Video poker is a casino game that mixes skill and luck elements. Players have no control over the five dealt cards. However, studying video poker strategy while you learn how to play video poker can help improve the game’s return. This article covers different types of strategies, variants, pay tables, and how wild cards affect video poker games.
Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker games, and bankrolls are also discussed. Learn how to maximize your returns with this guide to help improve your experience at Hard Rock Bet Casino.
Why Do Different Video Poker Games Need Different Strategies?
Each video poker variant requires its own strategy because they have different rules, wild cards, and payout structures, similar to how to play blackjack where basic strategy changes based on dealer rules and deck counts. This means what works perfectly in Jacks or Better could cost you money in Deuces Wild or Double Bonus Poker.
The key differences that shape your strategy include wild card rules, bonus payouts for specific hands, and varying pay tables. For example, Deuces Wild uses twos as wild cards that can become any card you need, completely changing which hands you should hold or discard compared to standard games.
- Wild Cards: Games like Deuces Wild and Joker Poker add wild cards that substitute for any other card.
- Bonus Payouts: Some variants pay extra for four of a kind with aces, deuces, threes, and fours, or face cards, depending on the game.
- Pay Table Variations: Different games offer varying payouts for the same hands.
- Hand Rankings: Certain games change which hands are most valuable to pursue.
How Do Pay Tables Shape Your Strategy?
A pay table is the chart that shows you exactly how much each winning hand pays in a specific video poker game. This chart helps determine which cards you should hold and which you should discard because it tells you the value of every possible outcome.
Reading pay tables correctly starts with identifying the payouts for key hands like full houses and flushes. In full-pay Jacks or Better, a full house pays nine coins for each one wagered and a flush pays six, but short-pay versions might only offer eight and five coins, respectively.
The difference between full-pay and short-pay games can dramatically impact your long-term results, making video poker one of the casino games with the best odds when you choose full-pay versions. Short-pay games reduce your returns by lowering payouts for common hands, which means you need to adjust your strategy to focus more on higher-paying combinations. Always look for full-pay versions when possible, as they offer the best mathematical returns for optimal play. Short-pay games may also affect the strategy due to lower payouts on hands like full houses and flushes.
Playing a better pay table can help players return several percentage points higher than poor ones. Luckily, online casinos like Hard Rock Bet typically offer better video poker pay tables than live gaming establishments.
What’s The Winning Strategy For Jacks or Better?
Jacks or Better is the foundation game that teaches you core video poker strategy goals. This variant requires at least a pair of jacks to win, making it the perfect starting point for learning optimal strategy.
Your basic strategy revolves around hand values and drawing possibilities. Typically hold paying hands first, then prioritize draws to strong hands like royal flushes, straight flushes, and four of a kind over weaker draws.
Here are some basic hold decisions for common Jacks or Better situations. Note that there are some exceptions to these draws. Use an online video poker strategy analyzer to determine the proper hold for every situation. Hold the hands mentioned and discard the others.
- Stand pat on any hand of a full house and higher
- Four to a royal flush
- Stand pat on straight or flush
- Three of a kind
- Two pair
- Four to a straight flush
- Pair of jacks or better
- Three to a royal flush
- Four to a flush
- Pair of twos to tens
- Four to an open-ended straight
- Four unsuited cards ten and higher
- Three to a straight flush
- Two suited cards, jack and higher
- Unsuited king, queen, and jack (also hold nine if dealt)
- Two unsuited high cards, keeping the two lowest if one is an ace
- Ten with a suited jack, queen, or king
- One jack, queen, king, or ace
Some higher straight and straight flush draws create strategy exceptions not included in the above list. Consult a video poker hand calculator for these situations.
The key is memorizing these priority rankings so you can make quick, optimal decisions. Practice with free games until these choices become automatic, as hesitation during real-money play can lead to costly mistakes, just like when learning how to play slots or other casino games.
What Strategic Adjustments Do Bonus Games Require?
Bonus poker games offer enhanced payouts for specific four of a kind hands, meaning you need to adjust your strategy to pursue these high-value combinations more aggressively. The increased payouts change the mathematical value of certain draws and holding decisions, while also increasing variance.
These games typically boost payouts for four aces, four twos through fours, and four fives through kings, depending on the specific variant. Since these hands now pay significantly more, you should be willing to break up certain paying hands or choose riskier draws when the potential bonus payout justifies the decision.
Bonus Poker vs. Double Bonus
Bonus Poker offers modest increases for some four of a kind hands like aces, twos, threes, and fours, while maintaining similar payouts to Jacks or Better for other quads. Double Bonus Poker takes this concept further by dramatically increasing all four of a kind payouts while reducing payouts for two pair to one coin, where Bonus Poker pays two coins on two pair.
In Double Bonus Poker, you will break two pair with aces and hold only the aces. When dealt a full house with three aces, discard the low pair and go for four aces. Bonus Poker players never break two pair or full houses to go for quads.
This advice also covers other high-variance games like Double Double Bonus and Triple Double Bonus, which have different strategy changes due to four of a kind with a kicker becoming a big hand.
Double Double Bonus vs. Triple Double Bonus
In Double Double Bonus, four aces with a two, three, or four kicker returns an amount equal to half that of a royal flush. In Triple Double Bonus, four aces with a two, three, or four pays the same as a royal flush. Triple Double Bonus drops three of a kind to two coins from three to offset this jackpot hand. Both games pay one coin on two pair.
Bonus Poker Deluxe May Be Your Best Middle Variance Option
One game that gets forgotten too often for middle variance video poker is Bonus Poker Deluxe. This option pays 80 coins for every one wagered on all four of a kind hands. It does not matter the rank of the quads. It can be aces or sevens. They all pay the same. The tradeoff from Jacks or Better and Bonus Poker is that Bonus Poker Deluxe, like the other higher-variance games, pays just one coin on two pair.
Smart Bankroll Tips For Every Variant
Different video poker games have different volatility levels, which means your bankroll needs vary significantly between variants. Low-volatility games like Jacks or Better provide steadier results with smaller swings, while high-volatility games like Double Bonus create bigger wins and losses.
For steady games like Jacks or Better, you can play longer sessions with smaller bankrolls because the results are more predictable. High-volatility games require larger bankrolls to weather the bigger swings, but they also offer the potential for more significant wins when you hit the bonus payouts.
Set session limits based on your total bankroll and the game’s volatility. A good rule is never risk more than 5% of your total bankroll in a single session, and adjust your bet size so you can play at least 500 hands without going broke during a typical losing streak.
Multi-Hand Video Poker
Multi-hand video poker is a variant of single-line games. Typical games are Triple Play, Five Play, and Ten Play. Some casinos also have 25, 50, and 100 Play video poker games.
Multi-hand video poker starts like a single-line game. The player receives five cards and chooses which ones, if any, to hold. These cards are held across all hands. If the player holds a pair of jacks on Triple Play, three hands have a pair of jacks. The game will deal three new cards to each hand, shuffling after every draw, meaning a player can potentially draw the same card on multiple hands. If the player draws a third jack on one of the hands, that jack is still available for the others due to reshuffling.
Video Poker Rule Tips
- 52-Card Deck Used: Most video poker games use 52-card decks unless a joker is in the game, which makes it a 53-card deck.
- It Reshuffles Every Time: One hand has no relevance to past or future hands, as the cards are reshuffled each time.
- Bet the Maximum for the Full Payout on a Royal Flush: Most video poker games require five coins to receive an 800-coin payout on a royal flush, so paying attention to the pay table for this rule is imperative for the highest return.
- Study Before Playing: Video poker strategy is more complicated than it seems, making it important to learn the game before playing to ensure the highest possible return.
- Your Discards Aren’t Coming Back: When you discard, those cards or cards are out of the game and are not available until the next deal.
- Play Responsibly: If the session is not going your way, you are tired, or you just hit a big win, take a break before playing again.
Level Up Your Video Poker Game at Hard Rock Bet Casino
Hard Rock Bet Casino offers an extensive selection of video poker variants that let you practice and perfect your strategies across different game types. With over 3,000 casino games available, you will find everything from classic Jacks or Better to exotic wild card variants and bonus games.
The mobile platform makes it easy to reference strategy charts and practice your decision-making skills wherever you are, whether you are playing video poker or enjoying the live dealer online casino experience. You can start with lower minimum bets available in online games to build your confidence before moving to higher stakes, and the Unity rewards program adds extra value to your play through points and benefits that enhance your overall gaming experience.
Whether you are mastering the fundamentals with Jacks or Better or exploring the wild possibilities of Deuces Wild, Hard Rock Bet provides the perfect environment to develop your video poker skills. The combination of game variety, mobile convenience, and reward opportunities creates an ideal setting for both learning and enjoying these skill-based casino games.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Video Poker Strategies
Ready to level up your video poker game? Here are quick answers to the most common questions players have when diving into different video poker strategies at Hard Rock Bet Casino.
Can you use video poker strategy charts while playing online?
Absolutely, you can keep a strategy chart open on your device while playing online at Hard Rock Bet, making it easy to make the smartest moves every hand.
What’s the difference between “full pay” and “short pay” video poker?
“Full pay” games offer the best possible payouts for key hands, while “short pay” versions lower those payouts. Always check the pay table before you play to get the most bang for your buck.
Do video poker strategies work for multi-hand or progressive games?
Yes, but you will need to tweak your approach. Multi-hand games require faster decisions, and progressive jackpots may shift your priorities toward chasing those big royal flushes.
Is it better to play max coins on every hand?
Playing max coins unlocks the highest possible payout for a royal flush, so if you are chasing that top prize, maxing out your bet is the way to go.
Can you practice video poker for free at Hard Rock Bet Casino?
You bet. Hard Rock Bet Casino offers free demo versions of popular video poker games, so you can sharpen your strategy before playing for real money.
