Video poker is one of the few casino games where skill genuinely matters. Unlike slots — where each outcome is purely random regardless of player decisions — video poker lets you influence the result through which cards you hold and discard. That skill element, combined with some of the highest RTPs in the casino, makes it a subject worth understanding properly.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to the best video poker variants, what sets them apart, and how to approach each one.
What Is Video Poker?
Video poker combines the card mechanics of five-card draw poker with slot machine technology. You’re dealt five cards, choose which to hold, and receive replacement cards for those you discard. Payouts are based on the resulting hand according to a posted pay table.
Unlike table poker, you’re not competing against other players or a dealer’s active hand. You’re playing against the pay table — a fixed schedule of payouts for each hand ranking.
This makes video poker fundamentally different from poker strategy (no bluffing, no reading opponents) but also more accessible and more mathematically transparent.
Why Video Poker Often Has Better Odds Than Slots
The comparison is significant:
| Game | Typical RTP |
|---|---|
| Land-based slots | 85–93% |
| Online slots | 94–97% |
| 9/6 Jacks or Better | 99.54% |
| Full-pay Deuces Wild | 100.76% |
Video poker’s advantage comes from two sources: the fixed probability of a 52-card deck (outcomes are calculable), and the player’s ability to make decisions that affect results. Optimal play — derived through computer calculation of every possible hand situation — raises effective RTP to near or above 100% in the best variants.
The Main Video Poker Variants Explained
Jacks or Better — The Standard Starting Point
Best for: Beginners and intermediate players
The foundational video poker game. The lowest qualifying hand is a pair of Jacks. The key paytable to look for: 9/6 — Full House pays 9x, Flush pays 6x.
- Full-pay (9/6) RTP: 99.54%
- Strategy complexity: Low–Medium
- Volatility: Low–Medium
Why it’s recommended first: the strategy is learnable, full-pay tables exist in many casinos, and the game mechanics apply to almost every other variant.
Deuces Wild — The Ceiling of Video Poker RTP
Best for: Advanced players seeking the highest theoretical return
All four 2s are wild cards, replacing any card to form winning hands. This dramatically changes strategy — hands that would never be held in Jacks or Better become worth keeping.
- Full-pay RTP: 100.76% (player edge)
- Strategy complexity: High (significantly different from Jacks or Better)
- Volatility: High
The challenge: full-pay Deuces Wild tables are genuinely rare. Most versions you’ll encounter have reduced pay tables that bring RTP below 99%.
Bonus Poker — Jacks or Better with Enhanced Four-of-a-Kind Payouts
Best for: Players wanting a familiar format with added excitement for specific hands
Essentially Jacks or Better, but with bonus payouts for four Aces, four 2–4s, and four 5–Ks.
- Full-pay (8/5) RTP: 99.17%
- Strategy: Close to Jacks or Better with minor adjustments
- Volatility: Medium
Good transition game for players ready to move beyond basic Jacks or Better.
Double Bonus Poker — Higher Upside, Higher Variance
Best for: Players comfortable with volatility seeking bigger four-of-a-kind payouts
Further enhanced payouts for four Aces (160x with kicker), four 2–4s (80x), and four 5–Ks (50x).
- Full-pay (10/7) RTP: 100.17%
- Strategy: Moderately complex
- Volatility: High — expect longer losing streaks punctuated by larger wins
Double Double Bonus — The Highest-Variance Common Variant
Best for: Experienced players with sufficient bankroll for high variance
Adds kicker bonuses (specific additional cards that boost payouts) to Double Bonus. Getting four Aces with a 2–4 kicker pays 400x in full-pay versions.
- Full-pay RTP: 98.98%
- Strategy: Complex
- Volatility: Very High
Video Poker Paytable: The Most Important Factor
The same game name can have dramatically different RTPs based on paytable:
| Jacks or Better Pay Table | Full House | Flush | RTP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/6 (full pay) | 9x | 6x | 99.54% |
| 8/6 | 8x | 6x | 98.39% |
| 8/5 | 8x | 5x | 97.30% |
| 7/5 | 7x | 5x | 96.15% |
| 6/5 | 6x | 5x | 95.00% |
A 6/5 Jacks or Better machine has nearly 5% more house edge than a 9/6. Always verify the paytable — not just the game name.
How Strategy Changes RTP in Practice
The published RTP for any video poker game assumes optimal strategy — the mathematically correct hold/discard decision for every possible five-card hand.
Most players don’t play optimally. Research estimates that recreational players typically reduce their effective RTP by 1–3% through suboptimal decisions. Strategy cards (pocket-sized or digital) are legal to use at most casinos and significantly close this gap.
Key principle: the value of video poker comes from using strategy, not from luck alone.
Pro Tips for Video Poker Players
- Always play max coins (usually 5) — the Royal Flush pays 800x max coins but only 250x for fewer coins, significantly affecting overall RTP
- Verify the paytable before sitting down — the two numbers that matter most in Jacks or Better are the Full House and Flush multipliers
- Use a strategy card for your specific variant — Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild strategies differ substantially; using the wrong one reduces your return
- Build your bankroll for the game’s variance — high-variance games (Double Double Bonus) require larger bankrolls to survive losing streaks
- Practice in free/demo mode — many online platforms offer video poker in demo mode; use it to build strategy familiarity before wagering real money
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Playing without checking the paytable — a 6/5 machine looks identical to a 9/6 machine on the surface
- Holding low pairs over potential straights or flushes — a common strategic error in Jacks or Better
- Ignoring the variant’s specific strategy — Deuces Wild strategy differs significantly from Jacks or Better
- Underestimating bankroll requirements for high-variance games — Double Double Bonus can produce many losing sessions before a big win
FAQs
Q: What is the best video poker game for beginners? 9/6 Jacks or Better. It has the most learnable strategy, strong RTP, and widely available full-pay machines.
Q: Can you make money playing video poker? Full-pay Deuces Wild and 10/7 Double Bonus have theoretical RTPs above 100% — but full-pay machines are rare, and variance means consistent profits require very large sample sizes. Most players experience sessions on both sides of the theoretical return.
Q: Is video poker better than blackjack? Both are among the lowest house-edge games in a casino. Blackjack with perfect basic strategy reaches ~0.5% house edge; 9/6 Jacks or Better has a 0.46% house edge. They’re comparable — the choice comes down to preference for solitary vs. social play and skill type.
Q: Are online video poker games fair? Games from licensed providers using certified RNGs (verified by eCOGRA, GLI, etc.) are fair. The 52-card deck probability is well-defined and mathematically verifiable. Always play on licensed platforms.
Conclusion
The best video poker game is the one where you’ve learned the strategy, verified the paytable, and matched the volatility to your bankroll. For most players starting out, 9/6 Jacks or Better is the clear answer. For those seeking the mathematical ceiling of casino gaming, full-pay Deuces Wild represents one of the most player-favorable games available anywhere — when you can find it. In every variant, the paytable check and strategy card are your two non-negotiables.