Video poker: Jacks or Better explained

Let’s learn video poker by playing a hand together.

This is Jacks or Better, the most popular video poker game. Up at the top is the pay table, which shows what each winning hand pays. And down at the bottom you’ve got your credits, your bet, and the deal button.

Press deal, and you get five cards. Here we’ve got two kings, a seven, a three and a nine.

Now you choose which cards to keep. We’ll hold the two kings, because a pair of jacks or better already pays.

Press draw, and the three cards we didn’t hold are replaced. And look, we’ve drawn another king, so that’s three of a kind.

Now check the pay table. Three of a kind pays three times your bet, so a one pound bet wins three pounds.

Before you play, look at two numbers on the pay table. Here, a full house pays nine and a flush pays six. That’s called a nine six game, and it’s the best version. Some machines pay only eight and five, or six and five, for exactly the same hands. And over time, they pay back less.

So, three simple tips. Hold any pair of jacks or better. Look for nine and six on the pay table. And set a budget, because hands go by quickly. Our free session cost calculator shows what an hour of play costs on average.

Play for fun, and set your limits. You’ll find more guides at UKCasinoTips.com.