Tens or Better

Many casino fans enjoy playing Tens or Better and the reason for that is that it very much resembles the ever-so-popular Jacks or Better. Even the name of the two variations suggests that they share some resemblance.

The winning hands of Tens or Better are almost the same as the ones of Jacks or Better and if you have played the latter, you will have an easy time understanding the rules of Tens or Better. Even though the expected return on Jacks or Better is higher, you can still enjoy a rather lucrative game when playing Tens or Better. As the name of this variant suggests, the lowest-paying hand has been changed to at least a pair of 10s.

Even though the two games are very similar, it is important to be able to recognize which Tens or Better games offer the best payouts. You will also have to make sure that you are utilizing the right type of strategy which will help you unleash your full potential and enjoy a lucrative video poker game.

Things to Know About Tens or Better

Video Poker Tens or BetterWhen it comes to the rules of Tens or Better, you will have no issue playing this video poker variation. You have the standard deck with 52 cards, no jokers, no wild cards. Just like with any video poker game, you start with choosing the size of the bet you would like to make. Typically, the maximum amount you can bet is 5 coins.

On your first draw, you are dealt 5 cards and you have to make a decision which cards you will hold and which ones you will replace. Some variations of the game can offer you to make a Double or Nothing bet which will allow you to double your profit if you have landed a winning hand. If you have decided to double your profit, you will have to compete against the card of the dealer and draw a higher value in order to win. If the dealer’s card, however, is of a higher rank, you will lose your profit.

In order to be able to determine what hand you are holding and which one you can opt for forming, you have to know the hand rankings on Tens or Better. The good news is that you will have no issue learning the winning hands of this video poker variation as they are pretty much the same as the ones of Jacks or Better. The only difference is in the lowest-paying hand which is Tens or Better. This would mean that you have to hold at least a pair of 10s in order to be paid.

As you can see, although Tens or Better is based on Jacks or Better, acquiring a winning hand on the former is easier. This, of course, comes with a price as the payouts on this video poker variation are slightly lowered.

Many fans of video poker enjoy playing Tens or Better as it is one of the easiest games to play. In addition to that, achieving a winning hand is much easier compared to other video poker variants. And although the payouts are slightly lower, it is a great gambling option for those who are not particularly chasing the biggest payouts.

Tens or Better Variations and Their Paytables

Video Poker VariationsIf you are determined to play Tens or Better, you have to make sure that you have chosen the right game. For this purpose, you must be well aware of the best possible payouts that Tens or Better can offer. You will notice that the winning hands for this video poker variation resemble the ones of Jacks or Better but there are some hands that might have lower payout which will only decrease the chances of fruitful experience. You probably know by now that the best outcome can be guaranteed on the full-pay variant of Tens or Better and we will teach you how to recognize it.

Full-Pay Tens or Better

If you have come across a full-pay version of Tens or Better, you will enjoy the best possible return of 99.14%. It should be noted, however, that this is the percentage you will get only if you bet 5 coins and use a perfect strategy.

The paytable for the full-pay version looks like this:

Hand Paytable
Royal Flush 250 to 1
Straight Flush 50 to 1
Four of a Kind 25 to 1
Full House 6 to 1
Flush 5 to 1
Straight 4 to 1
Three of a Kind 3 to 1
Two Pair 2 to 1
Tens or Better 1 to 1

The hands you should pay attention to are Four of a Kind, Full House and Flush which should respectively pay 25 to 1, 6 to 1 and 5 to 1. You may come across almost the same paytable with the difference that Two Pair pays 1 to 1. Make sure to avoid such a variant as it will drastically affect your winning chances.

25/6/4 Tens or Better

It is possible that you cannot find a full-pay Tens or Better option at the casino where you play which is why it is important to know which is the next best variant. Although it is hard to find a 25/6/4 Tens or Better game, it is definitely the best short-pay version of the game. The only change in the payouts is that Flush pays 4 to 1. If you are using the right strategy and make maximum bets, the expected return is estimated to be 98.10%.

The paytable for this variant of Tens or Better looks like this:

Hand Paytable
Royal Flush 250 to 1
Straight Flush 50 to 1
Four of a Kind 25 to 1
Full House 6 to 1
Flush 4 to 1
Straight 4 to 1
Three of a Kind 3 to 1
Two Pair 2 to 1
Tens or Better 1 to 1

25/5/5 Tens or Better

This is another rare version of the game but you may come across it at some gaming sites. Here, you have the payout for Full House lowered to 5 to 1, instead of 6 to 1. This automatically decreases the expected return to 97.99% and your chances of a fruitful game are much smaller. Keep in mind that this payout percentage is the one you will get when you bet 5 coins and use the right strategy.

The paytable for this version of Tens or Better looks like this:

Hand Paytable
Royal Flush 250 to 1
Straight Flush 50 to 1
Four of a Kind 25 to 1
Full House 5 to 1
Flush 5 to 1
Straight 4 to 1
Three of a Kind 3 to 1
Two Pair 2 to 1
Tens or Better 1 to 1

20/6/5 Tens or Better

While some of the Tens or Better versions are rather difficult to find, the 20/6/5 one is one of the most common variations. The reason for this is due to the fact that the casino gains a rather good advantage over the player due to the lowered payouts. The difference with this Tens or Better variant is that Four of a Kind pays only 20 to 1, instead of 25 to 1. This decreases the payout percentage to 97.96%. Like with all of the previous versions, this potential return is accurate when you make a maximum bet and use an optimal strategy.

The paytable for this Tens or Better variant is:

Hand Paytable
Royal Flush 250 to 1
Straight Flush 50 to 1
Four of a Kind 20 to 1
Full House 6 to 1
Flush 5 to 1
Straight 4 to 1
Three of a Kind 3 to 1
Two Pair 2 to 1
Tens or Better 1 to 1

40/20/6/5 Tens or Better

This is not so popular variant of the game but if you ever come across such machine, you better avoid playing it. Here, you will spot a change in the payouts for both Straight Flush and Four of a Kind. The expected return is lowered to 97.86% due to the fact that instead of 50 to 1, Straight Flush pays 40 to 1, while Four of a Kind pays merely 20 to 1, instead of 25 to 1.

The paytable for this variant of Tens or Better looks like this:

Hand Paytable
Royal Flush 250 to 1
Straight Flush 40 to 1
Four of a Kind 20 to 1
Full House 6 to 1
Flush 5 to 1
Straight 4 to 1
Three of a Kind 3 to 1
Two Pair 2 to 1
Tens or Better 1 to 1

Strategy to Use on Tens or Better

Video Poker StrategyIf you have mastered the strategy for Jacks or Better, you will have no issue getting the knack of playing Tens or Better. Using the right strategy will help you achieve the maximum expected return and accomplish the best results. Since you have the chance to be paid if you have at least a pair of 10s, whenever you have this hand, you are recommended to hold the pair as it can at least guarantee you an even-money pay if you could not land another hand.

In addition to the 10s, you should also keep any pair of a higher value. If you were dealt two Jacks, Queens, Kings or Aces, the best option is to keep them and draw three new cards. On the other hand, since low pairs will not result in a payout, you will have to discard them in order to improve your chances of landing a Straight or a Flush.

If you do not hold any winning hand, you are advised to keep all the 10s or higher pairs as they will at least help you get your stake back. You are not advised to break up a winning hand that you are holding after the initial draw. The only exception to this rule is when you are holding either four or five cards to a Royal Flush.

When you have drawn a low pair, your strategy will be a tad different. For instance, you can have better chances of receiving a payout if you keep a hand of three cards to a Straight or a Flush, instead of holding a pair lower than 10.

The main thing about the strategy on Tens or Better is to aim for higher-paying hands. This is why it is better to opt for making a Straight Flush or a Royal Flush instead of keeping a made Straight or a Pair. The only exception can be considered a hand of a Straight Flush with K and 9 of the same suit. In this case, the right move will be to keep the 9 and try forming a Straight Flush, instead of discarding it and try to get a Royal Flush.

The strategy chart for Tens or Better looks like this:

Hand Decision
Royal Flush hold all five cards
Straight Flush hold all five cards
Four of a Kind hold all five cards
Full House hold all five cards
Four to a Royal Flush draw one card
Flush hold all five cards
Three of a Kind draw two cards
Straight hold all five cards
Four to a Straight Flush draw one card
Two Pair draw one card
High Pair draw three cards
Three to a Royal Flush draw two cards
Four to a Flush draw one card
One Low Pair draw three cards
Four to a Straight draw one card
Three to a Straight Flush draw two cards
Two to a Royal Flush draw three cards
Two High Cards draw three cards
One High Card draw four cards
No hand draw five cards

The last thing to apply when playing Tens or Better is to bet the maximum amount which is typically 5 coins. This way you will achieve the highest possible expected return and will have the chance to receive the maximum payout for a Royal Flush. While Tens or Better offers lower payouts compared to Jacks or Better, it is still a wonderful video poker variant for recreational players.