The Best Strategies for Video Poker (Jacks or Better)
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.
If you learn the optimal strategy, Video Poker transforms from a predatory casino trap into one of the most mathematically fair games on the entire casino floor.
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
The casino secretly alters their House Edge by changing the payouts on only two specific hands: the Full House and the Flush.
This means the machine pays exactly 9 coins for a Full House (per 1 coin bet) and 6 coins for a Flush.
However, casinos are greedy. They will frequently place "Short Pay" machines (like an 8/5 or a 7/5 machine) right next to the good ones.
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 look at the paytable, the payouts for all hands scale perfectly linearly for coins 1 through 4 (e.g., a Flush pays 6 coins for a 1-coin bet, and 24 coins for a 4-coin bet).
If betting 5 coins on a $1 machine ($5 a hand) is too expensive for your bankroll, do not drop down to betting 1 coin.
You must always activate that massive 4,000-coin bonus, regardless of the denomination you are playing.
Step 3: Executing Basic Strategy (The Hierarchy of Hands)
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.
For example, if you are dealt a High Pair (e.g., two Jacks, a guaranteed 5-coin payout) BUT you also have 4 cards to a Royal Flush (e.g., J, Q, K, A of Hearts), what do you do?
Conversely, if you hold a High Pair and 4 cards to a regular Flush (e.g., J, J, 4, 7, 9 of Hearts), the math flips entirely.
One of the most common amateur mistakes is holding a "Kicker" (an extra high card) alongside a pair. If you are dealt a pair of 2s and an Ace, NEVER hold the Ace.
The Order of Operations (From Highest EV to Lowest)
- Dealt Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind: Stop thinking. Hold all five cards and press draw to collect your massive payout.
- 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. Solid Winners: Take the guaranteed money. The math says these payouts are too valuable to risk for a massive gamble.
- 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. Color Hunting: A solid, reliable draw that pays 30 coins. Dumping the Trash: You are hoping to hit "Trips." The math demands you draw three new cards. Never Chase the Gutshot: Drawing to an inside straight is one of the most expensive amateur mistakes in the game.
- 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.
Why the Payouts Matter
The Poker HandYour Reward (Max Bet)How Often It Happens Royal Flush4,000 Coins (The Massive Bonus)Roughly 1 in 40,000 hands. You will play for days without seeing one. Straight Flush250 CoinsRoughly 1 in 9,000 hands. The Session SaverA solid, reliable winner.This is what you are truly hunting when you hold a Low Pair. Full House (The "9")45 Coins (9 x 5 coins)Roughly 1 in 86 hands. The ColorThis must pay 6 per coin. If it pays 5, walk away.A solid, frequent winner. The PushYou don't win any money, but you don't lose any either.This is the absolute lifeblood of your bankroll. It keeps you in the seat.
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.