Rules of Video Poker - Important Tips for Players

Rules of Video Poker

Unlike a slot machine game, video poker machines lets you make some game play choices meaning you actually have some control over the outcome of the hands you play.

Although there are different variants and game modes, all video poker games function under the same set of basic principles:

  • Standard "table" poker hands are used;
  • You're dealt five starting cards.
  • You can choose to hold or discard any or all of your cards.
  • All cards you choose to discard will be replaced in a single random draw.
  • If your hand now matches any of the qualifying poker hands, you win the corresponding prize.

The following is a list of card combinations from best to worst:

  1. Royal Flush: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 of same suit;
  2. Straight Flush: 5 cards in the same suit in sequential order;
  3. Four of a Kind: 4 cards of the same number but not necessarily from the same suit;
  4. Four of a Kind: 4 cards of the same number but not necessarily from the same suit;
  5. Full House: 3 matching cards of the same number and a pair of another number;
  6. Flush: 5 cards of the same suit but doesn’t need to be in sequence;
  7. Straight: 5 cards in sequence of any combination of suits;
  8. Three of a Kind: 3 cards of the same number;
  9. Two Pair: 2 sets of matching cards;
  10. One Pair: 1 set of matching cards.

Most popular variants of video poker machines

Jacks or Better

The most common video poker game of real money casino mode is known as Jacks or Better. In this mode you must have at least a pair of jacks to get paid. Any hand of inferior value is worthless, while any hand of superior value pays out based on a predetermined pay scale.

Here are the typical payouts for a Jacks or Better game (Each internet casino and live casino has its own payment scheme of bets, before starting the game you need to see it):

  • Royal Flush - 250x (with bonuses of 4000x or more when betting max credits)
  • Straight Flush - 50x
  • Four of a Kind - 25x
  • Full House - 6x to 9x
  • Flush - 5x or 6x
  • Straight - 4x
  • Three of a Kind - 3x
  • Two Pair - 2x
  • Pair of Jacks or Better - 1x.

When getting paid, you can only be paid for the top most ranking hand value. For example hitting a full house will pay you 6x to 9x your bet, depending on the actual payout. You do not receive payment for the full house, three of a kind and a pair.

Example:

You bet one quarter (one credit of ¢25)

You're dealt: You hold the A♥ and J♦

Final hand: You have a pair of Aces and you receive ¢25 (¢25 x 1= ¢25).

Your goal is to get paid as often as possible, and only take small risks on the big scores.

Deuces Wild

When playing Deuces Wild all deuces in the deck are wild, and can be substituted for any rank and suit. Because this makes it a lot easier to get big hands, the payout scales are greatly reduced:

  • Royal Flush (no wild cards) - 250x (with bonuses of 4000x or more when betting max)
  • Four Deuces - 200x
  • Royal Flush (with wild cards) - 20x or 25x
  • Five of a Kind - 12x to 16x
  • Straight Flush - 8x to 10x
  • Four of a Kind - 4x or 5x
  • Full House - 3x or 4x
  • Flush - 2x or 3x
  • Straight - 2x
  • Three of a Kind - 1x

Example:

You bet one quarter (one credit of ¢25)

You're dealt: You hold the 2♥, 2♣, A♣ and K♣
Final hand: You have four of a kind, you receive $1.25 (¢25 x 5= ¢1.25)

If you're dealt four deuces hold all cards since it's impossible to improve this hand.
If you're dealt three deuces only hold cards if you have a royal flush or five of a kind.
If you're dealt two deuces keep any hand four of a kind or better. Hold any four cards to a royal flush, otherwise just hold the deuces.
If you're dealt just one deuce, keep all paying hands unless you have three or four cards to a straight flush or royal flush.
If you have no deuce, keep all paying hands and four to a straight or flush.
Hold three cards to a royal flush.

If you have none of the above hold on to any pair, if you have two pair only hold the second pair if a full house pays the same as four of a kind.
If you have no pair, hold any to high cards (ten or better) if they're the same suit.
If you have none of the above, draw five new cards.

Joker's Wild

Joker's Wild is somewhere between Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild. The video poker game is played with a 53 card deck (a standard 52 card deck plus one joker). The joker can be used in place of any rank or suit. The pay scale for Joker's Wild is as follows:

  • Royal Flush (no joker) - 250x (with bonuses of 4000x or more when betting max)
  • Five of a Kind - 200x
  • Royal Flush (with joker) - 100x
  • Straight Flush - 40x or 50x
  • Four of a Kind - 15x to 20x
  • Full House - 5x to 8x
  • Flush - 5x
  • Straight - 3x
  • Three of a Kind - 2x
  • Two Pair - 1x
  • One Pair kings or better - 1x

Keep all four cards to a big paying hand, or three cards if you have a joker.