Video poker is now the most popular game at any gaming floor. Video Poker is a fast-paced, intelligent game for players who prefer more substance for their gaming enjoyment -- these are not your typical slot machine gamers. The two most popular video poker games are Jacks or Better or Deuces Wild, and players who learn just the basics of advanced poker strategy stand to earn much more money for their gaming time than you ever would playing the slots.
The most widely-played version of poker (the aforementioned Jacks or Better) rewards a player for obtaining a pair of Jacks or any higher-ranking Poker hand. Your reward? An increasingly larger payout based on both the quality of your hand and the number of credits you have wagered. Now that the basics are out of the way, how can you really increase your game?
Here is strategic advice to consider for Jacks or better, listed by some common hand types.
The list is in the order of the hand strength of the better play.
- Pat flush or 4 to a royal: Go for the royal.
- Pat flush or 3 to a royal: Keep the flush
- 4 to a straight flush vs. any pair: Go for straight flush
- High pair vs. 3 to a royal flush: Keep high pair
- 3 to a royal vs. 4 to a flush: Go for the royal
- 4 to a flush vs. 4 to a straight: Go for the flush
- 4 to a flush vs. 3 to a straight flush: Go for the flush
- Low pair vs. 4 to a straight: Keep the low pair
- Low pair vs. 2 to a royal: — Keep the low pair
- 4 to an outside straight vs. 2 to a royal flush: Go for the royal
- 3 to a straight flush vs. 4 to an inside straight with 3-4 high cards: Go for the straight flush
- 2 to a royal flush vs. 4 to an inside straight with 3-4 high cards: Go for the royal
- 2 to a royal flush vs. 3 to a straight flush : Go for the royal
- 4 to an inside straight with 3-4 high cards vs. 3 to a straight flush : Go for the straight
- 3 to a straight flush vs. 2 to a royal flush (10 low): Go for the straight flush
- 3 to a straight flush vs. 1-3 high cards: Go for the straight flush
- KQJ vs. QJ: Play QJ
- QJ vs 3 to a straight flush : Keep QJ
- QJ vs 3 high cards A high: Keep QJ
- KQ or KJ vs. 3 to a straight flush : Keep KQ or KJ
- KT suited vs. K: Play KT suited
- Single high card vs. 3 to a straight flush : Keep high card only
As for Deuces Wild, the strategies obviously change because the payout system changes. Here are some considerations while playing on a Deuces Wild machine -- find your hand and follow my advice. I can't promise you'll win, but I can promise you'll play with better strategy.
- Five of a kind - Hold on to all your cards.
- Royal Flush - Hold on to all your cards.
- Four Deuces - Hold on to all your cards. Okay, I know I'm sounding like a broken record. It gets interesting soon.
- Three Deuces - Hold the deuce cards and replace the other two.
- Two Deuces and two-card straight flush or two-card royal flush draw - Hold the four dealt cards and draw one.
- Two Deuces and One Pair - This is really just a four of a kind, so keep all four dealt cards and draw a fifth card.
- Two Deuces and a one-card flush - Here is a three of a kind. Keep the dealt cards and draw two new ones.
- Two Deuces - Keep only the deuce cards.
- One Deuce, three-card royal flush - A royal flush draw; discard only the fifth card.
- One Deuce, a Paying Hand - Keep the cards of the paying hand.
- Zero Deuces, a Paying Hand - Hold on to the entire hand unless you have a royal flush. Choose the royal flush draw over any straight, straight flush or flush hands.
- Two Pair - Retain only the better pair of the two and draw three new cards.
- One Deuce - Keep any deuce no matter what. This should be your mantra.
