Everything You Need to Know About Video Poker: Types, Strategies, and More

Eddie Griffin

Written by: Eddie Griffin

Last Updated: Wed Apr 23, 2025, 06:57 AM

Read Time: 11 minutes

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Many gambling sites do not have live poker rooms and tournaments, with sites like Ignition Casino a rarity among online casinos. However, along with online slots and table games such as blackjack and roulette, video poker is one of the most popular online casino games.

What is video poker? Video poker combines elements of a traditional poker game with slot machine gameplay. Unlike standard slots where outcomes are purely chance-based, video poker gives players the chance to use both skill and strategy to try to set themselves up for success. This fusion of luck and decision-making creates an engaging gaming experience that appeals to both poker enthusiasts and casual casino players alike.

This in-depth guide to video poker is designed to familiarize beginners with basic principles and strategies of the game, as well as point experienced players in the right direction if they are looking to learn more beyond the basics.

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This guide to playing video poker is just one of the many pages we have devoted to educating players of all experience levels on all aspects of casino games and gambling.

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Our guides cover the rules, strategy, and other valuable information for the most popular online casino games, as well as online casino bonuses, popular terms and concepts such as RTP and RNGs, similarities and differences between traditional physical casinos and online casinos, and other important information about gambling online at desktop sites or mobile casinos.

If you would like to learn more about everything from how to choose an online casino, to online casino terminology, to how to play popular table games such as baccarat, to tips for responsible gambling, we have you covered.

Our goal is to be a vital resource for players who love online slots or enjoy playing blackjack games like Perfect Pair Blackjack, roulette, video poker and its variants (including Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild), casino poker games (including Caribbean Stud Poker and Pai Gow Poker), and more.

What is Video Poker?

As with other card-based casino games, video poker uses a standard deck of 52 playing cards. The objective of the game is to come up with the best possible hand according to poker hand rankings.

Video poker emerged in the 1970s as casino technology evolved, creating an electronic alternative to traditional poker tables. It quickly gained popularity due to its approachable format and lower intimidation factor compared to live poker games.

Players appreciate video poker for its relatively favorable odds. With perfect strategy, some variants offer return-to-player percentages exceeding 99%, making it one of the most player-friendly casino games available.

What sets video poker apart from slots is the element of choice. After receiving your initial five cards, you make strategic decisions about which cards to hold and which to discard. This decision-making process is where skill enters the equation, as proper strategy can significantly impact your results over time.

Moreover, unlike traditional poker where you compete against other players, video poker pits you only against the paytable. That eliminates the psychological aspects of bluffing and reading opponents while maintaining the excitement of pursuing winning poker hands.

How to Play Video Poker

To play video poker, there are a few basic rules and instructions to follow.

Basic Rules

  1. Betting: Players start by placing a bet. These bets typically range from one to five coins.
  2. Dealing: After placing a bet, the player receives five cards.
  3. Choosing Cards: After receiving their five cards, players then choose which cards to keep and which cards to discard.
  4. Drawing New Cards: After determining which cards are kept and which cards are discarded, the player replaces the discarded cards with new cards from the deck.
  5. Winning Hands: After the player replaces the discarded cards, the final hand is evaluated. Payouts are then made based on the game’s paytable.

Understanding the Paytable

Each video poker game has a unique paytable. This paytable details the payouts for different hands.

The paytable is essentially your roadmap to success in video poker, displaying exactly how much each winning combination pays relative to your bet size. Payouts typically begin with a pair of jacks (or sometimes tens), with escalating rewards for stronger hands like two pairs, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, and the coveted royal flush.

The most crucial element to check on any paytable is the payout ratio for full houses and flushes. These are often the clearest indicators of a machine’s overall return percentage. For instance, a “9/6 Jacks or Better” machine (paying 9 coins for a full house and 6 for a flush on a 1-coin bet) offers significantly better odds than an 8/5 or 7/5 machine.

Before playing any video poker game, players should become familiar with the paytable so they can understand potential returns and adjust their strategy accordingly.

Types of Video Poker Games

As with live poker, video poker has several different variants. What are some of the most popular variants that you can find at land-based casinos or at top online casinos like OnlineCasinoGames, Red Stag Casino, and Super Slots Casino?

Jacks or Better

Jacks or Better is often considered the foundational video poker variant and the perfect starting point for beginners. As the name suggests, you need at least a pair of jacks to win, making it relatively straightforward to understand. The standard 9/6 version offers a 99.54% return with optimal play.

Strategy focuses on pursuing high pairs, flushes, straights, and royal flushes, often requiring players to break up potential straights or flushes when holding high cards. This game serves as the blueprint for many other video poker variants with its classic structure and balanced payouts.

Deuces Wild

In Deuces Wild, all twos (deuces) act like wild cards. This means that they can substitute for any card to create a winning hand. With four wild cards in play, Deuces Wild dramatically changes strategy compared to other variants.

In this game, the winning hand hierarchy shifts upward. Three of a kind is typically the minimum winning hand, reflecting the increased likelihood of strong combinations.

Full-pay Deuces Wild can offer returns exceeding 100% with perfect play, making it particularly attractive to advantage players. Strategy typically revolves around aggressively pursuing five-of-a-kinds, straight flushes, and four deuces.

Bonus Poker

Bonus Poker offers higher payouts for certain hands, like four of a kind. This variant modifies the Jacks or Better framework by reducing the payouts slightly on full houses and flushes while increasing rewards for four of a kind, with different rates depending on the rank of the cards.

For example, four aces might pay 80 coins on a 1-coin bet, while four 2s through 4s pay 40, and other four of a kinds pay 25. This structure creates interesting strategic decisions when holding certain three-of-a-kind combinations, sometimes making it correct to break them up for other possibilities.

Double Bonus Poker

Double Bonus Poker is Bonus Poker with even higher payouts for specific hands. The “double” refers to increased payouts for four aces, which typically pay 160 coins on a 1-coin bet – double the already boosted rate in standard Bonus Poker.

However, these enhanced top-end payouts come at a cost. Double Bonus Poker games typically reduce payouts for two pairs to just 1-to-1 (equal to your bet). This significant adjustment changes optimal strategy considerably, requiring players to make more aggressive plays toward four of a kind hands while sometimes sacrificing two pair opportunities.

Tens or Better

As with Jacks or Better, players need at least a pair of tens to win. This seemingly minor adjustment – lowering the minimum qualifying hand from jacks to tens – increases the frequency of winning hands by approximately 6%. This makes Tens or Better slightly more forgiving for beginners and helps preserve bankrolls with more frequent small wins.

However, to maintain the house edge, Tens or Better games typically offer reduced payouts on other hands compared to Jacks or Better. The strategy remains similar but with slight adjustments to account for the additional value of tens.

Strategies for Video Poker Success

There are many more advanced video poker strategies that players can use once they have become familiar with the game and have the basic strategies down.

What are some considerations that new players should have from the outset?

Optimal Play

  1. Learn Basic Strategy: Learn the optimal strategies for each video poker variant. Variants may require different strategies based on the paytable.
  2. Card Selection: When deciding which cards will be kept and which cards will be discarded, any choices must be made based on the potential to create a winning hand.

Using Strategy Charts in Video Poker

Many video poker resources, including Wizard of Odds, provide strategy charts which outline the best way to play depending on your starting hand. Making good use of these charts can significantly increase your chances of success.

Bankroll Management

Good bankroll management is imperative in any form of gambling, whether it is betting on sports, betting on horse races, or playing online casino games like video poker.

What are three top tips for good bankroll management while playing?

  1. Set a Budget: How much are you willing to spend? Determine your budget before you start playing.
  2. Choose the Right Machine: Payouts vary from machine to machine. Choose machines that maximize your potential returns.
  3. Adjust Bet Sizes: Keep your budget and your bankroll in mind when determining bet sizes.

The Role of Luck vs. Skill

As with any card-based casino game, video poker has a significant skill component. At the same time, luck also plays a key role due to the randomness of card draws.

Skilled video players can increase their odds with smart, strategic gameplay. However, they cannot eliminate the element of chance.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Playing Video Poker

  1. Ignoring the Paytable: Payouts can greatly vary, which makes it vital to always check the paytable for each machine.
  2. Poor Card Selection: If you discard too many cards without having a solid strategy in place, you can miss a lot of opportunities to win.
  3. Chasing Losses: Poor decision-making can lead to losses, and further poor decision-making can occur because of chasing losses. Be sure to stick to your budget, and if you find yourself starting to chase losses, take a break.

Playing Video Poker Online vs at a Casino

Benefits of Playing Online

  1. Convenience: At real money online casinos such as Uptown Aces Casino and Decode Casino, you can play video poker, slots, and other popular casino games from the comfort of your home or elsewhere.
  2. Variety: At online casinos, players can often find a wider range of games and variants. For example, HighRoller Casino and Wild Casino offers more than two dozen different video poker games from top online casino game providers such as Arrow’s Edge, Betsoft, and Rival Gaming.
  3. Bonuses: Online casinos may offer big welcome bonuses and reload bonuses. These online casino bonuses can provide a major boost to your bankroll. For example, at Ducky Luck Casino, players can receive a 600% match bonus (up to $3000) and 150 free slots spins on their first deposit if it is made with Bitcoin or another form of cryptocurrency.

Benefits of Playing at a Casino

  1. Social Interaction: Playing games at a casino gives players a chance to interact with others and soak up a social atmosphere.
  2. Physical Experience: For some players, handling chips and money or pressing buttons can add to the experience and fun.

Conclusion

An exciting combination of luck and strategy, video poker provides players the opportunity to have fun while making money.

What makes video poker stand out in the casino landscape is its unique blend of accessibility and strategic depth. Unlike many casino games where the house always maintains a significant edge, video poker rewards study and skillful play with some of the best odds available.

The variety of game variants means there’s something for every type of player, from those who prefer the steady, methodical approach of Jacks or Better to the wild swings and high-reward potential of Deuces Wild or Double Bonus Poker.

By using resources like this one and others to become familiar with rules and strategies, taking the time to learn the ins and outs of the game, and practicing through gameplay, you can attain the knowledge and experience required to maximize your chances of video poker success.

Whether you choose to play online for convenience and variety or at physical casinos for the atmosphere and experience, approaching video poker with a strategic mindset and disciplined bankroll management will serve you well in this enduring casino classic.

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Video Poker FAQ

Is video poker based on luck or skill?
Video poker involves both luck and skill. While the cards are dealt randomly, your choices on which cards to hold or discard can impact the outcome. Learning proper strategy improves your odds significantly.
What is the best video poker game for beginners?
Jacks or Better is the best video poker game for beginners. It has simple rules, clear payouts, and one of the highest return-to-player rates when played correctly. It’s a great starting point for learning video poker strategy.
How do I win at video poker?
Winning at video poker means forming a strong hand based on poker rankings. Use a strategy chart for the specific game variant you are playing. Holding the right cards and making smart decisions increases your chance of winning.
What is a paytable in video poker?
A paytable shows how much each winning hand pays out. Different machines and games have different paytables, and even small changes can affect your long-term returns. Always check the paytable before you play.
Can I use a strategy chart while playing video poker?
Yes, using a strategy chart while playing video poker is a smart move. These charts guide your decisions based on your hand and improve your chances. They are especially useful for new players still learning the game.
Is video poker better than slots?
Many players prefer video poker over slots because it involves skill, not just luck. With the right strategy, video poker can offer better odds and higher returns than most slot games.