Microgaming Video Poker

Rules and Gameplay

The basic games, such as Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild, are classic video poker variations that use one standard 52-card deck, which is shuffled before each deal. The goal is to form the strongest possible hand; the stronger the hand, the higher the payout. Before play begins, players set their stakes: the number of coins and the coin size.

Initially, the game deals five cards, and players may hold all, some, or none of them. The Auto Hold feature automatically keeps any winning combinations. The second deal replaces discarded cards with new ones, and the resulting hand is evaluated against the paytable shown at the top of the screen.

Standard poker hand rankings apply. Usually, the lowest-paying combination is a pair of Jacks (Jacks or Better). The top payout is awarded for a Royal Flush (Ten, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace of the same suit). This hand typically pays 250 coins, or 4,000 coins when five coins are wagered.

Paytables

The other key element players should examine when opening a video poker game is the paytable, which lists all winning hands and their payouts. Each variation has a slightly different paytable; even small changes can directly affect expected returns. For example, the lowest-paying hand in Microgaming’s Tens or Better is a pair of Tens or higher, which pays even money and lets players break even on the round.

The payouts for a Full House and a Flush are lower than in standard Jacks or Better: 6:1 and 5:1 rather than 9:1 and 6:1. Even the doubled payout for a Royal Flush (500:1) cannot offset the reduced returns for a Full House and a Flush. As a result, the game’s RTP is 99.14% compared with the 99.54% offered by Jacks or Better.

RTP Percentages

As shown above, even minor deviations from the standard video poker paytable affect the game’s expected return. Return to Player (RTP) is a theoretical percentage of the total wager that players can expect to receive back as winnings. For example, in a game with a 99.54% RTP, players would keep an average of $99.54 from every $100 wagered over many trials.

Video poker still involves chance, and individual sessions can be volatile, so this theoretical percentage is rarely achieved in practice. Nevertheless, the RTP displayed for each Microgaming video poker variation, together with its paytable, indicates how the game should perform over time, whether it is profitable, and whether the risk level suits the player.

Jacks or Better

This is the most popular video poker variation in the world. It is the simplest and most basic form of the game, and it offers an impressive return of 99.54%. Microgaming’s take on this classic uses a standard 52-card deck, and there are no wild cards such as Jokers. Payouts range from 1:1 to 250:1 for the various winning combinations. This is a full-pay version of Jacks or Better, and the outstanding paytable supports its excellent RTP, which is quite rare, especially in land-based casinos.

All American

This variation of Jacks or Better has no wild cards and offers no bonus payouts for specific hands. However, its paytable differs significantly from the standard version, which leads to a slightly different return percentage. The game’s theoretical RTP is 99.38%, based on the following payouts:

• Royal Flush – 250:1
• Straight Flush – 200:1
• Four of a Kind – 34:1
• Full House – 8:1
• Flush – 8:1
• Straight – 8:1
• Three of a Kind – 3:1
• Two Pair – 1:1
• Jacks or Better – 1:1

Louisiana Double

This unique video poker version requires a different strategy. Microgaming’s Louisiana Double is played with 53 cards: the standard 52-card deck plus the Double card. The Double card is not wild, so it cannot substitute for other cards in winning combinations, but when it appears with a winning hand, it doubles the payout. The game also includes a Gamble feature, and its paytable differs greatly from other video poker versions. Because of the altered payouts and the Double card, the RTP is 94.00%. When five coins are bet, the top payout is 2,500 coins.

• Royal Flush – 400:1
• Straight Flush – 75:1
• Four of a Kind – 35:1
• Full House – 9:1
• Flush – 6:1
• Straight – 4:1
• Three of a Kind – 2:1
• Two Pair – 2:1
• Jacks or Better – 1:1

Double Double Bonus

This version contains no wild cards or other special cards, but it provides higher payouts for five specific winning combinations, hence the name Double Double Bonus. Because many other payouts are also adjusted, it is best to list the entire paytable (for a one-coin bet). The theoretical return is 98.98%.

• Royal Flush – 250:1
• Straight Flush – 50:1
• 4 Aces with any 2, 3, or 4 – 400:1
• 4 2s/3s/4s with any Ace, 2, 3, or 4 – 160:1
• 4 of a Kind (Aces) – 160:1
• 4 of a Kind (2s/3s/4s) – 80:1
• 4 of a Kind (5s through Kings) – 50:1
• Full House – 9:1
• Flush – 6:1
• Straight – 4:1
• Three of a Kind – 3:1
• Two Pair – 1:1
• Jacks or Better – 1:1

Jackpot Deuces

This is one of Microgaming’s progressive video poker games, and, as the name suggests, it features wild cards. All Deuces (the four 2s) act as wild substitutes except in two combinations: Natural Royal Flush and Diamond Royal Flush. Essentially, this is a progressive version of Deuces Wild.

To win the progressive jackpot, players must bet five coins and land a Diamond Royal Flush, which is simply a Natural Royal Flush in diamonds. The game’s RTP is 93.89%, but it increases as the jackpot grows.

SupaJax Progressive Jacks or Better

The company’s other progressive video poker title is SupaJax, a progressive variation of standard Jacks or Better. Instead of a 52-card deck, the game uses 53 cards: the usual 52 cards from 2s through Aces plus the SupaJax card, which is not wild.

To qualify for the progressive jackpot, players must bet all five coins, and to win it they need four Jacks plus the SupaJax card. This is the only combination that triggers the jackpot. The base RTP is relatively low at 90.427%, but it rises quickly as the jackpot builds with each wager.