video poker machine

What Is Video Poker?

Video poker is a popular casino game that merges five-card draw poker mechanics with a slot machine-style interface. While luck plays a major role, strategy significantly influences your returns, setting it apart from many other casino offerings.

Dating back to the 1970s, video poker truly took off with advancements in gaming technology. Today, you’ll find dozens of variants both at traditional and online casinos in the UK, each with distinct rules and pay structures.

Basic Rules

In a typical online video poker game, you start by placing a bet and receiving five cards. You then decide which cards to keep (hold) and which to discard. The discarded cards are replaced with new ones, and your final five-card hand determines your payout. Standard poker rankings apply, from high card all the way up to a royal flush. The stronger your hand, the higher your prize—provided you’re playing on a favorable pay table.

video poker hands

Dealing, Holding, and Drawing

When you click “Deal,” the game provides five cards. From here, the strategic element comes into play. You decide which cards to hold based on your best chance to form a winning hand. After selecting which cards to keep, click “Draw” to replace the rest. The resulting hand is final and determines your prize according to that game’s pay table.

Common Variations

Jacks or Better is a staple of the genre. You need at least a pair of Jacks to receive a payout, making it relatively straightforward for beginners.

Deuces Wild adds a twist by designating all twos as wild cards, which can substitute for any other card to form higher-value hands. Joker Poker (sometimes called Joker’s Wild) involves a single joker that serves as a wild. Variations like Bonus Poker and Double Double Bonus Poker introduce special payout bonuses for certain combinations, especially four-of-a-kind hands with Aces, face cards, or particular ranks.

Crafting a Strategy

Video poker has a mathematical backbone you can use to your advantage:

Know the Pay Table: Machines with “full pay”—such as a 9/6 Jacks or Better—return more over the long run. Even a small change in the pay table can significantly affect your overall winnings.
Use Strategy Charts: For each variation, there are optimized charts that tell you precisely which cards to hold in different situations. Familiarize yourself with these before playing for real money.
Mind Your Bankroll: Betting more coins per hand increases potential payouts, especially for a royal flush, but ensure your stake suits your budget. Being forced to play beyond your means often leads to poor decisions and bigger losses.

With this in mind, let's take a closer look at the optimal strategy for the most popular video poker variant, 9/6 (or "Full Pay") Jacks or Better.

Video Poker Strategy Chart

Below is a condensed strategy chart showing the correct ranking of all playable hands from best (top) to worst (bottom), along with their approximate average returns. To use it, identify all possible ways to play your dealt hand, find each option on the chart, and choose whichever appears highest on the list. If a potential play isn’t on this list, it is never the correct choice.

video poker strategy chart

video poker strategy chart 2

Footnotes & Exceptions

A 4 to a Flush beats 3 to a Royal Flush if the Royal draw includes a T and A, and the fifth card is a 10 or a “straight penalty” card. This subtle exception adds about 0.00000021 to the overall return.
B 4 to an Inside Straight beats Suited Q-J if there is a 9 or “flush penalty” card.
C 3 to a Straight Flush (type 2) vs. 4 to an Inside Straight (3 high cards): Keep the 3 to a SF if there is no “straight penalty” card. This adds ~0.00000020 to the return.
D Suited T-J vs. Unsuited J-K: If there is no flush penalty card, keep T-J; otherwise keep J-K.
E Suited T-Q vs. Unsuited Q-A: If there is no flush penalty card, keep T-Q; otherwise keep Q-A.
F Suited T-K vs. K Only: Normally T-K is better, but if you must discard a 9 and a flush penalty card to hold T-K, then keep the K only.

Hands That Are Never Played

(Because other options or a full discard are always better)

Suited 10 and Ace → Keep Ace only
Three Unsuited High Cards (ace highest) → Keep lowest two high cards
4 to an Inside Straight (2 high cards) → Keep the two high cards
4 to an Inside Straight (1 high card) → Keep the single high card
4 to an Inside Straight (0 high cards) → Discard everything

Use this chart as a quick reference guide. Whenever you see multiple ways to play your hand, always choose the highest-ranked option. By following this strategy exactly, you’ll achieve perfect play—and the highest possible return—on standard “Jacks or Better”-type video poker.

Bankroll Management and Avoiding Pitfalls

Set a realistic budget and stick to it. Decide how much you’re willing to lose before you start playing—this helps you maintain control when luck turns against you. It’s also good practice to take breaks and avoid chasing losses. If you’re new to video poker, many online platforms offer free demo versions where you can hone your skills without risking real money.

If you want to learn more about bankroll management, check out our in depth guide here.

Advanced Tips

Once you’ve grasped the basics, you might try variations with higher volatility like Double Double Bonus Poker. Some games also include a progressive jackpot that increases as more players contribute. If the jackpot climbs high enough, it can make for a very attractive payout on rare hands like royal flushes. Loyalty programs at reputable online casinos can also help you earn rewards or cashback, so it’s worth signing up if you play regularly.

Choosing Where to Play

Look for online casinos that are fully licensed and regulated to ensure fair play. A reputable operator should offer multiple payment methods, straightforward withdrawals, and responsive customer support. Before depositing real funds, test out the site’s video poker games in free-play mode to confirm that you enjoy the interface and speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is online video poker rigged?

Not when you play at a properly regulated casino that uses a certified Random Number Generator (RNG). This technology ensures every card deal is fair and unbiased.

Can I win real money?

Yes. With sound strategy and a bit of luck, video poker can be very profitable, especially compared to other casino games.

Should I always bet max coins?

Betting the maximum coins per hand ensures you get the highest possible payout on premium hands like a royal flush. If your bankroll allows, it’s generally recommended.

Final Thoughts

Video poker is a casino classic for good reason: it rewards strategy and skill in a way that many other games do not. If you’re new, start with something like Jacks or Better, practice on free-play versions, and gradually incorporate more advanced variants or higher stakes once you’re comfortable. Above all, remember to play responsibly, stay within your limits, and savor the process of refining your video poker skills.

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