We’ve all been at a casino with a couple hours to kill before a show or a dinner. You don’t want to get into a table game, but are looking for a bit of action. The video poker machines are right there, and they often come with drink service. Jacks or better video poker is a great option for a player looking to spend some time at a machine, and not looking to get in over their head.
However, you may want to keep reading before sliding a couple hundreds into a video poker machine. Learn more about how to play Jacks or Better video poker, and then start tapping on screens.
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What can I do to win at Jacks or Better Video Poker?
What is Jacks or Better video poker?
Jacks or better is a version of video poker in which you need to have a hand with a pair of Jacks or higher in order to win. Any hand that is a pair that is tens or lower doesn’t win anything.
In Jacks-or-Better, players are dealt five cards at the draw. They can choose to discard any number of them to draw new cards. The goal is to make the best possible hand, ideally with a hand that, at a minimum, has a pair that’s Jacks or better. The stronger the hand, the more the player wins.
What are the payouts in Jacks or Better video poker?
Payouts vary depending on the machine and location you’re using. However, a hand with a pair of jacks or better pays 1:1. A royal flush often pays out 250:1.
What are some effective strategies to win at Jacks or Better Video Poker?
There are a lot of strategies you can apply to succeed at video poker, especially when playing Jacks or better. However, we have a few ideas that you may want to consider for the next time you find yourself looking for a little action.
Know The Game
One of the best strategies for Jacks or better video poker is to know the odds of drawing different hands and understanding how the game pays out.
The goal is to draw the strongest possible hand based on the cards you’re initially dealt. Knowing what you’re aiming for is key to hitting the target.
Don’t be afraid to ditch low pairs
A pair of Jacks or better in Jacks or better is a clear winner, and it’s unlikely to be a long-term winning strategy to ditch hands that you know are a winner. However, low pairs don’t have to be held.
You can chase a three-of-a-kind, but you can also ditch the low pair and go for a hand that has Jacks or better. It really depends on the hand, but keeping a low pair in Jacks or better isn’t automatic.
Going for a bigger payout is one of the times it’s okay to throw away a pair.
Keep high cards on the draw
If you don’t get any pairs or better on the draw, keep any face cards or aces that you might draw. Unless you’re chasing a straight or a flush, number cards don’t have any value. You can throw them away.
Prioritize Pairs over Flushes or Straights…Sometimes
Keep high pairs or low pairs over four-card straights. The value of the pair exceeds the value of trying to catch a straight or a flush. However, you’ll want to keep four-card straights if three cards are high value. For example, keep a Queen, King, Ace. Three premium cards have more value than a low pair.
Keep Four-Card Flushes
If you have a four-card flush, prioritize the flush over a pair…even a high pair. The value of the flush exceeds the value of keeping the pair, and you’ll profit over time by focusing on flushes.
When it comes to three-card flushes, it depends on the hand. If you don’t have a pair that’s Jacks or better, you’ll want to roll the dice on the flush.
Avoid relying on low pairs
The game is called ‘Jacks or Better’. Chasing a three-of-a-kind instead of flushes or straights is a losing strategy. Straights and flushes will provide better value over the long term.
It’s common for beginners to see a pair and get excited. Only get excited if you have Jacks or better.
Stay away from inside straights if possible
Chasing an inside straight means that there are only four cards that can possibly help you. If you have an inside straight, but also have a pair of Jacks or better, you want to prioritize the winning hand. Looking to catch an inside straight will cost you money over time.
Manage your bankroll
This goes without saying for all forms of gambling, but setting limits for losses and wins is a key to building good poker habits. You may be looking to kill an hour, but that doesn’t mean you’re looking to kill your bankroll. Set limits and targets and don’t deviate. Just won a big hand? Strut around like a champ. Just crashed out? Take a walk and clear your head, but don’t look to win it back.
Stay focused
Whether playing at home online or playing in a casino, distractions are all around you. Wear noise-canceling headphones, ignore messages, and block out anything that might divert your attention from the game. Succeeding at video poker requires focus and discipline to stick to a strategy.
Also, save the emotions for the craps table. Getting too high or too low can also impact focus. Train yourself to play with as little emotion as possible.
Lastly, keep in mind that video poker can be profitable, but it’s also supposed to be fun. If you find yourself stressing out or getting angry at the machine, it’s time to cash out and take a walk.
You’re likely playing on vacation, and vacations are meant to relax you, not add stress to your life. If you find your blood pressure rising, get up, take a walk, throw on your earphones, and listen to the latest episode of the Sports Gambling Podcast.
