Jacks or Better Video Poker Strategy
Jacks or Better is even more popular than Deuces Wild in online or land casinos. The reason it tends to be more popular of a game is the payouts. You can have a pair in this game. Of course the pair must be of jacks or better, but still you get winnings for this type of hand. The Royal Flush is always going to be the best hand, and the most elusive. There are rules for when you should break up a possible royal flush and when you should not. Jacks or Better video poker is a five card draw game meaning you can keep any of the first five cards dealt or trade in any of them up to all five. It is up to you and the strategies listed below to decide you move in this poker game.
Check out the table to learn your options for what you might have regarding a Royal Flush. These suggestions are what you should do:
Common strategies for Jacks or Better: |
If you have: |
Then ... |
4 cards to a royal flush |
Draw one card |
3 cards of a royal flush |
Draw two cards, unless you have a winning hand |
2 cards to a royal flush |
Draw three cards, unless you have a winning hand |
4 cards to a straight flush |
Draw one card, or keep the winning hand |
3 cards to a straight flush |
Draw 2 cards, unless you have a winning hand. |
2 cards to a straight flush |
Draw three cards, unless there is a winning hand |
4 cards to a flush |
Draw one card, unless you have a winning pair or higher |
3 cards to a flush |
Draw two cards, unless there is a winning pair or higher |
2 cards to a flush |
Draw three cards, unless you have a winning hand |
3 of a kind |
Keep this hand, draw two new cards |
2 pairs |
Draw 1 new card |
high pair |
Draw three new cards, never break a high pair |
low pair |
This is not a winning hand, either scrap it or try for 3 new cards |
high cards |
Keep one high card to create a pair |
Otherwise |
Draw five new cards |
This table is going to examine the types of hands you can have. It will list the hands from best to worst. The best hand is of course the Royal Flush and as you saw above there are certain strategies to try and play for this option. The worst hand is a pair of jacks as that still pays out. Anything less such as a pair of tens or below will not offer any winnings.
Jacks or Better (Full Pay - 9/6) |
1 |
Four of a Kind, Straight Flush, Royal Flush |
2 |
4 to a Royal |
3 |
Three of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House |
4 |
4 to a Straight Flush - open |
5 |
Two Pair |
6 |
High Pair |
7 |
3 to a Royal Flush |
8 |
4 to a Flush |
9 |
Low Pair |
10 |
89Ten Jack ,9Ten Jack Queen |
11 |
9Ten Jacks, 9Jack Queens |
12 |
4 to a Straight - open |
13 |
8Jack Queens |
14 |
3 to a Straight Flush - open |
15 |
9Ten Queens, 8Ten Jacks, 89Jacks, 9Queen Kings, 9Jack Kings |
16 |
2 pair Queen and Jacks |
17 |
Jack Queen King Ace |
18 |
2- pair King Queens, King Jacks, Ace Kings, Ace Queens, Ace Jacks |
19 |
4 to a Straight - inside |
20 |
3 to a Straight Flush - inside |
21 |
3 to a Straight Flush - inside |
22 |
Jack Queen King |
23 |
Queen Jack |
24 |
Two pair Jack Tens |
25 |
King Queen , King Jack |
26 |
Queen and Tens- Two pair |
27 |
Ace King , Ace Queen, Ace Jack |
28 |
King and Tens- 2 pair |
29 |
High Card |
30 |
3 to a Straight Flush - inside |
31 |
Redraw |
|
