Video poker is a fun game that's easy to play. Read our guide to learn the different types of video poker and how to play them to win.
Video poker is one of the oldest forms of electronic casino entertainment. It's similar to slot machines and simple to play; however, winning video poker requires some skill, strategy, and luck. Jacks or better is one of the most popular video poker games you can play in person or online today. Learn about this top game and more as we review different types of video poker and how to play them to win.
Classic Video Poker
Classic video poker is the original version of the game. It's a single-player game based on five-card draw — a simple version of poker that's a great option for new players. The object of the game is to hold the highest ranked five-card poker hand possible at the end of the game. Winning hands, ranked from highest to lowest, are:
Royal flush: Ace, king, queen, jack, 10 all the same suit
Straight flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit up to king
Four of a kind: Four cards of the same value
Full house: Three of a kind plus one matching pair
Flush: Any five cards of the same suit not in a sequence
Straight: Five consecutive cards of any mixed suits
Three of a kind: Three cards of the same value
Two pair: Two sets of two cards of the same value
Here's a basic overview of how to play video poker online:
Place your bet and click the “deal” button. You will then be dealt five cards.
Decide which cards to keep and which to replace. You can keep some, all, or none of your cards. Click on the cards you want to hold.
Discard the cards you don't want and receive new cards. Click the “draw” button to draw new cards. You can only draw once.
Receive a payout if your hand qualifies. You win if your hand is one of the combinations listed on the game's payout table. The table shows how much you can win per type of hand.
Classic video poker uses a 52-card deck. It's reshuffled each round, so players can't use card counting as a strategy to win. There are complex and basic strategies when it comes to playing video poker to win. For example, one key principle is to always keep a winning hand — don't discard in hopes of drawing something better for a bigger payout.
Jacks or Better Video Poker
Jacks or better video poker slightly changes the rules of the classic game. Basically, another winning hand is added to the bottom of the classic payout table below two pair. When you play jacks or better, you must have at least a pair of jacks in your hand to win a payout.
You can refer to strategy charts when playing video poker to try to increase your odds of winning. Here's an example of a five-card strategy chart for jacks or better. It shows how many cards to hold and how many to discard based on what you were dealt.
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