Gambling Lodge

Video Poker

How To Play Video Poker

Rules

The premise of all the forms are similar though. You are dealt a 5 card poker hand, have the option of discarding any of those cards and getting a re-deal, with the aim of achieving the best possible poker hand. The better the hand, the more you win...and you winnings are determined by the particular game's pay table. The variations of the game have slightly different hand rankings and pay tables, but the theme is the same.

One of the better known versions is Jacks or Better Video Poker, which offers the following payouts:

Coins bet	1	2	3	4	5
Royal Flush	250	500	750	1000	4000 to 5000
Straight Flush	50	100	150	200	250
4 of a kind	20	40	60	80	100
Full House	7	14	21	28	35
Flush	5	10	15	20	25
Straight	4	8	12	16	20
3 of a kind	3	6	9	12	15
2 pair	2	4	6	8	10
Jacks or better pair	1	2	3	4	5

Notice that the five coin payout for a royal flush will vary from machine to machine - so pick a machine that pays well. Notice also that the 5 coin payout for a royal flush is considerably more that 250 per coin - making the 5 coin bet your best bet.

Video Poker Strategy

Played optimally on a good paying game, Video Poker is one of the best returning games you can play. Some games actually offer a long term player edge for optimal play. Given the enormous number of possible first deal combinations, it is not practical to suggest every optimal hold determination for each first dealt hand. However, the rules below serve as a good general guide to playing Jacks or Better Video Poker.

- Hold any four cards to a straight flush.

- Hold any three cards to a royal flush.

- Hold any four cards to a flush.

- Hold any low pair (tens or lower).

- Hold any four-card consecutive straight.

- Hold any two high cards of the same suit.

- Hold any three cards to a straight flush.

- Hold J, Q, and K of different suites.

- Hold any two high cards of different suites.

- Hold J, Q or K with a Ten of the same suit.

- Hold any single high card.

- If you didn’t get dealt any of the above, draw five new cards.

And remember - you are playing against a machine, so take your time considering which cards you wish to hold before you call the second deal.

Good luck!