How does video poker work?

How do you read a video poker pay table?

Look at the full house and flush lines first. "9/6" means the game pays 9 for a full house and 6 for a flush, per coin bet. A small change there costs you far more than it appears to.

Figures from Wizard of Odds, with a royal flush paying 800 per coin. Other tables pay differently.

How much does strategy matter in video poker?

Less than the pay table, once you know the basics, but it still counts. On 9/6 Jacks or Better, Wizard of Odds gives 99.46% with simple strategy, 99.52% with intermediate strategy and 99.54% with optimal strategy. Those gaps assume you are following a strategy. Playing by instinct can cost a lot more.

Can video poker beat the house?

In rare cases, on paper. Wizard of Odds lists full-pay Deuces Wild at 100.76% with optimal play, and says some games can pass 100% once casino rewards are included. That is an average over a very long run, it needs near-perfect play, and full-pay tables are hard to find. Most players should expect to lose over time.

What should you hold in video poker?

Use a strategy card for your exact game, because the correct play changes with the pay table. These common points apply to Jacks or Better:

• Keep any paying hand, except where a stronger draw beats it, such as four to a royal.
• Keep a high pair over a four-card straight.
• Keep four cards to a flush over a low pair.
• Discard all five if nothing is worth keeping.

General points, not a complete strategy.

Is online video poker the same as a machine in a casino?

The game is the same, but check the pay table in the online version, because it can differ from what you saw on a casino floor. In a licensed state, the game must be approved: Michigan, for example, requires written board approval for each game. See how licensed games are tested and our games overview.