How to Play Video Poker
Video poker explained: the difference between Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Double Bonus variants, how rounds work, and how to read a pay table.
What Is Video Poker?
Video poker is a single-player electronic game that combines elements of slot machines and five-card draw poker. Unlike table poker, you do not compete against other players or a dealer. Instead, you are paid according to a fixed pay table based on the strength of your final five-card hand. Skill plays a role — the decisions you make about which cards to hold directly affect the probability of your outcome.
Common Video Poker Variants
- Jacks or Better — The most widely available variant. A pair of Jacks or higher is the minimum qualifying hand. A good starting point for new players.
- Deuces Wild — All four 2s act as wild cards and can substitute for any other card. Hand rankings shift because of the wild cards.
- Double Bonus — Offers enhanced payouts for four-of-a-kind hands, but typically reduces payouts for full house and flush to compensate.
- Double Double Bonus — A further variation with additional bonuses for specific four-of-a-kind combinations.
Hand Rankings (Jacks or Better)
- Royal Flush — A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit (highest payout)
- Straight Flush — Five consecutive cards 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 consecutive cards, mixed suits
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- Jacks or Better — A pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces (minimum qualifying hand)
Hands lower than a pair of Jacks return nothing in standard Jacks or Better.
How a Round Works
- Set your bet. Most machines allow 1 to 5 credits per hand. Playing the maximum credits (5) is generally required to receive the full Royal Flush bonus payout.
- Deal. Five cards are dealt from a standard 52-card deck (53 in Deuces Wild, which includes a designated wild card).
- Hold or Discard. Select which cards to keep and which to discard. There is no time limit — take your time with each decision.
- Draw. The discarded cards are replaced from the remaining deck. Your final five-card hand is evaluated against the pay table.
- Payout. Qualifying hands are paid according to the posted pay table. Non-qualifying hands receive nothing.
Reading the Pay Table
The pay table is displayed on the machine and lists the payout for each qualifying hand at each credit level. Pay tables vary between machines and casinos — even for the same game variant. A "9/6 Jacks or Better" machine pays 9x for a full house and 6x for a flush; an "8/5" variant pays less for the same hands. The pay table directly affects the theoretical return of the machine over the long term.
Compare pay tables before choosing a machine — a better pay table means a lower house edge.
The Role of Decisions
Unlike slots, the cards you choose to hold affect the probability of achieving a higher-ranked hand. Consistent, correct decision-making influences your results over a very large number of hands. However, the machine draws from a shuffled deck — any individual draw is random. No hold decision eliminates the house edge or guarantees a positive result.
Responsible Play
Video poker can be played quickly. Set a session budget before you start and use any responsible gambling tools offered by the casino. Do not increase your bet size to recover losses. Results across individual sessions vary significantly, and long-term play always involves a mathematical edge in favour of the house.