Winning At Casino Video Poker

If you walk through any casino, past the flashing modern video slots, you will inevitably find rows of old, blocky Video Poker machines.


Unlike regular slots, where the outcome is purely dictated by blind luck, Video Poker is a game of profound, complex skill.

Finding the Full Pay Machines

The most common and foundational variation is "Jacks or Better," where the lowest paying winning hand is exactly a pair of Jacks.


Smart players exclusively hunt for a specific paytable known in the industry as "9/6 Jacks or Better."

Always check the payout for a Full House and a Flush before sitting downA "9/6" machine (9 for Full House, 6 for Flush) is the gold standard for playersAn "8/5" machine significantly increases the house edge and should be avoided entirely
The Importance of the "Max Bet" Rule

However, the payout for the absolute rarest hand, the Royal Flush, is heavily, disproportionately weighted toward the massive 5-coin maximum bet.


Because the mathematical RTP calculation assumes you will eventually hit a Royal Flush, failing to bet max coins completely destroys your long-term advantage.

Memorizing the Basic Strategy Chart

Professional players memorize complex, rigid strategy charts that rank every possible starting hand from best to worst.


You can legally print a strategy card from the internet and hold it right in front of the machine while you play in the casino.

Hand DealtCorrect Mathematical Action (Jacks or Better)4-Card Royal vs. High PairBreak the pair, hold the 4-Card RoyalLow Pair vs. 4-Card FlushHold the Low Pair, discard the rest

Study the strategy charts relentlessly, and you will transform from a casual gambler into a formidable, highly profitable casino advantage player.