The following is essentially the script from a Jacks or Better strategy video that will be soon be available on Youtube. It describes a very simple strategy while in sync with applicable visuals. Checkout The Mystic Gambler Channel on Youtube to see other gambling strategy videos and more. Watching the video for the Jacks or Better strategy and seeing the illustrations makes this technique one of the easiest strategies to understand.
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If you’ve never played Jacks or Better video poker before or thought that learning the strategies would be too difficult, this technique is for you. It won’t make you a video poker pro, but by using these easy rules instead of guessing, you’ll be able to play longer, win more often and rack up a ton of points on your player’s card. It’s perfect if you’re going on vacation or if you just go to the casino once in a while.
Start by simply looking for any video poker machines that are called jacks or better. If you don’t see a jacks or better stand alone machine, you’ll often find it as a selection on most Game King machines. The strategy will also work for the game called Bonus Poker, but look at the pay table and make sure that when you get to pair that you. With basic strategy guidelines out of the way, many Jacks or Better players mistakenly believe that their tutelage on video poker’s foundational game has come to an end. While it is true that learning basic strategy is an essential first step in a quality Jacks or Better education, it is just that – a first step. Jacks or Better Strategy Understand all combinations and see how close your hand is to winning them. If you require more than 2 cards to achieve the combination, it is better to try for other options. When you have a pair of cards, calculate the odds and decide to hold or break them.
And you can practice for free, anytime, at the Mysticgambler.com.
In the casino, simply look for any video poker machines that are called Jacks or Better. If you don’t see a Jacks or Better stand alone machine, you’ll often find it as a selection on most Game King machines. The strategy will also work for the game called Bonus Poker – but look at the paytable first to make sure that when you win with two pair that you’ll double your bet. So, for a five coin bet you’ll win ten coins when you get two pair. Avoid any game that doesn’t double your bet when you win on two pair.
You’ll sometimes get a winning hand on the first deal in Jacks or Better. If you do,the machine will let you know by making a sound and highlighting the the winning hand on the paytable. When that happens, hold the cards that make up the winning hand and throw away the others. If you’re dealt a pat hand, like a straight or a full house, hold all five cards.
Any winning hand could be dealt to you – even a Royal Flush – but the most commonly dealt winning hand is a pair of High Cards. High cards are the face cards Jack, Queen, King and Ace. The others are called low cards. A pair of any high cards qualifies as a pair of Jacks or Better and is a winning hand. A pair of high cards is the lowest paying winning hand as it only pays even money – the amount of your bet. Profitable winning hands begin with two pair.
If you’re not dealt a winning hand, look for a low pair. You don’t want to miss a low pair when playing Jacks or Better. A low pair is also a common hand and even though it doesn’t pay anything by itself it’s the most convertable hand that you can be dealt. A low pair can easily convert to the profitable hands of two pair, three of a kind, a full house or four of a kind. However, if you have any four cards that are the same suit, hold them whether you have a low pair or not. And also hold three or four cards that are part of a Royal Flush.Those are the only non-paying hands that are better to hold than a low pair.
Holding a low pair is crucial to winning at Jacks or Better. Keeping a low pair is much better than holding one or two high cards, regardless of whether the high cards are suited or not. The chances of a low pair converting into a profitable hand is better than just holding high cards, even though they look pretty.
![Strategy Strategy](https://www.dmhpoker.com/images/dmhpoker-jacks-or-better-poker-343-b.jpg)
So, lets say that you’re dealt a jack and a queen of hearts, a seven of diamonds, a seven of spades and and a nine of clubs. You would hold the two sevens (the low pair) and throw away the Jack, Queen and the nine. Yes, even though the Jack and the Queen are both hearts, and two cards of a Royal Flush, you throw them away when playing Jacks or Better. Your brain might fight you on this but the odds of converting the low pair to a profitable hand are better.
There is another hand that’s better than holding one or two high cards but still not as good as a low pair. That’s four cards to an open (outside) straight. Look for a four card straight if you don’t have at least a low pair. But in Jacks or Better you never draw to an inside straight.
With no low pair and no four card straight you can now look for the high cards. Hold any two suited high cards over two that are unsuited. If you happen to have three unsuited high cards, hold the lowest two.
If you don’t have two high cards to hold you can hold a single high card. However, there is a special two card hand that’s a little better than holding a single high card. That’s when you have a Ten that’s suited with a Jack, Queen or King. Notice that the Ace isn’t included. Never hold a suited 10 and Ace. You are better off throwing all your cards away – which is our final play. If you don’t have at least one high card, through all five cards away and get five new ones.
Watch for the video on Youtube so that you can see live action play and the decision making as it happens with each hand of Jacks or Better. And practice for free anytime at the Video Poker site.
The most basic video poker game currently availabe is Jacks or Better. In fact,
almost all other video poker games are based on this game.
almost all other video poker games are based on this game.
This page includes the basics
for how to play Jacks or Better, the pay tables, and the right strategies to use
when playing. Use this guide to Jacks or Better video poker to improve your skills as
a video poker player.
for how to play Jacks or Better, the pay tables, and the right strategies to use
when playing. Use this guide to Jacks or Better video poker to improve your skills as
a video poker player.
Jacks or Better Basics and How It Differs from Slot Machine Games
We’ll assume for purposes of simplicity that you’re unfamiliar with video
poker in general. Jacks or Better (and all other VP games) are gambling machines
which base their rules on five card draw poker.
poker in general. Jacks or Better (and all other VP games) are gambling machines
which base their rules on five card draw poker.
But instead of playing against a bunch of buddies at the kitchen table,
you’re playing against a machine with a pay table. You don’t have to beat any
other hands to win, either-you just need a hand of a certain strength or higher.
The better your hand, the more you win.
you’re playing against a machine with a pay table. You don’t have to beat any
other hands to win, either-you just need a hand of a certain strength or higher.
The better your hand, the more you win.
A JoB game resembles a slot machine without the spinning reels. Instead,
you’re faced with a video screen displaying 5 playing cards.
you’re faced with a video screen displaying 5 playing cards.
It’s hard to overstate how important this difference is. Slot machines use
computer programs called random number generators to determine their results.
Video poker games like Jacks or Better do, too.
computer programs called random number generators to determine their results.
Video poker games like Jacks or Better do, too.
But there’s a big difference.
Slot machines feature arbitrary symbols with arbitrary probabilities for
coming up. A cherry might show up on a pay line once every ten spins, or it
might show up once every twenty spins. It’s impossible for you as a player to
ascertain that probability.
coming up. A cherry might show up on a pay line once every ten spins, or it
might show up once every twenty spins. It’s impossible for you as a player to
ascertain that probability.
Jacks Or Better Poker Apps
In Jacks or Better, though, the random number generator is programmed to use
the same probabilities you’d see with a deck of cards. The odds of getting a
specific card is 1/52. The odds of getting a card of a specific suit is 1/4. The
odds of getting a card of a specific rank is 1/13.
the same probabilities you’d see with a deck of cards. The odds of getting a
specific card is 1/52. The odds of getting a card of a specific suit is 1/4. The
odds of getting a card of a specific rank is 1/13.
Both slot machine games and Jacks or Better game feature pay tables which
indicate how much a certain combination pays out.
Here’s an example:indicate how much a certain combination pays out.
On a slot machine, getting three cherries on a pay line might pay 100 for 1.
But since you don’t know the probability of getting any of the symbols, it’s
impossible to determine the payback percentage for the machine. We know that the
average slot machine in Las Vegas has a payback percentage of something like 92%
or 93%, but it can vary wildly from casino to casino and from machine to
machine.
impossible to determine the payback percentage for the machine. We know that the
average slot machine in Las Vegas has a payback percentage of something like 92%
or 93%, but it can vary wildly from casino to casino and from machine to
machine.
With Jacks or Better, though, the payouts are based on poker hand rankings.
We know the probability of getting a specific hand, so we can calculate the
payback percentage for the game if we play it with correct strategy.
We know the probability of getting a specific hand, so we can calculate the
payback percentage for the game if we play it with correct strategy.
Which brings us to the second big difference between Jacks or Better and slot
machines:
machines:
Jacks or Better is a game of decisions that matter to your outcome. Slot
machines are entirely random.
machines are entirely random.
You get dealt a 5-card virtual hand in the first round of any Jacks or Better
game. You have the option of keeping or discarding each of those cards. You get
a replacement for any card you choose to discard.
game. You have the option of keeping or discarding each of those cards. You get
a replacement for any card you choose to discard.
Making the mathematically optimal decision on every hand is the challenge of
Jacks or Better video poker. You want to maximize the expected return for each
hand. Some of the correct decisions aren’t immediately obvious-although having
some experience as a poker player helps with “card sense”.
Jacks or Better video poker. You want to maximize the expected return for each
hand. Some of the correct decisions aren’t immediately obvious-although having
some experience as a poker player helps with “card sense”.
When you play poker versus other players, the hand rankings determine which
player wins. A royal flush beats a straight flush, a straight flush beats 4 of a
kind, 4 of a kind beats a full house, a full house beats a flush, a flush beats
a straight, a straight beats 3 of a kind, 3 of a kind beats 2 pair, and 2 pair
beats a pair.
player wins. A royal flush beats a straight flush, a straight flush beats 4 of a
kind, 4 of a kind beats a full house, a full house beats a flush, a flush beats
a straight, a straight beats 3 of a kind, 3 of a kind beats 2 pair, and 2 pair
beats a pair.
In traditional poker, the ranking of the cards matters. A pair of aces beats
a pair of kings, for example. This is only partially true in Jacks or Better.
a pair of kings, for example. This is only partially true in Jacks or Better.
If you have a pair of jacks or higher, you get a payoff. A pair of tens or
lower doesn’t pay off at all.
lower doesn’t pay off at all.
A Jacks or Better Pay Table Example
This is a reasonably common Jacks or Better pay table:
Coins/Hands | 1 coin | 2 coins | 3 coins | 4 coins | 5 coins |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Royal flush | 250 | 500 | 750 | 1000 | 4000* |
Straight flush | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 |
4 of a kind | 25 | 50 | 75 | 100 | 125 |
Full house | 9 | 18 | 27 | 36 | 45 |
Flush | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 |
Straight | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
3 of a kind | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
2 pairs | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
Jacks or better | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
The first thing you’ll notice is that you can play between 1 and 5 coins on
each round.
each round.
*You should ALWAYS play for 5 coins.
The payoff for the royal flush skyrockets when you play for 5 coins, and this
makes a big difference to your bottom line over time. You’ll only see a royal
flush once in every 40,000 hands, which is probably once every 67 hours or so.
makes a big difference to your bottom line over time. You’ll only see a royal
flush once in every 40,000 hands, which is probably once every 67 hours or so.
But when you do, it makes up for a lot of your losses.
If you think you can’t afford to play for 5 coins, you should switch to a
lower denomination machine. If you can’t afford the dollar game, where a 5 coin
bet is $5, switch to the quarter machine. A 5-coin bet on it is $1.25.
lower denomination machine. If you can’t afford the dollar game, where a 5 coin
bet is $5, switch to the quarter machine. A 5-coin bet on it is $1.25.
Free Video Poker Jacks Or Better
We also need to point out the payoffs for the full house (9 for 1) and for
the flush (6 for 1).
the flush (6 for 1).
Not all Jacks or Better games have the same payouts for hands.
But most of the time, the hands they adjust the payoffs on are the full house
and the flush.
and the flush.
VP experts refer to a Jacks or Better game like the above as a “full pay” or
“9/6” game.
“9/6” game.
If you can find a machine with this pay table and play with perfect strategy,
you can achieve a payback percentage of 99.54%.
you can achieve a payback percentage of 99.54%.
This makes JoB video poker one of the best games in the casino, from a payoff
perspective.
perspective.
You’ll find 8/6, 8/5, and 7/5 Jacks or Better games a lot more often. The
numbers refer to the payoffs for the full house and the flush, respectively.
For Examplenumbers refer to the payoffs for the full house and the flush, respectively.
![Jacks Or Better Poker Strategy Jacks Or Better Poker Strategy](https://www.bestuscasinos.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Jacks-or-Better-FT.jpg)
An 8/5 Jacks or Better pays off at 8 for 1 for a full house and
5 for 1 for a flush. The payback percentage on that game-if you play with
optimal strategy-is about 97.3%.
5 for 1 for a flush. The payback percentage on that game-if you play with
optimal strategy-is about 97.3%.
A 7/5 game has a payback percentage of 96.1%.
Online Poker Jacks Or Better
If you compare any of those numbers with the average slot machine, you’ll
notice that Jacks or Better video poker is always the better game.
notice that Jacks or Better video poker is always the better game.
But it’s hard to overstate the effect of a change from 9/6 to 8/5 on the pay
table.
table.
The difference between 99.54% and 97.3% doesn’t seem like much until you
compare it to your expected loss rate per hour.
compare it to your expected loss rate per hour.
If you play at an average speed (600 hands per hour), you’ll be putting $3000
per hour into action on a dollar Jacks or Better game.
per hour into action on a dollar Jacks or Better game.
The house edge (the amount the casino expects to win on every hand on average
over time) is 0.46% on the 9/6 game. (It’s just 99.54% subtracted from 100%.)
over time) is 0.46% on the 9/6 game. (It’s just 99.54% subtracted from 100%.)
Jacks Or Better Strategy Guide
If you lose 0.46% of $3000 every hour, your expected loss is $13.80.
That’s not a crazy amount of money to pay for an hour’s worth of
entertainment.
entertainment.
But if you lose 2.7% of $3000 per hour (which is the house edge for the 8/5
game), you’re looking at an average hourly loss of $81.
game), you’re looking at an average hourly loss of $81.
These small percentage points add up over time.
An average gambler might spend 4 days in Vegas and spend 4 hours a day
playing video poker. At these loss rates, we’re looking at an average loss per
trip of $220.80 versus $1296.
playing video poker. At these loss rates, we’re looking at an average loss per
trip of $220.80 versus $1296.
On the other hand, if you’re playing slot machines, you’re looking at lose 8%
or so per hour, or $240 per hour. Over 4 days, that’s a massive average loss of
$3840.
or so per hour, or $240 per hour. Over 4 days, that’s a massive average loss of
$3840.
Why Jacks or Better Video Poker Is SO Important
Jacks or Better is the basis for all other video poker variations. Most video
poker variations are just Jacks or Better with a dramatic change to the pay
table or Jacks or Better with the addition of wild cards. Of course, when you
add wild cards, the pay table is adjusted based on the new likelihood of getting
stronger hands.
poker variations are just Jacks or Better with a dramatic change to the pay
table or Jacks or Better with the addition of wild cards. Of course, when you
add wild cards, the pay table is adjusted based on the new likelihood of getting
stronger hands.
Jacks or Better Video Poker Strategy
You probably remember that we mentioned the importance of playing the game
correctly, right?
correctly, right?
Below we offer some guidelines for playing the game correctly.
The first thing to understand is that if you have a pat hand made up of a 4
of a kind, straight flush, or royal flush, you won’t discard anything. You’ll
collect your winnings and move on to the next hand.
of a kind, straight flush, or royal flush, you won’t discard anything. You’ll
collect your winnings and move on to the next hand.
The next thing to understand is that if you have 4 cards to a royal flush,
you will always draw one card to try to hit that royal. The only exception is if
you have a pat straight flush.
Here’s an example:you will always draw one card to try to hit that royal. The only exception is if
you have a pat straight flush.
You have the 9TJQK of spades. That’s a straight flush. You could discard the
9 of spades and hope to get the ace of spades, giving you the jackpot. But the
correct move is to collect your sure thing.
9 of spades and hope to get the ace of spades, giving you the jackpot. But the
correct move is to collect your sure thing.
Here’s why:
The probability of filling the royal flush is about 2%. That pays off at 800
for 1, for an expected value of 16 units.
for 1, for an expected value of 16 units.
But you also have a 100% chance of getting a 50 for 1 payoff. That’s an
expected value of 50 units
expected value of 50 units
You always go with the option that offers the better expected value.
The next set of pat hands consists of 3 of a kind, straight, flush, or full
house. If you’re dealt any of these hands, you’ll hang on to them unless you
also can draw to a royal flush.
house. If you’re dealt any of these hands, you’ll hang on to them unless you
also can draw to a royal flush.
Of course, if you have 3 of a kind or a full house, it’s impossible to have a
4-card draw to a royal flush.
4-card draw to a royal flush.
But suppose you have a straight, and 4 of those cards are of the same suit.
You should break the straight to draw to the royal flush, but not to just any
straight flush. The payoff for the straight flush isn’t high enough to make up
for the long odds of getting dealt the straight flush.
You should break the straight to draw to the royal flush, but not to just any
straight flush. The payoff for the straight flush isn’t high enough to make up
for the long odds of getting dealt the straight flush.
The next best hand after all these is a 4-card straight flush draw. It’s
worth going for if none of the other hands we’ve mentioned are an option.
worth going for if none of the other hands we’ve mentioned are an option.
Two pair, is, of course, a hand you should hold. You’ll obviously discard the
singleton to try to upgrade to a full house. But even if you miss, you’re
getting a payout.
singleton to try to upgrade to a full house. But even if you miss, you’re
getting a payout.
If you have a high pair, you’ll hold onto it and discard the other three
cards to try to upgrade to 3 of a kind or something even better. Even if you
miss, you’re still getting a payout.
cards to try to upgrade to 3 of a kind or something even better. Even if you
miss, you’re still getting a payout.
That’s it for the decisions between pat hands and drawing hands that might be
better than a pat hand. Notice that a lot of times, you’ll break the high pair
to go for a straight flush or a royal flush.
better than a pat hand. Notice that a lot of times, you’ll break the high pair
to go for a straight flush or a royal flush.
The hands you hold, if you have nothing better, are in the following order:
- Any open straight draw
(4 cards) - Any 2 high cards of
the same suit (You’re hoping for a high pair, flush, straight flush, or
royal) - Any 3 cards to a
straight flush. - Any 2 high cards that
are NOT of the same suit. - J 10, Q 10, or K 10,
of the same suit. - One high card.
- Start all over.
That’s not a perfect strategy, but it’s a lot closer to optimal than most
beginners will do. If you go through the preceding information carefully, you’ll
realize that Jacks or Better strategy has a lot to do with comparing one option
over another.
beginners will do. If you go through the preceding information carefully, you’ll
realize that Jacks or Better strategy has a lot to do with comparing one option
over another.
Jacks or Better Pay Tables
Below I’ve listed some other common pay tables for Jacks or Better along with
the payback percentage for each:
the payback percentage for each:
8/6 Jacks or Better – 98.4%
Coins/Hands | 1 coin | 2 coins | 3 coins | 4 coins | 5 coins |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Royal flush | 250 | 500 | 750 | 1000 | 4000* |
Straight flush | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 |
4 of a kind | 25 | 50 | 75 | 100 | 125 |
Full house | 8 | 18 | 27 | 36 | 45 |
Flush | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 |
Straight | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
3 of a kind | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
2 pairs | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
Jacks or better | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
8/5 Jacks or Better – 97.3%
Coins/Hands | 1 coin | 2 coins | 3 coins | 4 coins | 5 coins |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Royal flush | 250 | 500 | 750 | 1000 | 4000* |
Straight flush | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 |
4 of a kind | 25 | 50 | 75 | 100 | 125 |
Full house | 8 | 18 | 27 | 36 | 45 |
Flush | 5 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 |
Straight | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
3 of a kind | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
2 pairs | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
Jacks or better | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
7/5 Jacks or Better – 96.14%
Coins/Hands | 1 coin | 2 coins | 3 coins | 4 coins | 5 coins |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Royal flush | 250 | 500 | 750 | 1000 | 4000* |
Straight flush | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 |
4 of a kind | 25 | 50 | 75 | 100 | 125 |
Full house | 7 | 18 | 27 | 36 | 45 |
Flush | 5 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 |
Straight | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
3 of a kind | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
2 pairs | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
Jacks or better | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
6/5 Jacks or Better – 95%
Coins/Hands | 1 coin | 2 coins | 3 coins | 4 coins | 5 coins |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Royal flush | 250 | 500 | 750 | 1000 | 4000* |
Straight flush | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 |
4 of a kind | 25 | 50 | 75 | 100 | 125 |
Full house | 6 | 18 | 27 | 36 | 45 |
Flush | 5 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 |
Straight | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
3 of a kind | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
2 pairs | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
Jacks or better | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Conclusion
Jacks Or Better Poker Games
Understanding Jacks or Better video poker is THE critical first step in
learning how to play video poker. It’s the most basic game, and most other games
are just variations of one kind or another. If you can find the right pay tables
(9/6) and play with close to optimal strategy, you can play one of the lowest
house edge games in the casino.
learning how to play video poker. It’s the most basic game, and most other games
are just variations of one kind or another. If you can find the right pay tables
(9/6) and play with close to optimal strategy, you can play one of the lowest
house edge games in the casino.