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Jacks or Better
Below you'll find an easy to use Video Poker strategy. Expected return for this technique is 99.46%.
To use the strategy look up all possible ways to play an beginning hand on the following list and determine which is highest on the list. A high card means a jack or higher.
Simple Jacks or Better Video Poker Strategy
1. Full house or better
2. 4 to a royal flush
3. Straight, three of a kind, or flush
4. 4 to a straight flush
5. Two pair
6. High pair
7. 3 to a royal flush
8. 4 to a flush
9. Low pair
10. 4 to an outside straight
11. 2 suited high cards
12. 3 to a straight flush
13. 2 unsuited high cards (if more than 2 pick then pick lowest 2)
14. Suited 10/J, 10/Q, or 10/K
15. One high card
16. Discard everything
Terms:
High card: A jack, queen, king, or ace. These cards are retained more often because if paired up they return the original bet.
Outside straight: An open ended straight that can be completed at either end, such as the cards 7,8,9,10.
Inside straight: A straight with a missing inside card, such as the cards 6,7,9,10. In addition A,2,3,4 and J,Q,K,A also count as inside straights because they are at an extreme end.
Thats all you need to know to play Jacks or Better video poker...and be very good at it.
n brick and mortar casinos, some people think that they have better chances if they play certain slot machine games such as those in the entrance, those that haven't paid off for a long time, or ones that have been paying off a lot. The truth is, you shouldn't waste your time trying to find a hot machine or a machine that is due to payoff, it's a myth. The slot machines are programmed at the manufacturing site to be random, each play on each machine has the same odds no matter how often or how long ago it paid off. In both online and normal casinos however, there is some truth that the higher denomination machine payoff slightly more often than the smaller denomination machines. The nickel and quarter machines usually pay the least, while the larger denomination machines pay off the most often. This makes sense, it encourages play on the machines which bring in the most money.
Video poker is a game of skill as well as luck. Most video poker machines are programmed to pay-out up to 100% when players play at the expert level, the casinos can do this because the vast majority of players don't play anywhere near the expert play level required. Here are a few tips to bring your playing closer to an expert level and improve your chances of winning.
Video Poker @ OMNI
Try to play only machines that offer full or near full payback percentages. If the machines payback is not posted then look at the chart on the machine and pick out one that pays the most for a full house and a flush. The greater the return then the higher that machine pays-out. For example on a jacks or better machine:
Machine Return Appox. Machine Payback
9 for a full house / 6 for a flush 99.5%
8 for a full house / 5 for a flush 97.4%
7 for a full house / 5 for a flush 96.3%
6 for a full house / 5 for a flush 95.2%
The payouts for every hand combination are attached to the machine. The maximum number of coins is also shown (normally five coins) It is a good idea to always play the maximum number of coins in order to be eligible for the bonus payout for a royal flush. Also make sure the machine has accepted all of your coins before playing in the event that you do get a big win you want to be absolutely sure the five coins were played.
Playing progressive machines is a good idea, they can pay large amounts for a royal flush and make the payout more in line with the difficulty of obtaining a royal flush (about once in every 40,000 hands). Play progressive machines that are showing about 80% of the payoff amount (example $2,000 on a machine that has a payoff of $2,500), and be sure to play the required number of coins to be eligible for the payoff.
Don't forget that in video poker you are playing a machine. The machine is programmed to only payoff when a player holds one of the posted hands. Don't bother holding a 'kicker' card (a high value card to be used along with a pair) this works when playing against other players but the machine doesn't care and you have lost the opportunity to draw a better card.
Don't draw to an inside straight (where you have four cards and need one in the middle to fill a straight). On the other hand if you have an open-ended straight (you have four consecutive cards and only need one at either end to fill a straight) then take a shot at making the straight.
Always keep any pair vs. holding a high card. Many players would discard a pair of two's and keep one or more high cards, this is not the best strategy, trying for three of a kind you have better odds when considering the payout and chances of drawing what's needed.
Always keep a high pair vs. a four-card open straight, a four-card flush or a three-card royal. Try for three of a kind with the knowledge that at worst you have recovered your bet.
Always keep a low pair over a four-card open end straight. The low pair has more value as a potential 3 of a kind than going for the straight and should be kept.
A three-card royal should be kept over a low pair, a four-card flush and a four card open end straight. The bonus for the royal flush makes it a better play.
Don't be afraid to draw five cards if you have garbage (one that doesn't have a least one high card).
Jacks or Better
Below you'll find an easy to use Video Poker strategy. Expected return for this technique is 99.46%.
To use the strategy look up all possible ways to play an beginning hand on the following list and determine which is highest on the list. A high card means a jack or higher.
Simple Jacks or Better Video Poker Strategy
1. Full house or better
2. 4 to a royal flush
3. Straight, three of a kind, or flush
4. 4 to a straight flush
5. Two pair
6. High pair
7. 3 to a royal flush
8. 4 to a flush
9. Low pair
10. 4 to an outside straight
11. 2 suited high cards
12. 3 to a straight flush
13. 2 unsuited high cards (if more than 2 pick then pick lowest 2)
14. Suited 10/J, 10/Q, or 10/K
15. One high card
16. Discard everything
Terms:
High card: A jack, queen, king, or ace. These cards are retained more often because if paired up they return the original bet.
Outside straight: An open ended straight that can be completed at either end, such as the cards 7,8,9,10.
Inside straight: A straight with a missing inside card, such as the cards 6,7,9,10. In addition A,2,3,4 and J,Q,K,A also count as inside straights because they are at an extreme end.
Thats all you need to know to play Jacks or Better video poker...and be very good at it.
n brick and mortar casinos, some people think that they have better chances if they play certain slot machine games such as those in the entrance, those that haven't paid off for a long time, or ones that have been paying off a lot. The truth is, you shouldn't waste your time trying to find a hot machine or a machine that is due to payoff, it's a myth. The slot machines are programmed at the manufacturing site to be random, each play on each machine has the same odds no matter how often or how long ago it paid off. In both online and normal casinos however, there is some truth that the higher denomination machine payoff slightly more often than the smaller denomination machines. The nickel and quarter machines usually pay the least, while the larger denomination machines pay off the most often. This makes sense, it encourages play on the machines which bring in the most money.
Video poker is a game of skill as well as luck. Most video poker machines are programmed to pay-out up to 100% when players play at the expert level, the casinos can do this because the vast majority of players don't play anywhere near the expert play level required. Here are a few tips to bring your playing closer to an expert level and improve your chances of winning.
Video Poker @ OMNI
Try to play only machines that offer full or near full payback percentages. If the machines payback is not posted then look at the chart on the machine and pick out one that pays the most for a full house and a flush. The greater the return then the higher that machine pays-out. For example on a jacks or better machine:
Machine Return Appox. Machine Payback
9 for a full house / 6 for a flush 99.5%
8 for a full house / 5 for a flush 97.4%
7 for a full house / 5 for a flush 96.3%
6 for a full house / 5 for a flush 95.2%
The payouts for every hand combination are attached to the machine. The maximum number of coins is also shown (normally five coins) It is a good idea to always play the maximum number of coins in order to be eligible for the bonus payout for a royal flush. Also make sure the machine has accepted all of your coins before playing in the event that you do get a big win you want to be absolutely sure the five coins were played.
Playing progressive machines is a good idea, they can pay large amounts for a royal flush and make the payout more in line with the difficulty of obtaining a royal flush (about once in every 40,000 hands). Play progressive machines that are showing about 80% of the payoff amount (example $2,000 on a machine that has a payoff of $2,500), and be sure to play the required number of coins to be eligible for the payoff.
Don't forget that in video poker you are playing a machine. The machine is programmed to only payoff when a player holds one of the posted hands. Don't bother holding a 'kicker' card (a high value card to be used along with a pair) this works when playing against other players but the machine doesn't care and you have lost the opportunity to draw a better card.
Don't draw to an inside straight (where you have four cards and need one in the middle to fill a straight). On the other hand if you have an open-ended straight (you have four consecutive cards and only need one at either end to fill a straight) then take a shot at making the straight.
Always keep any pair vs. holding a high card. Many players would discard a pair of two's and keep one or more high cards, this is not the best strategy, trying for three of a kind you have better odds when considering the payout and chances of drawing what's needed.
Always keep a high pair vs. a four-card open straight, a four-card flush or a three-card royal. Try for three of a kind with the knowledge that at worst you have recovered your bet.
Always keep a low pair over a four-card open end straight. The low pair has more value as a potential 3 of a kind than going for the straight and should be kept.
A three-card royal should be kept over a low pair, a four-card flush and a four card open end straight. The bonus for the royal flush makes it a better play.
Don't be afraid to draw five cards if you have garbage (one that doesn't have a least one high card).
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