How to Play Online Video Poker

Online Video Poker Strategy Chart

Video poker strategy charts include a series of suggested plays. The higher up the chart, the greater precedence a hand takes.

For instance, if it has “2 Pairs” listed above “Any 4 Cards of a Straight Flush”, then you would keep the two pairs instead of the four cards to a straight flush.

At the same time, if the chart has “4 Cards of an Open Straight Flush” listed above “2 Pairs”, then you would forego the payout for the two pairs and hope for the fifth card in the straight flush on the redraw.

In any instance, whatever hand you have that’s highest on the chart is the play you should make when burning cards.

Download your video poker strategy chart here.

How to Use a Strategy Chart?

• Learn basic poker hands, such as whether a full house is better than a flush (it is).
• Read video poker strategy charts from the top down, so if you have two potential hands on the draw, you will play whichever hand is higher.
• “4 to a flush” or “4 to a straight” means you have four of the five cards needed to complete a flush or a straight.
• “Suited” means two or more cards have the same suit: hearts, diamonds, spades, or clubs.
• An outside straight means the cards you have are consecutive (example: 4-5-6-7), so you can build the straight from either end of the sequence (3 or 8).
• An inside straight means the cards you have aren’t consecutive (example: 4-5-7-8), so you only have half the chance of completing the straight.

Specific Strategies for Video Poker Games

Video poker has been a fan favorite for a long time, but when you add strategy, the entire game takes a different ride.

Below, you learn basic strategies for the most popular video poker games. I will show you what to do with each hand you get, card combinations to keep and draw, and specific details to lower the house edge.

Jacks or Better Strategy

Full-pay Jacks or Better has an RTP of 99.54%. Much of the strategy involves building straights or flushes because of their high payouts. Keep in mind the following tips when playing Jacks or Better.

• Keep 4 to a royal flush, 4 to a straight flush, or 4 to a flush.
• Keep 4 to an outside straight with 0-2 high cards or 4 to an inside straight with 4 high cards.
• Keep 3 of a kind, two pairs, or unsuited 10-J-Q-K. Keep each of these card combinations if the cards are the same suit: QJ, KQ, KJ, AK, AQ, AJ, TJ, TQ, and TK.
• Keep these card combinations, even if the cards aren’t suited: JQK, JQ, or any two unsuited high cards if the highest card is a king or an ace.

Strategy often involves tough choices. For instance, you could have 4 to a flush (four cards of the same suit) but also have a low pair.

You would keep the four suited cards and get rid of the low card that’s unsuited, hoping you’d receive another card of the same suit.

Though you’re tossing away a specific winning hand, the chance of winning a much higher payout for a flush is worth the risk.

Here’s an infographic that explains what hands to hold and what to draw in Jacks or Better.

Download your Jacks or Better strategy chart here.

Deuces Wild Strategy

Deuces Wild online has become one of the leading video poker games searched by experienced and new gamblers. The reason behind its popularity is quite clear: It’s a lot of fun.

Because this game stipulates that 2s are wild cards, much of the Deuces Wild video poker strategy revolves around what you do when you receive 2s.

If you receive three or four deuces in the original deal, you’ll keep these in the hopes you collect 1-2 more deuces in the redraw.

If you receive two deuces, several hands are given higher priority than that pair. You should prioritize any four of a kind of higher, 4 to a royal flush, and 4 to a straight flush if you have two consecutive singletons of 6-7 or higher.

The list grows longer when you receive one deuce in the deal. If you receive one deuce, you shouldn’t burn other cards if you have any of the following:

• Four-of-a-kind or higher
• 4 to a royal flush
• Full house
• 4 to a straight flush with three consecutive singletons of 5-7 or higher
• 3 of a kind
• 3 to a royal flush
• 3 to a straight flush with two consecutive singletons of 6-7 or higher.

Long story short, a single deuce isn’t worth playing in many situations.

Here’s an infographic that shows you what to hold and what to discard based on the hand you get dealt.

Download your Deuces Wild strategy chart here.

Tips to Win Real Money Playing Video Poker

Most video poker games are variations of a 5-card draw. Even though hand ranks are similar to Texas Hold’em or seven-card stud, that doesn’t mean they are all created equally.

When playing real money video poker online, one of the best strategies is to shop around for the highest-paying game. The rules, paytables, and bonus rounds can vary slightly from one machine to another, significantly affecting the RTP.

Keep the following tips in mind when looking for a video poker site and playing the different game variations with real money.

• Make Sure You Select the Right Paytable:
  Choosing the right paytable is crucial because it directly affects the house edge and your overall chances of winning. The best paytable you can find out there is called full-pay Jacks or Better or 9/6 Jacks or Better. It means that if you get a Full House, you win 9 times your bet; if you get a Flush, you win 6 times your bet, and you win double if you have two pairs.
• Learn the Value of the Hands
  Most video poker games are based on a 5-card draw, the game many of us first learned to play at home. Different hands win different amounts of money, so it’s key to learn the value of each hand to choose which cards to keep and which to discard.
• Hold Any Pair
  Always keep any pair you get, even if it’s a low pair. Throwing away a pair to try for a better result is risky, and you might end up with nothing.
  Based on math, you have a better chance of getting two pairs or three of a kind by keeping a pair instead of trying for a different, less certain hand.
• Avoid Auto Play & Multi-hand Features
  Video poker has a low house edge, but the casino still has the advantage. With that in mind, the more times you bet in an hour, the better it is for the casino. Using auto-play features or playing multi-hand video poker exposes you to the house edge more often, which is a disadvantage. Try to avoid these features when playing.
• Practice Makes Perfect
  One of my best tips for learning video poker strategy is to play free games. It’s a great way to learn the rules, payables, and hand values. It also allows you to build a strategy for your specific bankroll and build confidence in the game. You can make mistakes and track your progress without risking any money.
• Manage Your Bankroll
  Set a budget for your video poker sessions and stick to it. Avoid chasing losses and know when to walk away.
• Understand Variance
  Video poker can have high variance, meaning you might experience significant swings in your bankroll. Be prepared for both winning streaks and dry spells.