prioritized decision rules, practicing with modern tools, and managing bankroll, you can maximize returns and enjoy a more predictable gaming experience. The combination of solid math and disciplined play is what separates casual players from consistent winners—start small, stay curious, and make each decision count.
For a quick refresher and access to community discussions about variants and pay tables, check out keywords. Play smart, and may your draws be favorable.
