While Jacks or Better is probably the best-known video poker game, there are many variations that offer higher payouts for specific hands and make the experience slightly different but still entertaining. All American is another Jacks or Better alternative that gives video poker fans a chance to secure great payouts for certain winning hands.
If you are used to playing without wild cards and with a standard deck, you will have no trouble playing All American. Like many other video poker games, this one has several variants with different paytables. This also affects the payback percentage, which means you should learn how to recognize the best-paying option.
For players eager to try this game, there is also a strategy that will help maximize their winning chances. All American is especially popular among online video poker players because it is one of the few games in the genre that actually offers better online versions than those found in land-based casinos.
How to Play All American
The great thing about this game is that it is quite similar to Jacks or Better, which means its rules do not differ much from the standard version. You start by choosing the size of the bet you want to make. As with other video poker games, players are advised to make the maximum bet in All American to optimize their winning chances. Typically, you can stake up to 5 coins on this video poker variation.
Once you are done making your bet, you will be dealt five random cards. The next step is to decide whether to discard any of your cards to replace them with others and, hopefully, form a winning hand. If you manage to land a winning combination after the second draw, you will be paid the amount stated on the paytable.
Some online variations of All American also allow winners to double their winnings by making an additional bet. In this feature, one card is dealt face up and several others face down. Your goal is to select a face-down card that beats the face-up card. If you succeed, your payout is doubled. However, if your card is lower, you lose the profit you gained in the base game.
All American Additional TipsAnother feature that some All American games offer is the option to bet on multiple hands. This lets you play more hands much faster. While the odds of the game do not change, you can play several hands at once if your budget permits.
When you gamble online, you sometimes have the opportunity to play in demo mode. This allows you to practice without wagering real money and to play as much as you like. After you master the strategy for All American, switch to real-money play only when you feel confident.
All American Video Poker Gameplay
All American Video Poker Variations and Their Paytable
Do not be alarmed if you encounter many different variations of All American, especially online. Each option comes with its own paytable, which means that each type of All American offers players different winning opportunities. To find the most rewarding game, you must be able to identify the best possible payouts.
35/8 All American
As with many other video poker games, All American has a full-pay version known as 35/8. The name reflects the payout of 35 to 1 for a Four of a Kind and 8 to 1 for a Full House, Flush, and Straight. The paytable for this variant looks like this:
| Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 250 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 200 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind | 35 to 1 |
| Full House | 8 to 1 |
| Flush | 8 to 1 |
| Straight | 8 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 to 1 |
| Two Pair | 1 to 1 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 to 1 |
If you compare this variant with standard Jacks or Better, you will notice several differences in the paytable. First, the payout for Two Pair is reduced from 2 to 1 down to even money. On the other hand, the payout for a Straight Flush is greatly increased, paying 200 to 1 instead of 50 to 1. Four of a Kind also pays more in All American, offering players 35 credits per coin staked. While a payout of 8 to 1 may seem lower than the 9 to 1 offered in Jacks or Better, having both a Flush and a Straight pay 8 to 1 is a sizable improvement for these hands.
And while many hands have bigger payouts in All American, the even-money return on Two Pair significantly lowers the overall winning odds, so players should consider whether this game is right for them. With perfect strategy and maximum bets, 35/8 All American offers an expected return of 99.37%, whereas the full-pay version of Jacks or Better provides a slightly higher RTP of 99.54%.
30/8 All American
You will often encounter variations with lower payouts on certain hands, which will definitely affect the expected return, so you should avoid these All American versions. One such variant lowers the payout for Four of a Kind to 30 to 1. While this is still higher than the usual 25 to 1 in Jacks or Better, the fact that Two Pair once again pays only even money means the RTP drops to 98.49%. The paytable for this variant is as follows:
| Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 250 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 200 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind | 30 to 1 |
| Full House | 8 to 1 |
| Flush | 8 to 1 |
| Straight | 8 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 to 1 |
| Two Pair | 1 to 1 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 to 1 |
40/7 All American
Often, when you play online, you can also find versions of All American with a 40/7 paytable. This means that Four of a Kind pays 40 credits per coin staked. However, all of the hands that normally pay 8 to 1 (Full House, Flush, and Straight) pay only 7 to 1. This change automatically makes the variation worse than the previous ones, and the expected return confirms it. Even with perfect strategy and a 5-coin bet, the RTP for 40/7 is only 96.3%. Here is its paytable:
| Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 250 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 200 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind | 40 to 1 |
| Full House | 7 to 1 |
| Flush | 7 to 1 |
| Straight | 7 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 to 1 |
| Two Pair | 1 to 1 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 to 1 |
Strategy to Use When Playing All American
Although All American is a variation of Jacks or Better, you will notice that Four of a Kind offers a much higher payout in this video poker game. For this reason, players need to use a different strategy when playing All American to improve their winning chances and form high-paying hands more often.
There are several points to keep in mind if you wish to enjoy the most profitable game possible. First, pick a game that offers the highest possible payouts, which will ultimately lead to the best expected payback percentage. In addition to finding a full-pay game, you should also make the maximum bet to lower the house edge. Incorporating both of these factors into your gameplay will help you maximize your winnings.
If you want to learn the strategy for All American, you can resort to using the following chart:
| Hand | Decision |
|---|---|
| Four of a Kind, Straight Flush, Royal Flush | keep your hand |
| Four cards to a Royal Flush | draw one card |
| Three of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House | keep your hand |
| Four cards to a Straight Flush | draw one card |
| Two Pair | draw one card |
| High pair (Jacks or higher) | draw three cards |
| Three cards to a Royal Flush | draw two cards |
| Four cards to a Flush | draw one card |
| Low pair | draw three cards |
| Four cards to a Straight (open) | draw one card |
| Two high-ranked cards of the same suit | draw three cards |
| Three cards to a Straight Flush | draw two cards |
| Two high-ranked cards of different suits (if there are more than two, hold the lowest two) | draw three cards |
| 10 and J, 10 and Q or 10 and K of the same suit | draw three cards |
| A high-ranked card (J or higher) | draw four cards |
| No winning hands | discard all five cards |
Conclusion
All American is definitely a fun variation of Jacks or Better that can be found at both land-based and online casinos. It is especially popular among online players, many of whom appreciate the chance to collect a massive reward for forming Four of a Kind.
The rules are similar to the standard version, which is why All American is quite easy to play. Many online versions also include a feature that lets winners make an additional bet and, with luck, double their profits.
Although some hands in All American pay less than they do in Jacks or Better, other hands can give lucky players a serious bankroll boost. If you learn the correct strategy, choose the best-paying variation, and make maximum bets, you will have a good chance of enjoying a lucrative casino experience with All American.