Video Poker Playing Tips for JACKS+

by Gayle Mitchell

The two techniques that are mandatory to becoming an educated and prepared video poker player are:

1) how to read a pay schedule with additional education to know the difference between short/partial pay and full-pay versions, plus

2) strategies for all the VP types/games.

Pay Schedule--JACKS OR BETTER:

In a grouping of video poker machines, known as banks or carousels, all of which may look exactly the same, casinos will often 'mix-in' several VP machines with inferior pay programs (short/partial pay). Often, in a bank of regular non-progressive, non-bonus VP machines, only 1 or 2 may be the Jacks or better 9/6 (nine coins for a full house, and 6 coins for a flush), while the rest are 8/5, 7/5, or even worse, 6/5.

This means that the player on the 9/6 machine will be winning more for the same hands than the other players.

If you bet 5 coins, all winning hands are paid out multiplied by a factor of five, except for the royal flush.  This is a bonus amount designed as an incentive  to play five coins. All those players who play less than maximum coins are setting up the best payoffs for those who do.

Jacks+ or Jacks or Better VP  is a good starting point for novices.

I have included a Jacks or Better Strategy Card for these players.

Strategy Tips:

Never keep a kicker (an ace or high card) with a small pair.

You will usually discard all five cards approximately 3% of the time in search of a better hand.

An inside straight that could be completed with one card only, (e.g., dealt--6,7,9,10)--only the eight can produce a winning hand. This is not worth holding in a non-wild game, unless trying to complete a winning hand of  A,K,Q, J,10 straight where pairing up a high card would still result in a payout for Jacks + even if you don't catch the higher paying straight.

Outside straight is completed with two possible cards, (e.g. dealt 6,7,8,9)--a ten or five can produce a winning hand. This hand should be held for possible win.

JACKS OR BETTER VP STRATEGY CARD

ROYAL FLUSH               0
STRAIGHT FLUSH(SF)        0
4 OF A KIND               0
4-CARD ROYAL              1
FULL HOUSE                0
4-CARD STRAIGHT FLUSH     1
FLUSH                     0
3 OF A KIND               2
STRAIGHT                  0
2 PAIR                    1
HIGH PAIR                 3
3-CARD ROYAL FLUSH        2
4-CARD FLUSH              1
LOW PAIR                  3
OUTSIDE 4-CARD STRAIGHT   1
INSIDE 4-(no high cards)  5
3-CARD STRAIGHT FLUSH     2
2-CARD ROYAL, NO 10       3
3 HIGH CARDS (JACKS +)    2
2 HIGH CARDS (JACKS +)    3
NONE OF THE ABOVE         5

Note: Strategy above is for Jacks+  9/6 version only.  Bonus, Double Bonus and Triple Bonus Jacks+ require specific strategies for different pay tables of 10/7, 8/5 etc., and two pair paying the same as one pair.

Those specific strategies, plus pay table illustrations for all VP versions, including newer editions, are covered in my book Video Poker Made Easier  (Winning Strategies for Serious Players).

Gayle Mitchell is author of  Casino Gambling Made Easier  books, booklets and strategy cards.

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