Jacks or Better is the most popular form of video poker that you will find at
online casinos. Video poker is in essence a merger between 5 card poker and
slots. Although the hands rank the same way that they do in poker, video poker
will only pay out from a pair of Jacks and up - hence the name.
To recap on the game, you will be dealt 5 cards face up. You will then have
to choose between which cards to choose and which to discard. When you discard
any cards, you will then be dealt fresh replacement cards. This makes up your
final hand.
The best playing strategy is to know exactly which cards to stick with in
terms of odds and probability of winning.
- If you are dealt a winning hand then hold onto it - but if there are
cards outside of the winning combination then you should discard these.
- Hold four cards that could lead to a Straight Flush.
- Hold three cards that could lead to a Royal Flush.
- Hold any four cards that could lead to a Flush.
- You should hold onto any lower-than-Jack pairs because these could lead
to a Two Pair.
- Hold and four cards that are consecutive - you could land a Straight.
- If you are dealt two or more cards being Jack, Queen, King or Ace then
you should hold these.
- If you have three cards in consecutive order (or broken up that could
make a sequence) and they are of the same suit then you should hold these
and chase the Flush.
- Hold onto any two cards if they are Jacks or better.
- You should hold onto Jacks, Queens, Kings or Aces.
- If you are not dealt any of the above combinations then you should
discard all 5 of your cards and draw fresh cards.
Doubling Strategy
Jacks or Better video poker will sometimes give you the option of
doubling your bet after a winning hand. The machine will deal you 5 cards face
down and the machine will show you one card face up. The object is to choose one
of these face down cards. If you choose a card of a higher value than the
machine's card then your bet will double. If you win this, then the machine will
ask you if you wish to double again.
Doubling once is sometimes advisable. However, you should beware of trying
this a second or third time because each time you do this you are lowering your
odds. Even if you double correctly three times, you could easily miss out on the
fourth time, thereby losing your bet completely.
Doubling should be confined to the lower paying bets. You should not, under
any circumstances, double a winning hand like a Royal Flush. It is a case of
quitting while you are ahead.
