Video Poker Strategy

Strategy tips for three of the most common video poker games: Jacks or Better, Jokers Wild and Deuces Wild.

Jacks or Better – basic strategy advice

The general rule is that you should hold any paying hand, but there is one exception. If you get four cards to a royal flush you should break up a lesser paying hand

Non paying hands naturally demand a bit more attention:

• You should hold four cards to a straight flush.
• You should hold three cards to a royal flush.
• You should hold four cards to a flush.
• You should hold low pairs (tens or lower).
• You should hold four-card consecutive straights.
• You should hold two high cards of the same suit.
• You should hold three cards to a straight flush.
• You should hold J, Q, and K of different suites.
• You should hold two high cards of different suites.
• You should hold J, Q or K with a Ten of the same suit.
• You should hold single high cards.

All other hands should be thrown away entirely.

Jokers Wild – basic strategy advice

This video poker game is played with a 53-card deck, including a joker (hence the name). The joker is wild - you can use it as whatever card you need to make the best possible hand.

If you’re hand contains the joker you should act as follows.

• You should hold all hands that are three-of-a-kind or higher. However, you should hold four cards to the royal flush, even if it means discarding a lesser paying hand.
• You should hold four-card straight flushes and a four-card flushes that includes K, A or both.
• You should hold three cards to a royal flush.
• You should hold paying pairs of high cards.
• You should hold three cards to a straight flush.
• You should hold four-card flushes without King or Ace.
• You should hold consecutive four-card straights.

In all other cases you should only keep the joker.

If you’re hand doesn’t contain the joker you should act as follows:

• You should hold all paying hands. However, you should hold a four-card royal flush even if it means discarding a lesser paying hand.
• You should hold four cards to straight flushes and three cards to royal flushes.
• You should hold four cards to any flush.
• You should hold pair from 2’s to Qs.
• You should hold three cards to straight flushes.
• You should hold four-card consecutive straights.
• You should hold two cards to royal flushes if one of the cards is an Ace or a King.
• You should hold unsuited Kings and Aces.
• You should hold Kings and Aces alone.
• You should hold two suited royal flush cards lower than King or Ace.

All other hands should be thrown away entirely.

Basic Strategy for Deuces Wild

In this game the four deuces in the deck can be used as whatever card(s) you need to make the best possible hand.

In Deuces wild the number of deuces in your hand is the most important factor:

If you have four deuces you should hold all five cards.
If you have three deuces you should hold a wild royal flush and five-of-a-kind. Otherwise you should only hold the deuces.
If you have two deuces – you should hands that are four-of-a-kind or better. Hold four cards to a royal flush. Otherwise you should just hold the two deuces.
If you have one deuce – you should hold all paying hands, except four cards to a royal flush. Hold four cards to a straight flush, three cards to a royal flush. Otherwise keep the deuce only.

If you have no deuces you should act as follows:

• You should hold all paying hands. The exception is that you should break up a lesser paying hand if you get four cards to a royal flush.
• You should hold four-card straight flushes.
• You should hold three cards to a royal flush.
• You should hold pairs (keep two pair only if full house pays the same as four-of-a-kind).
• You should hold four-card flushes.
• You should hold consecutive four-card straights
• You should hold three cards to a straight flush.
• You should hold any two of 10, J, Q or K, if they’re in the same suit.

If you’re not dealt any of the above, draw five new cards.