
Among all the electronic games available in a modern casino, Video Poker is the undisputed choice by casino mathematicians, professional gamblers and experts to be the best machine game in the house. Different from standard slot machines, where the math is set in stone and no amount of decision-making can influence the result, VP rewards intelligent, mathematically optimal play with a far better return. Specific video poker versions, with flawless, computer-optimal play, can produce below half a percent or even higher than 100% Return to Player. This means a correctly played VP machine can have better odds than even Blackjack with Basic Strategy.
The game of Video Poker is a private, individual game of Five-Card Stud, played against a computer rather than other players. The process is very straightforward.
The most common and widely played video poker format is the classic ’Jacks or Better’ game. On the best-paying version, the Return to Player is a remarkable 99.54% when played correctly. The optimal strategy is lengthy to memorize in full, but these core rules are most important:
| When This Rule Applies | The Decision |
|---|---|
| Any Complete Made Hand | Keep any complete winning hand |
| Strong Draw | Draw to a Royal Flush even if it breaks a Straight |
| Medium Priority | Keep Three of a Kind, Two Pair, or a High Pair (Jacks, Queens, Kings, Aces) as your primary hand. Discard everything else and draw new cards |
| Lower Priority | A low pair (2s through 10s) is generally worth more than drawing to a Flush or Straight, unless you have 4 cards to a Flush or an open-ended Straight draw |
Ultimately, video poker is the optimal game for someone who desires the quick pace of machine gambling with the mathematical skill and the mental challenge of using a proven decision framework. Master the optimal Jacks or Better holds, find the 9/6 machines, and you will find yourself playing the best mathematical odds on the gaming floor.
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