Video Poker: Strategy,
RTP & Best Variants
Video poker is the highest-RTP game you will find at most casinos. Unlike slots, skill actually matters — learning basic strategy can push your return above 99%. This guide covers everything from reading a pay table to making the right hold decisions.
Why Video Poker Beats Slots
99.54%
Video Poker RTP (9/6 JoB)
94–96%
Typical Slots RTP
Skill
Your decisions affect the outcome
Slots use a fixed RNG with no player decisions. Video poker uses a real card deck shuffle and lets you choose which cards to hold — your strategy directly affects your expected return.
How Video Poker Works
Choose your bet size and deal
Select how many coins to bet (always bet max — 5 coins — to qualify for the Royal Flush bonus). Hit Deal to receive 5 cards.
Decide which cards to hold
Review your hand and click the cards you want to keep. This is the strategy decision — choose based on what gives you the best expected return.
Draw replacement cards
Hit Draw. Cards you did not hold are replaced with new cards from the deck. The result is your final hand.
Payout based on the pay table
If your final hand appears on the pay table (Jacks or Better or higher), you win. The payout multiplies your bet by the table value.
Hand Rankings
Same as standard poker. Approximate frequencies are for 9/6 Jacks or Better with optimal strategy.
| Hand | Description | Approx. Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | A, K, Q, J, 10 — all same suit | 1 in ~40,000 |
| Straight Flush | Five consecutive, same suit (not Royal) | 1 in ~9,000 |
| Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same rank | 1 in ~423 |
| Full House | Three of a kind + a pair | 1 in ~87 |
| Flush | Any five cards, same suit | 1 in ~91 |
| Straight | Five consecutive cards, mixed suits | 1 in ~89 |
| Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same rank | 1 in ~13 |
| Two Pair | Two different pairs | 1 in ~7.7 |
| Jacks or Better | A pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces | 1 in ~4.7 |
9/6 Jacks or Better Pay Table
The "9/6" refers to the Full House (9×) and Flush (6×) payouts — always check these two numbers first. This is the full-pay version. Always bet 5 coins to qualify for the 4,000-coin Royal Flush jackpot.
| Hand | 1 Coin | 5 Coins (Max) |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 250 | 4000 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 250 |
| Four of a Kind | 25 | 125 |
| Full House | 9 | 45 |
| Flush | 6 | 30 |
| Straight | 4 | 20 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 15 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 10 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 5 |
| Nothing | 0 | 0 |
Royal Flush pays 250× at 1 coin but 800× at max bet (4,000 coins for a 5-coin bet). Always play max coins.
Video Poker Variant RTP Comparison
RTP figures assume optimal strategy. Playing sub-optimally lowers your actual return.
| Variant | RTP | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacks or Better (9/6) | 99.54% | Low | Best starting point. 9/6 means full pay — always check the pay table. |
| Deuces Wild (Full Pay) | 100.76% | Medium | 2s are wild. Positive EV with perfect strategy — rarely found at full pay. |
| Double Double Bonus (10/7) | 100.07% | Medium | Big bonuses for four Aces with a kicker. Higher variance than JoB. |
| Double Bonus (10/7) | 100.17% | Medium | Enhanced four-of-a-kind payouts. Good alternative to Double Double Bonus. |
| Bonus Poker (8/5) | 99.17% | Low | Similar to JoB but pays more for four Aces. Easy to learn. |
| Jacks or Better (8/5) | 97.30% | Low | Short pay version. Avoid — common trap at bad casinos. |
Jacks or Better: Basic Hold Strategy
Always hold the highest-ranked hand you can make. When no made hand exists, use this priority order (highest priority first):
Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind
Already made — hold all 5 cards
4 to a Royal Flush
Hold 4 royal cards, discard 1 — even if it breaks a Full House
Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind
Already made — hold all 5
4 to a Straight Flush
Hold 4 consecutive same-suit cards
Two Pair
Hold both pairs, discard the kicker
High Pair (Jacks or Better)
Hold the paying pair
3 to a Royal Flush
Hold 3 royal cards, discard 2
4 to a Flush
Hold 4 same-suit cards
Low Pair (2s–10s)
Hold the pair, discard the other 3
4 to an Outside Straight
Four consecutive cards with room on both ends
2 High Cards (J, Q, K, A)
Hold 2 suited high cards if possible; otherwise any 2 high cards
1 High Card (J, Q, K, A)
Hold the single high card
Discard all 5
When none of the above apply
How to Read a Pay Table (and Spot Bad Ones)
Before sitting down at any video poker machine, check the Full House and Flush payouts. In Jacks or Better:
9/6
Full Pay
99.54% RTP. This is what you want.
8/5
Short Pay
97.30% RTP. Significantly worse — avoid.
7/5 or lower
Terrible Pay
96.15% or lower. Walk away immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best video poker game to play?
9/6 Jacks or Better is the best starting point for beginners with a 99.54% RTP and straightforward strategy. Full Pay Deuces Wild has a theoretical RTP above 100% but requires more advanced strategy and is hard to find at full pay online.
Is video poker better than slots?
Yes — video poker typically has a much higher RTP than slots. 9/6 Jacks or Better returns 99.54% with optimal strategy, while slots typically average 94–96%. Video poker also involves real decisions, so learning strategy genuinely improves your results.
Can I play video poker at sweepstakes casinos?
Yes. Most sweepstakes casinos offer multiple video poker variants. You can play using Gold Coins for free practice, or Sweep Coins for prize-eligible play — making it a great way to learn strategy without financial risk.
Practice Video Poker for Free
Sweepstakes casinos let you practice video poker using Gold Coins with zero financial risk. Master the strategy before playing competitively.
Find a Casino to Play Video Poker →