Basic Video Poker: Jacks or Better

The first video poker game everyone learns to play is Jacks or Better. It is easy to play, and with a payback percentage of 99.5% and the availability of progressive jackpots, it is worth the professional player's time.

Jacks or Better

The minimum "paying" hand here a pair of jacks or higher. It will pay you even money. Note that "even money" in video poker does not mean you earn a $5 profit for every $5 bet like in blackjack; rather it means your original bet is returned. "Even money" in video poker then is equivalent to a "push" or tie in blackjack. What is called "even money" in blackjack is the 2 for 1 payout in Jacks or Better for a two pair. A two pair is the first real "paying" hand in Jacks or Better.

Jacks or Better Pay Tables

Here is the standard pay table for a 9/6 Jacks or Better machine. The 9/6 refers to the payout for a full house and flush respectively. This is the best Jacks or Better game to play. The house edge is only 0.46% (meaning the payback percentage is 99.54%). The next best thing is an 8/5 machine which has the same pay table except it pays 8 for 1 on a full house and 5 for 1 on a flush. Its house edge is 2.7%.

Hand 1 coin 2 coins 3 coins 4 coins 5 coins Royal flush 250 500 750 1000 4000 Straight flush 50 100 150 200 250 Four of a kind 25 50 75 100 125 Full house 9 18 27 36 45 Flush 6 12 18 24 30 Straight 4 8 12 16 20 Three of a kind 3 6 9 12 15 Two pair 2 4 6 8 10 Pair of jacks 1 2 3 4 5 or better

Notice the big jump in the prize for a royal flush when you bet the maximum number of coins. This is a ploy to get players to bet maximum coins. And in fact, this is what you should do. A royal flush will be hit about once every 40,000 hands but it can also hit anytime. So it's best to max bet every time.

The rarity of the royal flush means most of the payback percentage comes from it and not the smaller payouts. You must wait for the royal flush to be paid off big.

As said, the 9/6 table - also known as the full-pay Jacks or Better table - is the best to play. However if you find an 8/5 game with a progressive jackpot, it can create a positive expectation for you if you play correctly. Be sure to keep playing at that machine when the jackpot gets very high since the payback will be very big when/if you do hit it.

Expected Returns

Let us show you why you should prefer 9/6 Jacks or Better. If you multiply your bet per hand by the number of wagers you make per hour, and multiply that by house edge, you will get the expected return for that game.

For example, let's say you play a quarter-dollar 9/6 machine with max bets at 400 hands per hour. Do the math like this:

(.25 * 5) * 400 * .46 = $2.30

You lose an average of $2.30 per hour of play to the house. Not big. But with an 8/5 pay table?

(.25 * 5) * 400 * 2.7 = $13.50

As can be seen, 9/6 costs you less. So you should play 9/6 Jacks or Better whenever it's available.