Video Poker: The Complete Online Guide
Video poker is an exciting fusion of poker skill and slots simplicity. Loved for its fast gameplay, fair odds, and potential for big wins, video poker is a casino classic - online and in real venues. This guide explains how to play, winning hands, paytables, strategies, the best variants, and where to play.
Best Online Video Poker Casinos
All reputable casinos listed here offer fair and certified video poker. Many also provide free play and mobile compatibility!
How to Play Video Poker
- Insert credits and choose your bet size (usually 1-5 coins per hand).
- Click "Deal" to receive five cards.
- Choose which cards to hold and which to discard (click/tap cards to hold).
- Click "Draw" to replace discards with new cards.
- If your final hand matches a winning combination (see below), you win according to the paytable!
Tip: Bet max coins to qualify for the top jackpot (especially for Royal Flush).
Poker Hands & Rankings
Video poker uses standard poker hand rankings. Here are the most common, from highest to lowest:
- Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, 10 all of the same suit
- Straight Flush: Five cards in sequence, all of the same suit
- Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank
- Full House: Three of a kind plus a pair
- Flush: Five cards of the same suit
- Straight: Five cards in sequence (any suit)
- Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank
- Two Pair: Two pairs of different ranks
- Jacks or Better (or Pair of X): A pair of Jacks or higher, or other pair depending on variant
Note: In Deuces Wild and other wild card games, hands like Five of a Kind are possible.
Paytables & Payouts
Video poker payouts depend on the game variant and paytable. Here's a classic '9/6 Jacks or Better' paytable (with max bet):
| Hand | Payout (per 1 coin) |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 250 (4000 with 5 coins) |
| Straight Flush | 50 |
| Four of a Kind | 25 |
| Full House | 9 |
| Flush | 6 |
| Straight | 4 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 |
| Two Pair | 2 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 |
Tip: Always check the paytable - payouts can vary by machine and casino! 'Full pay' games (like 9/6 Jacks or Better) offer the best odds.
Popular Video Poker Variants
- Jacks or Better: The classic and most widely played video poker variant. You win with a pair of Jacks or higher. Look for "9/6" paytables (9 for Full House, 6 for Flush) for the highest RTP (~99.54%). The strategy is straightforward, making it ideal for beginners. Most 'how to play video poker' advice is based on Jacks or Better.
- Deuces Wild: All 2s (deuces) are wild cards, substituting for any other card to make the best possible hand. This makes for more frequent big wins (like Five of a Kind and Wild Royal Flush), but the minimum winning hand is usually Three of a Kind, not a pair. The strategy is quite different from Jacks or Better - holding wilds is almost always correct, and you'll often break up winning hands chasing bigger ones.
- Bonus Poker: Based on Jacks or Better, but with extra payouts for Four of a Kind hands. For example, Four Aces pays more than Four Kings, which pays more than Four 2s-4s, etc. Bonus Poker variants include '8/5' or '7/5' versions, which reflect the Full House and Flush pays (the higher, the better for the player).
- Double Bonus Poker: Takes Bonus Poker further by giving even bigger payouts for Four Aces and Four 2s, 3s, or 4s. This increases volatility; you'll win bigger sometimes but need a bigger bankroll to ride out dry spells. Optimal strategy becomes more complex as you chase the most valuable Four of a Kind hands.
- Double Double Bonus Poker: An extension of Double Bonus Poker with huge rewards for Four Aces with a 2, 3, or 4 kicker, and Four 2s/3s/4s with an Ace kicker. This version offers some of the largest jackpots outside the Royal Flush, but variance is very high and the strategy is very specific for maximizing kicker hands.
- Joker Poker (Joker's Wild): Played with a 53-card deck (a Joker is added as a wild card). The minimum winning hand is usually Two Pairs or a pair of Kings, depending on the paytable. Joker Poker strategy involves holding the Joker almost always, but which other cards to keep depends on the specific paytable and hand dealt.
- Aces and Faces: Similar to Jacks or Better but with bonus payouts for Four of a Kind Aces or face cards (Jacks, Queens, Kings). Slightly higher variance, but generally easy to learn if you know Jacks or Better.
- All American: Like Jacks or Better, but with higher payouts for Straights, Flushes, and Straight Flushes, and lower for Full House and Two Pair. This alters optimal strategy - chasing straight and flush draws becomes more attractive.
- Multi-Hand Video Poker: Play 5, 10, 50, or even 100 hands at once. You make your initial hold/discard choice, and it's applied to all hands, which are then completed with their own draws. This increases action and wins per round, but requires a larger bankroll.
- Super Times Pay, Ultimate X, and Other Bonus Variants: These add multipliers, bonus bets, or extra features to classic video poker hands for a chance at even bigger wins or added excitement - at the cost of a higher variance and sometimes a slightly reduced RTP.
Pro Tip: Always check the paytable before you play - subtle differences can have a big impact on your long-term returns. And remember: each variant has its own optimal strategy. Don't use Jacks or Better charts for Deuces Wild or Joker Poker!
Video Poker Strategy & Tips
- Always Play Max Coins: The Royal Flush jackpot is much bigger with 5 coins. If your budget is limited, play lower denominations but max coins.
- Learn the Optimal Strategy: Each variant has a perfect strategy to maximize return - lookup charts for Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, etc.
- Hold High Pairs, Discard Low: In Jacks or Better, always hold a dealt high pair and discard the rest (don't keep a pair and a single high card, for example).
- Don't Chase Gutshots: Don't keep inside straights unless the paytable/variant makes it worthwhile.
- Check Paytables: Return-to-player (RTP) can vary from 96% to 99.5%+ depending on paytable - prefer 'full pay' games!
- Bankroll Management: Variance can be high; set limits and don't chase losses.
- Practice for Free: Most online casinos offer demo mode - practice strategy risk-free before playing real money.
Where to Play Video Poker Online
The best online casinos offer a huge variety of video poker games - single-hand, multi-hand, and all the top variants. Look for 'full pay' tables, fast gameplay, and fair RNG certification.
All reputable casinos listed here offer fair and certified video poker. Many also provide free play and mobile compatibility!
Video Poker FAQs
Video poker has better odds and player control than most slots. Play with optimal strategy for the best returns!
Jacks or Better - simple rules and easy-to-learn strategy.
Yes! With good strategy and a 'full pay' table, video poker can have RTP over 99%. But the house always retains a small edge.
A machine with the best paytable (like 9/6 Jacks or Better). Avoid 'short pay' versions with lower Full House or Flush payouts.
Yes - most online casinos offer demo mode so you can practice without risk.
At licensed casinos, yes. The virtual 'deck' is shuffled using certified random number generators.
Read about the invention, development and modernization of video poker on our History Of Video Poker page.
Ready to play video poker for real money?
Discover video poker strategies, best payout casinos, and bankroll tips at our Real Money Video Poker Guide.
Have questions or want more tips about video poker? Contact Casino Beacon here!
Responsible Gambling: Always play for fun and within your means.