As you already know, video poker is based on the classic five-card draw poker and although there are many variants of the casino game, the most popular is Jacks or Better. Since it is the original game, based on five-card draw poker, many fans of the classic game enjoy playing Jacks or Better.
Another reason why Jacks or Better is preferred by many casino devotees is the huge advantage one can gain when using the right type of strategy. Video poker is definitely with a higher RTP, compared to many other casino variations and Jacks or Better is definitely the type of game that can promise a generous expected return.
While it is true that Jacks or Better provides wonderful opportunities for a fruitful play, you should be able to recognize which variations of the game are worth playing and which ones you better avoid. For this, you will need to check the payouts for winning hands and use the right strategy that can be applied to the exact game you are playing.
How to Play Jacks or Better
Whenever you wish to play a thrilling and rewarding game, you can always resort to making real-money bets on Jacks or Better. If you are familiar with the rules of five-card draw poker, then you will have no issue playing this variation of video poker. However, there is the difference of not betting against other players and the lack of bluffing or raising your bet.
The main goal in order to enjoy a successful game of Jacks or Better is to have at least a pair of Jacks in order to be paid out. The great thing about all versions of video poker is that even if you are not dealt a winning hand on the initial draw, you have the chance to replace some or all of your cards and form an entirely new hand which offer a better payout. The same applies for Jacks or Better and if you come across a high-paying variation and know how to use an ultimate strategy, you can enjoy very fruitful gameplay.
How to Play Jacks or Better Additional TipsYou start the game by deciding how many coins to wager. Usually, the maximum amount you can bet is 5 credits and their denomination can be ¢25, $1 or sometimes even more. Usually, players are advised to always bet the maximum amount of coins as this is the only way to be eligible to receive the best possible payout for Royal Flush.
Once you are dealt your initial hand, you will have to decide which cards to hold and which ones to discard. After that, the cards you have decided to change, will be replaced by other randomly chosen cards from the deck. In order to enjoy a better payout, you have to form the best hand possible, for this purpose, you will need to know the hand ranking in Jacks or Better and also check the payouts for each hand.
Jacks or Better Video Poker Gameplay
Variations of Jacks or Better and Their Paytables
If you are interested in playing Jacks or Better, you should know that there are actually several variations of the game but you can easily distinguish them thanks to their different payouts. This way, you will be able to select the game which offers the best winning odds and will ensure you profitable gambling.
Full-Pay Jacks or Better
Just like with other video poker variations, Jacks or Better will give you the biggest advantage if you play a full-pay version. This is also known as 9/6 Jacks or Better thanks to the payouts of 9 to 1 for a Full House and 6 to 1 for a Flush. Those two hands will show you whether the version you have come across is a full-pay one. If any of these two hands pay less, there is no doubt that you have found a short-pay option. If you use optimal strategy on a full-pay version of Jacks or Better, you can enjoy an expected return of 99.54%.
The paytable for 9/6 looks like this:
| Hand | Paytable |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 250 to 1 up to 4,000 coins for betting 5 coins |
| Straight Flush | 50 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind | 25 to 1 |
| Full House | 9 to 1 |
| Flush | 6 to 1 |
| Straight | 4 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 to 1 |
| Two Pair | 2 to 1 |
| Pair of Jacks or Better | 1 to 1 |
8/5 Jacks or Better
While it is true that video poker aficionados will benefit the most from playing a full-pay version of Jacks or Better, sometimes it is difficult to find such an option. This is why players can often opt for an 8/5 version. This is a variation which can be easily spotted as the payouts for Full House and Flush have been lowered to respectively 8 to 1 and 5 to 1. While you cannot achieve the same high advantage as with the full-pay version, when using an optimal strategy, you can enjoy odds of 97.30%.
The paytable for 8/5 looks like this:
| Hand | Paytable |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 250 to 1 up to 4,000 coins for betting 5 coins |
| Straight Flush | 50 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind | 25 to 1 |
| Full House | 8 to 1 |
| Flush | 5 to 1 |
| Straight | 4 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 to 1 |
| Two Pair | 2 to 1 |
| Pair of Jacks or Better | 1 to 1 |
While 8/5 Jacks or Better is a less advantageous version, there are actually many variants of the game which incorporate a progressive jackpot. As we have mentioned in the article about progressive video poker, options which offer a cumulative jackpot do not have a fixed house edge. This is why a Jacks or Better variation with a progressive jackpot can be a great game as it can offer the same expected return as the full-pay version.
Bonus Poker Deluxe Jacks or Better 8/5
In addition to progressive jackpots, there are also other ways to enjoy fruitful gambling on an 8/5 Jacks or Better variant. If you come across a game that offers bonus payouts for certain special winning hands, then you can definitely revel in lucrative gameplay. One of those variants is Bonus Poker Deluxe Jacks or Better 8/5. If you use the right type of strategy, you can gain an advantage of 97.40% which is definitely a better option than the standard 8/5 version of Jacks or Better.
The paytable for Bonus Poker Deluxe Jacks or Better 8/5 looks like this:
| Hand | Paytable |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 250 to 1 up to 4,000 coins for betting 5 coins |
| Straight Flush | 50 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind | 80 to 1 |
| Full House | 8 to 1 |
| Flush | 5 to 1 |
| Straight | 4 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 to 1 |
| Two Pair | 1 to 1 |
| Pair of Jacks or Better | 1 to 1 |
As you can see, with this version, you have a much higher payout for Four of a Kind which awards 80 to 1, rather than the typical 25 to 1. This special payout gives players better chances for lucrative gambling. If you happen to find a version of Bonus Poker Deluxe Jacks or Better with an 8/6 payout, you will be able to gain a bigger advantage of 98.49% and if you are lucky enough to come across a 9/6 version, you will be playing with the odds of 99.64% which are even better than the ones of the full-pay Jacks or Better variant.
Double Bonus Jacks or Better 9/6
This is yet another interesting variant of Jacks or Better. While some hands offer better payouts, there is a change in the lowest-valued hand that will result in a payout. This is why players have to form at least Three of a Kind in order to be paid out while playing Double Bonus Jacks or Better. If you utilize an ultimate strategy, you will be able to enjoy an expected return of 98.98% which indicates that this is one of the best options you can play at a casino.
The paytable for Double Bonus Jacks or Better 9/6 looks like this:
| Hand | Paytable |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 250 to 1 up to 4,000 coins for betting 5 coins |
| Straight Flush | 50 to 1 |
| Four Aces | 160 to 1 |
| Four 2s, 3s or 4s | 80 to 1 |
| Four 5s – Kings | 50 to 1 |
| Full House | 9 to 1 |
| Flush | 6 to 1 |
| Straight | 4 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 to 1 |
| Two Pair | 1 to 1 |
| Pair of Jacks or Better | 1 to 1 |
As you can see, making any Four of a Kind hand on this variation of Jacks or Better will be very rewarding. This is why many video poker devotees take pleasure in playing this game and enjoy a fruitful experience when they use the right strategy.
Double Bonus Jacks or Better 10/7
Another more popular variation of Double Bonus that you can often see is the 10/7 one. This payout indicates that you will receive 10 credits for 1 on a Full house, while a Flush will pay 7 to 1. This Jacks or Better variant offers great payouts for several hands but it also introduces some changes to the paytable. Even though you cannot surpass 100% of an expected return, you will still enjoy great odds when using an optimal strategy. The odds on Double Bonus Jacks or Better 10/7 when playing with a perfect strategy are estimated at 99.71%.
The paytable for Double Bonus Jacks or Better 10/7 looks like this:
| Hand | Paytable |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 250 to 1 and an increase to 4,000 coins for betting 5 coins |
| Straight Flush | 50 to 1 |
| Four Aces | 160 to 1 |
| Four 2s, 3s or 4s | 80 to 1 |
| Four 5s – Kings | 50 to 1 |
| Full House | 10 to 1 |
| Flush | 7 to 1 |
| Straight | 5 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 to 1 |
| Two Pair | 1 to 1 |
| Pair of Jacks or Better | 1 to 1 |
As you can see, you have higher payouts for Full House, Flush and Straight. However, in the 10/7 variant of Double Bonus, there are some changes when making a maximum bet. When staking 5 coins, you will win only 239 credits on Straight Flush, instead of 250.
Jacks or Better Strategy
While video poker does allow players to enjoy a very lucrative casino adventure due to an extremely low house edge, the one way to really gain a bigger advantage is to use a Basic Strategy. In order to be able to experience the best possible outcome on Jacks or Better, you have to know the specific strategy that will allow you to stack up great payouts.
Before you start playing with a strategy, however, make sure that you have chosen the video poker game which will provide the highest payouts. This way you will be able to boost your gaming budget significantly. You can easily print out strategy charts and use them at both land-based and virtual casinos.
The Basic Strategy for Jacks or Better helps you decide which cards are worth holding when you are dealt a specific hand.
If you are holding Royal Flush, Four of a Kind or Straight Flush, you should keep all of your cards. If you have 4 cards to a Straight Flush, then you should only discard the 5th card, even if it helps to form a lower-paying hand.
Jacks or Better Additional Strategy TipsYou should keep several hands whenever they are dealt on the first draw. Those include Two Pair, a Pair of Jacks or better, 3 cards to a Royal Flush, 4 cards to a Flush, a low Pair of 10s or lower, 4 cards to an Open Straight, two cards of the same suit whenever they are Jacks or better, 3 cards to a Straight Flush. You should also hold any two cards that are accompanied by a Jack or a higher card. If you have more than two cards in the same type of hand, then you should hold the two lowest cards as this will maximize your chances of landing a Straight.
Whenever you are dealt suited J-Q-K, then you should hold that hand. One card, Jack or better are also worth holding. If you are dealt a hand which has none of the mentioned combinations, then you should discard all five cards and draw new ones from the deck.
Tips to Improve Your Jacks or Better Play
Video poker is a very entertaining casino game in general but those who know how to play it and make the most of it, will end up enjoying a very fruitful casino experience. In order to be able to boost your winnings on Jacks or Better, you should follow several tips that will elevate your gameplay.
One of the most important things you should always keep in mind is the variation of video poker you are about to play for real money. Take a look at the paytable carefully of each Jacks or Better variant you encounter and settle for the option that provides the most lucrative outcome. This will guarantee you better winning odds and a better outcome even if you do not form the highest-paying hand. While full-pay variants are the best, they are difficult to find which would mean that you might have to pick a game with slightly lower payouts.
Use the right strategy which will help you to make the best decision every time. Since you are playing Jacks or Better, do not resort to a strategy that applies to a different variation of video poker. What is more, some Jacks or Better machines do have higher payouts for certain hands which means that the strategy may switch in favor of forming these hands more frequently.
Last but not least, you should set the time you are willing to spend playing and also choose the budget you are willing to stake. If you cannot afford to bet huge amounts, choose video poker games that have a lower denomination of the coins. This way, you will be able to make maximum bets but stake a lower amount. If you happen to be on a losing streak, forget about chasing your losses. Once you have reached your spending limit, stop playing. If you keep in mind these simple tips, you can definitely enjoy a fun and rewarding Jacks or Better experience.