Jacks or Better is one of the most popular and common of all the video poker games. It is also the video poker version that has the simplest basic strategy. This lets players of all skill levels have the opportunity to play the game competently. Video poker is sort of like playing the slot machines except there is decision making involved when playing. The players are dealt 5 cards and must decide what cards to keep and what cards they want to discard, much like all poker games. Obviously Jacks or Better video poker starts its payout at a pair of jacks or better. The Jacks or Better game offers one of the higher percentage payouts of casino games. If you find a 9/6 Jacks or Better game, even though an 8/5 Jacks or Better game still offers a better than most percentage of return.
Playing Jacks or Better Some tips that may help you when playing Jacks or Better that may increase your odds. Its better to keep 2 pair rather than try to draw four of a kind. Don't draw into an inside straight. You could hold three cards to a straight flush if there is a potential for a royal flush. If you are dealt any winning hand with a payoff (at least a pair of jacks), consider taking that hand as it is at least a sure thing.
Payout Tables for Jacks or Better When playing Jacks or Better using the pay tables help to increase your odds for success. When playing a full pay Jacks or Better game, the payout for a full house is a 9/6 or 9 for 1 on a full house, and 6 for 1 on a flush. This type of Jacks or Better Game will have a 99.5% payout when you play proper strategy. The next payout table on the scale for Jacks or better is an 8/5, meaning it pays 8 for 1 on a full house and 5 for 1 on a flush. Most Jacks or Better games are not full pay so they usually offer an 8/5 or less to players. On the Jacks or Better 8/5 the payout is an 8 for 1 on a full house, and 5 for 1 on a flush. When playing a 7/5 paytable, the return is 96.15% paying 7 for 1 on the full house and 5 for 1 for the flush. There is also a 6/5 paytable, and a 5/4 Jacks or Better video poker game. Things to consider when playing are the percentages of a payout and the house advantage. For example on a 9/6 poker game the house advantage is.46%,and on an 8/5 game it is 2.7%,a 7/5 is 3.85 % and 6/5 gives the house an advantage of 5%.These percentages can widely affect the amount of loss and expected return.See my Jacks or Better strategy page, listed to the right, to see the basic strategy for playing Jacks or Better video poker.
