Video Poker
Video Poker is a single-player electronic casino game combining the structure of five-card draw poker with slot machine format. Introduced in the 1970s and popularised by Si Redd's SIRCOMA company (later International Game Technology), video poker became the dominant machine game in Las Vegas before the rise of modern video slots. At its best — Jacks or Better with 9/6 pay tables (paying 9:1 for Full House and 6:1 for Flush) — video poker has a house edge of just 0.46% with perfect strategy, making it one of the most player-favourable machine games available. Knowledgeable players can find machines that pay over 99.5% return to player.
Rules & Gameplay
Player inserts credits and places a bet (1–5 coins; always bet maximum for Royal Flush bonus). Five cards are dealt from a 52-card deck. Player selects which cards to hold and which to discard; discarded cards are replaced. Final five-card hand is evaluated against a pay table. Standard Jacks or Better pay table (9/6): One Pair (Jacks or better): 1:1, Two Pair: 2:1, Three of a Kind: 3:1, Straight: 4:1, Flush: 6:1, Full House: 9:1, Four of a Kind: 25:1, Straight Flush: 50:1, Royal Flush: 800:1 (max coins only). Many variants exist: Deuces Wild (2s are wild, require at least three of a kind to win), Bonus Poker (extra payout for four Aces), Double Double Bonus (extra payouts for four Aces with kicker), Joker's Wild, and others. Always identify the specific pay table before playing, as small changes dramatically affect return.
Basic Strategy
Perfect strategy for Jacks or Better: Always hold a Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, or Two Pair. With one pair: hold the pair and draw three. With nothing useful: hold any four to a Royal Flush first, then four to a Straight Flush, then three to a Royal Flush (even over a high pair), then two high cards (J, Q, K, A). Never break a pat hand (Full House or better) for a draw. The highest-volatility strategy consideration is drawing to a Royal Flush over a paying hand — correct in many cases mathematically but psychologically difficult. Use a strategy card (legal in most casinos) to avoid errors that add 2–4% to the house edge.
At a Glance
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