Video Poker: Tips for Playing the Games by Linda Boyd 

Over and over again I hear players say that they don’t expect to earn a living by playing video poker. Instead, they want to have fun and play awhile. The biggest complaint from players is that they lose their money too fast and they’re heading home after a short stay. 

So, what can you do to increase your playing time and maybe even go home a winner? Choose a game wisely, one that takes your bankroll into consideration, and play correctly. Are you guaranteed to win if you do these things? No way. You will, however, increase the odds of getting lucky by playing longer on a given bankroll. That’s why I have strategy tips that will increase the number of hands you’ll be able to play over the “long run,” which means over a large number of hands. It’s not a guarantee that you’ll win, however, playing by the numbers is the best chance you have. 

Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker and Bonus Poker Deluxe: 

I have lumped these games together because you can use the same strategy tips for playing all three of them. Make sure you check the game name carefully though, a different strategy is needed for Double Double Bonus Poker and for Double Bonus Poker. Video poker is often counterintuitive, meaning that what might appear to make perfect sense, may not always be the mathematically correct play. For example, many overplay for four of a kind in both Bonus Poker and Bonus Poker Deluxe. They throw away a full house, just holding three of a kind. The best return over time, however, is keeping the full house, even with three aces in Bonus Poker or three of anything in Bonus Poker Deluxe. 

First make sure you’re familiar with the vocabulary, and then study the tips. I arranged the dealt hands in order of frequency so even if you only study the first one or two you’ll do better than you would by guessing. 

*Jacks or Better (JOB): This is also called 9/6 Jacks or Better 

* Note that this game was named by the manufacturer, therefore, there are several versions, the full pay version, above, is the one you’re looking for. 
** To approximate the ER for different versions of this game subtract 1.1% from the ER for every short-coin paid for the full house or flush. 

Game Overview: 9/6 Jacks or Better: Make sure you match the paytable on the machine exactly with the one above for the best version, it’s available in many Midwest casinos. 9/6 JOB is an excellent choice for beginners and for those with limited budgets. There’s a low risk factor partly because you’re paid double your bet for two pair, a frequent hand. The game strategy is relatively easy, especially when you study the game tips, below. JOB games are excellent for maximizing promotions, cash back and comps. The downside is some find it boring, no intermediate bonus jackpots on the road to the royal. 

*Bonus Poker: This is also called 8/5 Bonus Poker 

* Note that this game was named by the manufacturer, therefore, there are several versions, the full pay version, above, is the one you’re looking for. 

Game Overview: 8/5 Bonus Poker: Like JOB this game has a relatively low risk factor, although slightly higher than JOB. Once more you’ll find lots of bonus poker throughout Midwest casinos, just be careful to check the paytables, since there are several versions. Notice that this game returns one coin per bet less for the full house and flush hands than JOB, but you get a bigger payout for certain four of a kind hands — four twos, threes, fours or aces. Although there’s a slightly higher risk than in JOB, there are more intermediate bonus jackpots. That’s why some prefer this game — less boring. 

*Bonus Poker Deluxe: This is also called 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe 

* Note that this game was named by the manufacturer, therefore, there are several versions, the full pay version, above, is the one you’re looking for. 

Game Overview: 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe: This is the riskiest of the three games so make sure you have realistic expectations. Notice that you only receive even money, that’s just a return of your bet, for two pair, a frequent hand. That’s why this game requires a bigger bankroll than either JOB or Bonus Poker, both returning double your bet for two pair. Bonus Poker is popular because any four of a kind occurs approximately once every 400 hands or about twice per hour, returns 80 for each coin bet. A bumpy ride for sure, but more exciting. 

Useful Vocabulary for Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker and Bonus Poker Deluxe 

*High Card: ace, king, queen and jack. 
Low Pair: non-paying pair, a pair of 10s or lower. 
High Pair: paying pair, a pair of jacks or higher. 
Suited: in the same suit, for example, a jack and queen of hearts. 
Unsuited: in different suits, ie, a jack of spades and a queen of hearts. 
Open-Ended Four Straight: four consecutive cards that need either one of two cards to make a straight. 
Inside Four Straight: a broken sequence of cards that requires exactly one card to form a straight. 
Four Flush: four cards in the same suit. 

* In Pick’Em Poker a Nine is a High Card — make sure you know the correct vocabulary for the game you choose. 

Tips for Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker and Bonus Poker Deluxe 

Always hold high cards when you’re dealt no pairs, four-flush, or four-straight, in other words, miscellaneous cards. If you’re dealt no high cards and unrelated low cards, draw a new hand. Never hold three to a straight or flush, this is different from three to a straight flush. If you’re dealt three high cards and one is an ace, then hold just the two non-ace high cards. 

Always hold a low pair when you’re dealt miscellaneous high and low cards, it’s better than holding unsuited high cards. It’s also a better hold than four to either an inside or open-ended straight. The exception is an open-ended straight with three high cards. You would hold a four flush instead of a low pair. 

Always hold a high pair instead of any four-straight or four-flush. However, if you’re dealt four to either a royal or straight flush, then that’s the best hold. Do not hold three to any straight flush, including a royal, over a high pair. There are exceptions for some progressive royal jackpots. 

Always hold two pair instead of just the high pair. Often players hold a pair of aces in Bonus Poker or any high pair in Bonus Poker Deluxe, both holds are incorrect. In Bonus Poker the 400 coin return for four aces, betting five coins, does not compensate for forfeiting a definite minimum of 10 coins back for a five coin bet. In Bonus Poker Deluxe the full house potential on the draw is better than the long shot of a 400 coin return for any four of a kind, this in spite of only even money for two pair. 

Don’t hold four to an inside straight, unless it contains three or four high cards, with three or four high cards you hold for the inside straight. 

Hold four to an open-ended straight. Exceptions are: first choice is three to a royal and second choice is four to a flush. 

Hold four to a flush. Exception is hold three to a royal. 

Hold a dealt straight or flush, unless either includes four to a royal, holding four to a royal is better. 

Always hold a dealt three of a kind, full-house, four of a kind, straight flush or royal flush, no exceptions. I see people hold three aces instead of a full house in Bonus Poker or any three of a kind instead of a full house in Bonus Poker Deluxe, both holds are mistakes. Note that this is different than holding three aces in Double Double Bonus, the correct play, but a different game. Another big mistake is to hold four to the royal instead of a dealt straight flush. Keep the straight flush. 

Deuces Wild: Not So Ugly Deuces and Illinois Deuces 

There are many Deuces Wild games, some named by the manufacturers and others by the players. Why did I select Illinois Deuces and Not So Ugly Deuces? Many Midwest casinos have at least one of these games and both have a good theoretical return. It’s even better when you include cash back, bounceback cash, comps and possible promotions. I call them 20/20 games because both return 20 coins on a 5-coin bet for both a full house and four of a kind. That’s why you hold both pair when dealt two pair. In Full Pay Deuces Wild you hold just one pair. 

*Not So Ugly Deuces Wild (NSUD) 

Hands	1 Coin	5 Coins
Royal Flush	250	4000
4 Deuces	200	1000
Wild Royal	25	125
5 of a Kind	16	80
Straight Flush	10	50
4 of a Kind	4	20
Full House	4	20
Flush	3	15
Straight	2	10
3 of a Kind	1	5
		99.73% (ER)

*Note that this game was named by video poker expert Skip Hughes and there is only one version, the paytable on the machine must be an exact match with the table above to be NSUD. 

Game Overview: Not So Ugly Deuces Wild: This game can be found at many Midwest casinos. It’s riskier than 9/6 Jacks or Better, but less risky than Bonus Poker Deluxe. NSUD is a good choice for those who like wild card games and want a good return for their money. Make sure you check the machine and slot club information—sometimes it’s not included in promotions. 

*Illinois Deuces Wild (ID) 

*Note this game was named by players and there is only one version, the paytable on the machine must match the table above to be Illinois Deuces. The only deviation is when there is a Progressive Royal, both the 5-coin Royal and the ER would be higher. 

Game Overview: Illinois Deuces Wild: You use the same strategy for this game as for NSUD, many Midwest casinos have this game. The ER is less for ID than for NSUD because you are shorted a coin on Five of a Kind and a Straight Flush. However, this game is often found on progressive machines, when the royal is 6,000 coins the ER is 99.88%. Be aware that an increase in the royal payout does increase the risk factor as well. This game is included in promotions, even when a progressive royal puts the ER over 100%. 

Useful Vocabulary for Deuces Wild Games 

Natural Royal: A royal flush, suited ace, king, queen, jack and ten, in any order, with no deuces. 
Wild Royal: A royal flush that includes one or more deuces, also called a “dirty royal.” 
Natural Pair: Two cards of the same rank without a deuce, for example, two eights. 
Natural Straight/Natural Flush: No wild cards used, this applies to any other “natural” hand. 
Trips: Three of a kind. 
Consecutive: No spaces or gaps, for example, seven, eight and nine are three consecutive cards. 
Gap: A space between cards that must be filled to make a consecutive sequence. For example, a nine and a queen have two gaps between them which must be filled by a 10 and a jack to make them consecutive. Consecutive cards have no gaps between them. 

Tips for Illinois Deuces Wild and Not So Ugly Deuces Wild 

1. Dealt miscellaneous cards, hold nothing. Of course, you would hold one deuce, since it’s wild. It’s better to hold one deuce plus two consecutive suited cards 4 and higher; 5 and higher with one gap; than one deuce. Hold these unsuited consecutive card combos instead of one deuce: 7, 8, 9, deuce or 8, 9, 10, deuce or 9, 10, J, deuce. 

2. Hold natural pair. If you have three to a natural royal then that’s your first choice, four to a flush is the second choice. Holding a natural pair is third choice. It’s high on this tip list because it’s a frequent hand. 

3. Hold two pair. This is true for 20/20 games—meaning both the full house and four of a kind return 20 for a 5 coin bet. Make sure you hold both pairs, unlike FPDW where you hold just one pair. 

4. Hold trips. The two exceptions are, hold four to a wild royal as your first choice and hold just two deuces as your second choice. 

5. Hold four to a natural straight. The exceptions are first choice is three to a royal, and second choice is hold four to a flush. Often players assume this is a bad play when it’s an inside straight, However, the fact that there are four deuces remaining in the deck as well as the card to form the gut shot straight, makes this the correct play. One exception is never hold A, 3, 4, 5 combination. The second exception is hold suited Q, J or Q, 10 or J, 10 instead of four to an inside straight. 

6. Hold four to a natural flush. The exception is to hold three to a natural royal. 

7. Hold a flush or straight. The two exceptions are hold four to any royal as the first choice and hold just two deuces as the second choice. 

8. Hold four to a straight flush dealt two deuces, 4 and higher with 0 gaps and 5 and higher with 1 gap. This is an important hold and different from Full Pay Deuces Wild where the cards must have 0 gaps and be 6 and higher. 

9. Hold three deuces instead of either four of a kind or a straight flush. 

10. Dealt a natural royal, wild royal, four deuces, five of a kind or a full house, hold all cards. The only exception is if a royal progressive is over 5,365 coins, in that case you would hold four to a natural royal instead of a wild royal. 

Final thoughts: If you use any of these tips you’ll be better off. The more you remember, the better you’ll play in the long run. The best choice for correct play is to use my strategy cards during casino play. I spent years writing them, they’re accurate and easy to use. 

— Linda Boyd turned to the more profitable game of video poker after years of playing blackjack and live poker. Boyd spent many years as a mathematics educator, a career that proved invaluable in helping her design the statistical tactics featured in her book, "The Video Poker Edge". Free strategy cards are included with the purchase of her book.  
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