The
Myriad of Video Poker Games
Standard
Video Poker
Originally one type of Video
Poker existed called Jacks or Better where a pair of Jacks
through a pair of Aces resulted in a 1 for 1 “win.”
Actually, this is a push.
Two Pair resulted in a 2 for 1 win.
Three of a Kind resulted in a 3 for 1 win.
A Straight resulted in a 4 for 1 win.
A Flush resulted in a 6 for 1 win.
A Full House resulted in a 9 for 1 win.
Four of a Kind resulted in a 25 for 1 win.
A Straight Flush resulted in a 50 for 1 win.
And a Royal Flush resulted in a 250 for 1 win, except
when playing five coins, which resulted in a 4000 for 5 win
(this bonus entices the player to play the full five coins).
This pay table is actually a good game and is called a
9/6-pay table because of the 9 for 1 on a Full House and the 6
for 1 Flush.
I recommend playing full
coinage (usually five) on each and every hand because a royal
flush with full coins gives you the bonus.
Twice, I have hit royals playing a $5 (one coin at a
time) machine that paid me only $1,200.
If I had been playing a $1 machine with five coins
(yes, that same $5), I would have won $4,000. Twice!
Eventually, game makers
realized that by altering the pay table, the casino could
expect less payout therefore creating an 8/5 game (8 for 1 for
a Full House; 5 for 1 for a Flush). The 9/6 Jacks or Better games are becoming scarce and in
reality, the Jacks or Better itself is losing its presence.
Following the pay table
examples are basic strategy guidelines.
Video Poker strategies could go on for eternity with
the different pay tables and level of what the player is
trying to achieve. Differences
could be playing for nothing but Royal Flushes, playing for as
many winning hands as possible, or just trying to win some
drink money. The
guidelines used here are mainly for winning as many hands as
possible.
9/6 Jacks or Better:
Royal Flush: 250 for 1 (4000 for 5 bonus)
Straight Flush: 50 for 1
Four of a Kind: 25 for 1
Full House: 9 for 1
Flush: 6 for 1
Straight: 4 for 1
Three of a Kind: 3 for 1
Two Pair: 2 for 1
One Pair of Jacks through Aces: 1 for 1
8/5 Jacks or Better:
Royal Flush: 250 for 1 (4000
for 5 bonus)
Straight Flush: 50 for 1
Four of a Kind: 25 for 1
Full House: 8 for 1
Flush: 5 for 1
Straight: 4 for 1
Three of a Kind: 3 for 1
Two Pair: 2 for 1
One Pair of Jacks through Aces: 1 for 1
Jacks or Better Strategy:
Following is a
guideline for deciding on what cards should be held on the
initial five-card deal.
| 1. |
Hold
all five cards when dealt: Straight (unless four cards
are to a Royal Flush), Flush (unless four cards are to a
Royal Flush), Full House, Four of a Kind (yes, hold the
fifth card*), Straight Flush, Royal Flush |
| 2. |
Hold
four cards to a Royal Flush |
| 3. |
Hold
Three of a kind
|
| 4. |
Hold
four cards to a Straight Flush |
| 5. |
Hold
Two pair
|
| 6. |
Hold
High pair (Jacks through Aces)
|
| 7. |
Hold
three cards to a Royal Flush |
| 8. |
Hold
four cards to a Flush
|
| 9. |
Hold
Low Pair (Deuces through Tens) |
| 10. |
Hold
four cards to an outside Straight |
| 11. |
Hold
three cards to a Straight Flush (no gaps) |
| 12. |
Hold
two suited High cards |
| 13. |
Hold
four cards to an inside Straight
|
| 14. |
Hold
three cards to a Straight Flush (including one gap) |
| 15. |
Hold
unsuited Jack/Queen/King
|
| 16. |
Hold
unsuited Jack/Queen |
| 17. |
Hold suited Ten/Jack |
| 18. |
Hold
unsuited Jack/King or Queen/King
|
| 19. |
Hold
suited Ten/Queen |
| 20. |
Hold
unsuited Jack/Ace, Queen/Ace, or King/Ace |
| 21. |
Hold
suited Ten/King |
| 22. |
Hold
one High card |
| 23. |
Hold
three cards to a Straight Flush (with two gaps) |
| 24. |
Discard
all five cards if none of the above |
*On
every machine there is a disclaimer stating that machine
malfunctions void any winning hands.
If you are dealt a Four of a Kind and discard the fifth
card, and the draw results in a Five of a Kind, that is a
malfunction and no payout would be given.
Therefore, holding all five cards is a precautionary
tactic.
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