Play Like A Winner - Video Poker Strategy

A good video poker player knows what to do with a winning hand. A great player knows what to do with a lousy one. Here's how to be great.

To stack the odds in your favour, you need to play video poker with a set strategy, making as few mistakes as possible. Video poker strategies are incredibly accurate and, while you may not win every hand you play, over the long-term you will do much better than if you were to play intuitively.

Serious video poker players can quite easily play a game with a generous payout and raise it even closer to 100% or higher.

When you've found a game with a generous paytable, stick with it, practice often and learn as much as you can about the game.

Playing For Keeps

When you're playing the maximum number of coins, Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild and Jokers Wild will offer you decent paytables.

To maximise your game, use our easy to follow strategy guide.

Deuces Wild - What To Keep

If you have deuces:

Four deuces - hold all five cards.

Three deuces - keep a wild royal flush and five of a kind, otherwise keep the deuces only.

Two deuces - keep any hand that's four of a kind or better, or any four cards to a royal flush, or just keep the deuces.

One deuce - keep all paying hands, with the exception of four cards to a royal flush, four cards to a straight flush and three cards to a royal flush, otherwise keep the deuce only.

If you're not dealt deuces:

All paying hands, except if you hold four cards to a royal flush.

A four card straight flush.

Three cards to a royal flush.

Any one pair, but keep two pairs if full house pays the same as four of a kind.

A four card flush.

A consecutive four card straight.

Three cards to a straight flush.

Any two of 10, J, Q or K, if they're in the same suit.

Jokers Wild - What To Keep

If you have a Joker:

All hands that are three of a kind or higher, except if you hold four cards to a royal flush.

Any four card straight flush and four card flush if it includes K, A or both.

Three cards to a royal flush.

A paying pair of high cards (K, A).

Any three cards to a straight flush.

Any four card flush without K or A.

Consecutive four card straights. If not dealt any of the above, keep the joker only.

If you don't have a Joker:

All paying hands, except if you hold four cards to a royal flush.

Any four cards to a straight flush and any three cards to a royal flush.

Four cards to any flush.

Any pair of 2's to Q's.

Any three cards to a straight flush.

Any four card consecutive straight./

Two cards to a royal flush if one of the cards is an A or K.

An unsuited K and A or K or A alone.

Two suited royal flush cards below K or A.

Jacks Or Better - What To Keep

Any four cards to a straight flush.

Any three cards to a royal flush.

Any four cards to a flush.

Any four card consecutive straight.

Any two high cards of the same suit.

Any three cards to a straight flush.

J, Q and K of different suites.

J, Q and K of the same suit.

Any low pair (10's or lower).