Jacks or Better Video Poker is a version of video poker where the player must obtain a hand greater than tens in order to collect winnings. Hands over a single pair of tens (pair of jacks or better) result in a payday for the Jacks or Better Video Poker player.
Jacks or Better Video Poker is played using the basic format used in five-card draw poker. This means a person playing Jacks or Better Video Poker will receive five cards, of which he can keep or discard all or none of the cards. After the player has discarded, cards will be drawn into his hand, where he either wins by making a hand winning hand or he loses and is able to move on to the next hand of Jacks or Better Video Poker.
When a player makes a losing hand in Jacks or Better Video Poker, they lose their entire bet for that particular hand. The amount bet varies between games, though most Jacks or Better Video Poker Games are flexible in the stakes they offer. Additionally, a player may bet between one and five coins at the stakes he has selected. Worthy of note, certain hands pay better when playing for maximum coin in the Jacks or Better Video Poker game, so be certain to check the payout scale, which is usually located either on the front of a jacks or better video poker machine or within the help queue of the Jacks or Better Video Poker Game.
Jacks or Better Video Poker Payout Scale
In Jacks or Better Video Poker, paired hands jacks and above pay evenly. Two pair pays double the amount played, while trips pays three times the money in Jacks or Better Video Poker. A straight pays four times the bet placed, while flushes pay six to one. A boat earns nine to one, while quads earn a twenty-five to one payout. Straight flushes in Jacks or Better Video Poker pay at a rate of fifty to one. Royal Flushes pay two-fifty to one, unless playing for maximum coin, as players are rewarded with an eight hundred to one payday when nailing a royal on max coin when playing Jacks or Better Video Poker.
Jacks or Better Video Poker Strategy
When playing Jacks or Better Video Poker sometimes it is not the best move to keep what seems to be an obvious hand. For example, if you are dealt a pair of fives and have four-to-a-flush, many players would initially decide to keep the fives. Keeping a pair is not necessarily incorrect; however, the bigger payday lies with the flush. Thus, the more correct play is to chase the flush. Additionally, when dealt a totally uncoordinated hand, it is best to keep only those cards above a jack when drawing.