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Message: [QUOTE="VictorOd, post: 7192860, member: 207207"] 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. [B]1. Game Selection is Everything[/B] [LIST] [*][B]Find a "Full-Pay" Machine:[/B]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. [LIST] [*][B]Jacks or Better (JoB):[/B] 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 [B]99.54%[/B] with perfect play. Avoid 8/5 or 7/5 machines, as they have a significantly higher house edge. [*][B]Other Games:[/B] 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. [/LIST] [/LIST] [B]2. Always Bet the Max (5 Coins)[/B] [LIST] [*]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 [B]4,000 coins[/B] for a 5-coin bet. Without betting the max, you give up the bonus that makes the game beatable in the long run. [/LIST] [B]3. Use a Strategy Chart[/B] [LIST] [*]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. [*][B]Memorize the Chart:[/B] 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). [*][B]Key Decisions:[/B] 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. [/LIST] [B]4. Manage Your Bankroll and Play Slowly[/B] [LIST] [*]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. [*][B]Don't Rush:[/B] Take your time on each hand to make the correct decision. There's no dealer or other players pressuring you. [*][B]Set a Budget:[/B] 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. [/LIST] Here is a chart comparing popular video poker variants by key factors: [TABLE] [TR] [TH]Variant[/TH] [TH]RTP[/TH] [TH]House Edge[/TH] [TH]Strategy Complexity[/TH] [TH]Volatility[/TH] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Jacks or Better[/TD] [TD]99.54%[/TD] [TD]0.46%[/TD] [TD]Medium[/TD] [TD]Low[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Deuces Wild[/TD] [TD]99.73%[/TD] [TD]0.27%[/TD] [TD]High[/TD] [TD]Medium[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Joker Poker[/TD] [TD]98.90%[/TD] [TD]1.10%[/TD] [TD]Medium[/TD] [TD]High[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Double Bonus[/TD] [TD]99.38%[/TD] [TD]0.62%[/TD] [TD]High[/TD] [TD]High[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Here is a [I][B]basic optimal strategy for [I]J[/I][/B][/I][B][I]acks or Better [/I][/B][I][B]video poker[/B][/I] as a prioritized list we can use as a strategy chart: [LIST] [*]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. [/LIST] This simplified list helps decide which cards to hold or discard to maximize returns using the strategy. Here is a detailed [I][B]basic strategy for[/B][/I] [I][B]Deuces Wild video poker [/B][/I]broken down by how many deuces (wild cards) you have in your hand: [LIST] [*][B]4 Deuces:[/B] Always keep all four deuces. [*][B]3 Deuces:[/B] Keep a wild royal flush if you have it; otherwise keep the three deuces and discard the other two cards. [*][B]2 Deuces:[/B] 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. [*][B]1 Deuce:[/B] 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). [*][B]No Deuces:[/B] 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. [/LIST] 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? [/QUOTE]

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