If you walk through a casino and observe the video poker machines, you will likely see dozens of players mindlessly slapping the “Draw” button as fast as they can.
If you learn the optimal strategy, Video Poker transforms from a predatory casino trap into one of the most mathematically fair games on the entire casino floor.
In this article, we are going to break down the absolute perfect mathematical strategy for the most popular and foundational version of the game: Jacks or Better.
Step 1: Finding the “Full Pay” 9/6 Machine
In Jacks or Better, all the payouts for the massive hands (Royal Flush, Four of a Kind) are generally identical across different machines.
If you play a 9/6 machine with perfect mathematical strategy, the overall Return to Player (RTP) is an incredibly high 99.54%.
An 8/5 machine (paying 8 for a Full House and 5 for a Flush) drops the RTP down to 97.3%, massively increasing the casino’s profit margin purely because you didn’t read the glass.
If the casino does not offer 9/6 Jacks or Better, the correct strategy is to turn around and walk out the door.
Why You Must Always Play 5 Coins
Once you find a 9/6 machine, you must adhere to the second unbreakable rule of Video Poker: you must ALWAYS play the maximum number of coins allowed (usually 5 coins).
However, the payout for the Royal Flush is severely distorted.
This massive, disproportionate bonus for hitting a Royal Flush on Max Bet is the entire mathematical engine that allows the game to achieve a 99.54% RTP.
Playing less than maximum coins instantly turns a beatable game into a terrible mathematical trap.
How to Play Perfect Jacks or Better Strategy
You must memorize this hierarchy or bring a printed strategy card with you to the casino (which is completely legal).
For example, if you are dealt a High Pair (e.g., two Jacks, a guaranteed 5-coin payout) BUT you also have 4 cards to a Royal Flush (e.g., J, Q, K, A of Hearts), what do you do?
The payout for a standard Flush (30 coins) is not large enough to justify throwing away the guaranteed payout and the chance to draw Three of a Kind or Four of a Kind.
In Video Poker, you are not trying to beat a dealer; you are purely trying to make the absolute best poker hand possible, and throwing away useless kickers maximizes your drawing power.
The Simplified Jacks or Better Strategy Hierarchy
- The Monsters: Never break these hands under any circumstances. You have already won the lottery.
- The Holy Grail Draw: The 4,000-coin payout is so massive that the math demands you chase it every single time.
- Solid Winners: Take the guaranteed money. The math says these payouts are too valuable to risk for a massive gamble.
- 4. 4 Cards to a Straight Flush: Hold these. The payout for a Straight Flush (250 coins) justifies the risk.
- Full House Hunting: The one card you draw has exactly a 4 in 47 chance of making a Full House.
- The Baseline Winner: This simply returns your original bet (a “Push”). It is the most frequent winning hand in the game.
- Color Hunting: A solid, reliable draw that pays 30 coins.
- 8. Low Pair (2s through 10s): Hold the pair. Throw away everything else (including a single High Card). Do NOT hold a kicker.
- 9. 4 Cards to an Outside Straight: Hold the four sequential cards (e.g., 5, 6, 7, 8). Do NOT hold an “Inside” Straight (e.g., 5, 6, 8, 9).
- 10. Completely Trash Hand: If you have absolutely nothing (no pairs, no 4-card draws, not a single Jack or higher), throw ALL FIVE CARDS in the trash.
The Math of the 9/6 Paytable (For a 5-Coin Bet)
| Winning Hand | The Payout (5 Coins Bet) | The Mathematical Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| The Holy Grail | The reason you must play 5 coins. | An incredibly rare event that single-handedly pulls the RTP up to 99.54%. |
| Straight Flush | 250 Coins | Roughly 1 in 9,000 hands. |
| Four of a Kind | 125 Coins | Roughly 1 in 423 hands. |
| The Boat | This must pay 9 per coin, or the machine is a rip-off. | A frequent, highly profitable hand. |
| The Flush | The second critical metric of the paytable. | The math demands 6 to 1. |
| The Survival Hand | The reason the game is called “Jacks or Better.” | Without this 5-coin refund, your bankroll would vanish in minutes. |
By hunting down a 9/6 machine, playing maximum coins, and flawlessly executing the strategy hierarchy, you are engaging in one of the smartest gambles the casino has to offer.
Do not be intimidated by the speed of the professional players next to you.