Video Poker: Pro Tips To Maximize Potential Profit

[VictorOd]

Video poker is one of the few casino games where, with a perfect strategy, you can get the house edge down to almost zero, and sometimes even have a slight advantage over the casino.

1. Game Selection is Everything

• Find a "Full-Pay" Machine:This is the single most important tip. The payout percentages on video poker machines vary dramatically. A "full-pay" machine offers the best possible payout for each winning hand.
  • Jacks or Better (JoB): The classic "full-pay" JoB machine is a 9/6 machine. This means it pays 9 credits for a Full House and 6 credits for a Flush (for every 1 credit bet). A 9/6 machine has a return-to-player (RTP) of 99.54% with perfect play. Avoid 8/5 or 7/5 machines, as they have a significantly higher house edge.
  • Other Games: Other games have different full-pay schedules. For example, a full-pay Deuces Wild machine has a theoretical RTP of over 100% when played perfectly. You must do your research to find the right paytable for the specific game you are playing.

2. Always Bet the Max (5 Coins)

• The payout for a Royal Flush is disproportionately higher when you bet the maximum number of coins (usually 5).
• For example, on a Jacks or Better machine, a Royal Flush might pay 250 coins for a 1-coin bet, but 4,000 coins for a 5-coin bet. Without betting the max, you give up the bonus that makes the game beatable in the long run.

3. Use a Strategy Chart

• This is the core of playing profitably. Unlike other casino games, video poker is not about "gut feeling." There is a mathematically correct decision for every possible hand.
• Memorize the Chart: A strategy chart ranks all possible starting hands from best to worst. You must learn the chart for the specific game you're playing (e.g., Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild).
• Key Decisions: The chart will tell you, for example, to hold a low pair over three cards to a straight flush, or to break up a pair of Jacks to go for a Royal Flush draw. Following this chart reduces the house edge to the bare minimum.

4. Manage Your Bankroll and Play Slowly

• Video poker is a game of variance. You can have long losing streaks, but a big win like a Royal Flush can bring you into profit.
• Don't Rush: Take your time on each hand to make the correct decision. There's no dealer or other players pressuring you.
• Set a Budget: Know how much you are willing to lose in a session and stick to that limit. Video poker is still gambling, and you can lose your money.

Here is a chart comparing popular video poker variants by key factors:

Variant	RTP	House Edge	Strategy Complexity	Volatility
Jacks or Better	99.54%	0.46%	Medium	Low
Deuces Wild	99.73%	0.27%	High	Medium
Joker Poker	98.90%	1.10%	Medium	High
Double Bonus	99.38%	0.62%	High	High

Here is a basic optimal strategy for Jacks or Better video poker as a prioritized list we can use as a strategy chart:

• Hold any winning hands: royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, high pair (Jacks or better).
• Hold 4 cards to a royal flush (if no winning hands).
• Hold 3 cards to a royal flush (if no 4-card royal flush).
• Hold 4 cards to a straight flush.
• Hold a high pair (10s or higher).
• Hold 2 suited high cards (Jack or higher).
• Discard all cards if nothing above applies.

This simplified list helps decide which cards to hold or discard to maximize returns using the strategy.

Here is a detailed basic strategy for Deuces Wild video poker broken down by how many deuces (wild cards) you have in your hand:

• 4 Deuces: Always keep all four deuces.
• 3 Deuces: Keep a wild royal flush if you have it; otherwise keep the three deuces and discard the other two cards.
• 2 Deuces: Hold any natural four-of-a-kind or better, four cards to a royal flush, four cards to a straight flush plus two consecutive singletons (6-7 or higher), or just the two deuces.
• 1 Deuce: Keep any natural four-of-a-kind or better, four cards to a royal flush, full house, four cards to a straight flush (with 3 consecutive cards 5-7 or higher), three of a kind, straight, flush, four cards to any straight flush, three cards to a royal flush, and the deuce plus two cards to a straight flush (6-7 or higher).
• No Deuces: Follow traditional poker hand rankings—keep any royal flush, four cards to a royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, etc., and apply nuanced rules about straight flush draws and suited cards.

Key notes: Never discard a deuce because it's a wild card, and always prioritize holding the highest-ranked playable hand available. The strategy is complex but logical, and using charts while learning will improve your returns.


CardsChat, do you play video poker and which variations?
How do you like this thread? Maybe too long, too complicated or vise versa too simple and basic?
Is there something interesting and new for you?

 

[SpanRmonka]

Its not something I play, but I love the detail @VictorOd

Great to have a basic strategy mapped out and described clearly

Thanks for all the info, I may even try it out next time I'm in the casino, or maybe online first I assume its possible.

 

[maronza1]

Let’s Talk Video Poker

Lately I’ve been curious about video poker. It’s kind of like a mix of slots and poker – you get 5 cards on a screen, pick which ones to keep, and then it deals the rest. If you make a poker hand, you get paid. The payouts depend on the hand and the version you play. For example, in Jacks or...

www.cardschat.com

 

[najisami]

CardsChat, do you play video poker and which variations?
How do you like this thread? Maybe too long, too complicated or vise versa too simple and basic?
Is there something interesting and new for you?

Honestly, I always considered video poker a Slot machine, which doesn't mean that I have never played it. I remember having played JOB and 2s wild, but wasn't aware of the strategy, nor the chart you've so well described.

Very informative thread, just long enough, it even made me want to give the game a shot.is

What I found most interesting (And new for me) is the 9/6, 8/5 and 7/5 different pay-outs.

 

[Rost]

I am quite skeptical about such entertainment. I think that if everything worked as you described, quite a few players would regularly receive income. In my opinion, the casino will always have an advantage, regardless of your strategy. The software can always be configured in such a way that any of your strategies simply won't work. Of course, any software can be bypassed, but if you do it once or twice, it won't go unnoticed and the necessary adjustments will be made.

 

[VictorOd]

@maronza1 Oh, it was a late night and my eyes didn't notice your thread, sorry... maybe I wouldn't create this one. However content is different, not the same.

 

[maronza1]

@maronza1 Oh, it was a late night and my eyes didn't notice your thread, sorry... maybe I wouldn't create this one. However content is different, not the same.

Yes I think these 2 threads compliment each other

 

[Sunz of Beaches]

Is it possible to be profitable in such a game like video poker? Some vegas poker regs seem to play that game all the time, do they play this to get casino vip or can u really win longterm?

 

[black and]

Useful information. I hope that thanks to such detailed instructions, I will be able to improve my results and at least not spend as much as usual
Video poker is obviously a game where experience and skill also matter.

 

[MishkaZL]

Sometimes I played ‘Jacks or Better’ on 888. It really does look better than the others. But as for the maximum bet, I've never heard of that. Very interesting. In that case, the question arises, what do you think the bankroll should be for long-term play on this machine?

 

[Igor G]

In video poker, as in blackjack, I always played relying solely on luck. I believed that skills in such games did not matter, as luck would decide everything. But obviously, this is not entirely true. It is clear that there are basic strategies that can be used to increase your chances of good results. Thank you for your detailed explanation.

 

[R.Holynskyi]

I played video poker often and a lot for at least 5-7 years. There was a gaming hall near my house, and I went there almost every day after work. But the slots I played were set up in such a way that it was practically impossible to win, and no strategy would have given the desired result.

 

[dzsire]

I think this is a great little summary that covers the two types that I usually play. Thanks for that.
I prefer Deuces Wild, because of the Deuces it is much more exciting and attractive than regular Jacks or Better.
I would like to know if there is anyone who has ever gotten a Royal Flush with the highest (5 coins) bet and how big the prize was then. I've been lucky enough to get a Royal Flush on Deuces Wild several times, but only on bets of 0.02$ and 0.1$ with 1 Coin.

 

[Kenzie 96]

Nice post, enjoyed the read. Which do you think is more likely to occur: walking into your local Dunkin Donuts shop & finding a Sasquatch sitting at a table enjoying an iced coffee & a maple bar, or wandering into a casino & finding a 9/6 Jacks or better machine? I believe both are myths.

 

[Mart1194]

Honestly, a very beautiful theory. But I think the name itself says so. Slot machine, Casino, there is little possibility of winning. Not much skill involved. But it's worth a try. Especially if you play with conscience, without the intention of making only a profit, after all, the house always has an advantage

 

[antonis32123]

Online I have played video poker . I wasn't much impressed . Maybe I played 3-4 times , the payouts didn't excite me , neither my results . , I prefer the normal poker at the tables . Video poker I guess is only to have fun . I played video strip poker some times in the very far past at a store , I guess that's more fun than simple video poker lol

 

[TeUnit]

Pick the right machine, understand the odds, and know how to max your comps.

 

[Lena M]

Your publication is definitely interesting and useful. I learned a lot of new things that I didn't know before. Sometimes I usually play on 888 and only play ‘Jacks or Better’. Now, after receiving such interesting and useful information, I hope to play more often and better.

 

[MK_]

I think Jacks or Better or Deuces Wild are the 2 video poker games I like the most,

very low house edge for both of them too😎👍

 

[Sunz of Beaches]

Pick the right machine, understand the odds, and know how to max your comps.

Haha that's a funny one. Im sure those Comps and other free stuff play a big role in the life of many regular live casino spinners.

 

[Ruslan L]

"Always Bet the Max" (5 Coins)
It seems like a pretty good offer. I never thought about the advantages you described, I didn't even know about them. Obviously, what you are offering is really an option worth considering. However, at the same time, such a game will require considerable financial resources.

 

[userX]

I think that whatever strategy you choose, without luck you won't emerge victorious from this battle. And talk of long-term income in such games seems to me to be a kind of fantasy. If you want to make money, you just need to start your own business. If you want to have fun, then welcome to the casino