Of all the video poker variations out there, Jacks or Better is one of the oldest and most commonly played ones. The game is a very simple variation of video poker, with any hand containing a pair of jacks or better according to standard poker hand rankings getting paid.

The game was invented decades ago and first appeared in live casinos and other parlors that had video poker machines in them.

As the time went by, online casinos adopted this popular type of video poker and casino software developers created versions for the online casinos. The best part about Jacks or Better is that it is a game with a payout rate of 99.54%, a lot more than any video slot could ever hope to offer.

 Gameplay and Strategy

Video poker is a fairly simple game to play in general, and Jacks or Better is no different. The player start by receiving five cards from a 52 card deck. He can then draw new cards to replace any of the five cards he was dealt, in order to make the best poker hand possible.

In most situations, it is very clear which cards the player should hold and which he should discard. However, depending on the situation, it can be beneficial to break up a high pair to try and hit a royal flush, which pays 250:1. In most other situations, the player should chase the hand that is most likely to come and should always keep cards that already guarantee a payout.

Playing optimal strategy in Jacks or Better video poker will guarantee a payout rate of over 99% and hours of fun and excitement. With a bit of luck, you could end up hitting a royal flush and getting a serious boost to your bankroll, but in either case, entertainment is guaranteed.