Video Poker: Rules, Pay Tables, Odds & Strategy

Last Updated on October 6, 2026 by Bala Kumar

What Is Video Poker?

Video poker is a casino game played on a machine or screen, based on five-card draw poker. You get five cards, choose which to keep, replace the rest once, and get paid according to a pay table if your final hand is good enough.

There are no other players and no dealer to beat. It’s you against the machine’s pay table.

What makes video poker different from slot machines:

• Your decisions matter. Choosing the right cards to hold changes your long-term return.

• The odds are knowable. The cards are dealt from a virtual 52-card deck, so with the pay table and correct strategy, the return can be calculated exactly.

• The best games return over 99%. Full-pay 9/6 Jacks or Better returns 99.54% with perfect strategy and maximum coins. A few games can even return over 100%, but only with perfect strategy and a favourable pay table. For example, full-pay Deuces Wild returns 100.76% and 10/7 Double Bonus 100.17%.

Video Poker at a Glance

Detail	Video poker
Game type	Casino machine game based on five-card draw
Played against	The pay table
Deck	Virtual 52 cards (53 in Joker Poker)
Cards dealt	5
Draws	1
Decision	Which cards to hold
Most common game	Jacks or Better
Best common return	99.54% (9/6 Jacks or Better, perfect play, max coins)
Typical max bet	5 coins (credits)
Top prize	Royal flush, 4,000 coins at max bet (800 for 1)

How to Play Video Poker

Step	What happens
1. Choose a game and coin size	For example, 25¢ Jacks or Better
2. Choose your bet (1–5 coins)	Bet 5 coins for the full royal flush payout
3. Press Deal	You get five cards
4. Hold cards	Tap Hold on the cards you want to keep
5. Press Draw	Every card you didn’t hold is replaced
6. Get paid	Your final hand is paid according to the pay table

Why bet maximum coins? On most machines, a royal flush pays 250 for 1 with one to four coins but 800 for 1 with five coins (4,000 coins). Published returns like 99.54% assume you bet five coins. If five quarters ($1.25) is too much, play a lower denomination at max coins rather than quarters at fewer coins.

Video Poker Hand Rankings (Jacks or Better)

Hand	Example	Pays (per coin, 9/6 table)
Royal flush	A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠	250 (800 at 5 coins)
Straight flush	9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ 5♥	50
Four of a kind	7-7-7-7-K	25
Full house	Q-Q-Q-4-4	9
Flush	Any five of one suit	6
Straight	8-7-6-5-4	4
Three of a kind	5-5-5-K-2	3
Two pair	J-J-6-6-3	2
Jacks or better	Pair of J, Q, K or A	1
Anything less	Pair of 10s or lower, no pair	0

“Pays 1” means you get your bet back. A pair of jacks doesn’t make a profit; it returns your stake.

Pay Tables: The Most Important Thing in Video Poker

Two machines can look identical, with the same game name and the same graphics, but pay very different amounts. The difference is in the pay table.

What “9/6” means

Video poker games are named after their full house / flush payouts:

• 9/6 Jacks or Better: full house pays 9, flush pays 6. This is “full pay”.

• 8/5 Jacks or Better: full house pays 8, flush pays 5.

• 6/5 Jacks or Better: full house pays 6, flush pays 5.

Jacks or Better pay tables compared

Pay table	Full house	Flush	Return (perfect play, max coins)
9/6 (full pay)	9	6	99.54%
8/5	8	5	97.30%
7/5	7	5	96.15%
6/5	6	5	95.00%

Moving from 9/6 to 8/5 costs you 2.24 percentage points of return.

What that costs you per hour (calculated)

Playing quarters at 5 coins ($1.25 per hand), with perfect strategy:

Pay table	Average loss per hour (400 hands)	Average loss per hour (600 hands)
9/6 Jacks or Better	~$2.30	~$3.45
8/5 Jacks or Better	~$13.50	~$20.25
7/5 Jacks or Better	~$19	~$29
6/5 Jacks or Better	~$25	~$37.50

Returns from Wizard of Odds (optimal strategy, max coins). Cost per hour calculated by PokerClubGames: bet per hand × hands per hour × house edge. Short-term results swing far above and below these averages.

What this means: The same game name can cost you six to eleven times more per hour on a short-pay machine than on a full-pay one. Always read the pay table before you put money in.

Best Video Poker Pay Tables to Look For

These are the “full-pay” or near-full-pay versions of the most common games. Look at the payouts in the “How to spot it” column. If the machine pays less on those lines, it’s a short-pay version.

Game	How to spot it (per coin)	Return (optimal strategy, max coins)
9/6 Jacks or Better	Full house 9, flush 6	99.54%
8/5 Bonus Poker	Full house 8, flush 5; four aces 80, four 2s–4s 40, other quads 25	99.17%
9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe	Full house 9, flush 6; every four of a kind 80	99.64%
10/7 Double Bonus	Full house 10, flush 7, straight 5; four aces 160	100.17%
9/6 Double Double Bonus	Full house 9, flush 6; four aces with a 2–4 kicker 400	98.98%
NSU Deuces Wild (“16/10”)	Five of a kind 16, straight flush 10	99.73%

9/6 Jacks or Better

The standard to compare every other machine against. Low swings and the simplest strategy make it the best starting game.

8/5 Bonus Poker

A Jacks or Better variant with bonus payouts for four aces and four 2s, 3s or 4s. It’s a good choice when 9/6 Jacks or Better isn’t available. Note that “8/5” here is the full-pay version, unlike 8/5 Jacks or Better.

9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe

Every four of a kind pays 80 per coin. Two pair pays only 1, so you’ll have more break-even hands than in Jacks or Better.

10/7 Double Bonus

One of the few common games that returns over 100% with perfect strategy. It swings more than Jacks or Better, and the strategy is harder.

9/6 Double Double Bonus

Big payouts for four aces with a low kicker. The return is just under 99%, but the swings are among the largest of any common game, so you need a bigger bankroll.

NSU Deuces Wild

All 2s are wild. The “Not So Ugly” table (often called 16/10) is the best Deuces Wild version you’re likely to find. The original full-pay Deuces Wild (100.76%) is extremely rare.

How to identify a short-pay machine

1. Find the full house and flush lines. In Jacks or Better, anything below 9 and 6 is short-pay.

2. Compare with the table above. For example, Double Bonus paying 9 for a full house instead of 10 is a reduced version.

3. Check the two pair line. In Jacks or Better it should pay 2. In bonus games it may be 1 by design, so compare with that game’s full-pay table.

4. Check the royal flush at max coins. It should be 4,000 coins (800 for 1).

5. Online: open the help or pay table screen, which often lists the theoretical return.

6. If in doubt, move on. Two machines side by side can have different pay tables.

Best Video Poker Games and Their Returns

Game	Full-pay version	Return (perfect play)	Availability (varies; check locally)
Jacks or Better	9/6	99.54%	Reported in 2026 guides at some downtown Las Vegas and locals casinos
Bonus Poker Deluxe	9/6	99.64%	Reported at some downtown and locals casinos
Bonus Poker	8/5	99.17%	Reported at some downtown and locals casinos
Double Bonus	10/7	100.17%	Rare
Double Bonus	9/7	99.11%	Reported at some downtown casinos
Double Double Bonus	9/6	98.98%	Reported at some downtown casinos
Deuces Wild (NSU)	“Not So Ugly” table	99.73%	Reported at some downtown and locals casinos
Deuces Wild (full pay)	Original full pay	100.76%	Extremely rare; not generally available at major casinos
9/5 Super Double Bonus	9/5	99.69%	Reported at some locals casinos
Triple Bonus Plus	Best table	~99.8%	Reported at some locals casinos

Full-pay Deuces Wild is extremely rare and is not generally available at major casinos. Reports in 2023 said the last known machines, at Sam’s Town near Las Vegas, had been removed. Machine inventories change, so a few may still appear.

Which game should you choose?

If you want…	Play
The easiest strategy with a high return	9/6 Jacks or Better
More four-of-a-kind excitement	Bonus Poker or Double Bonus
Wild cards and bigger swings	Deuces Wild
The lowest swings	Jacks or Better

Bonus games pay more for four of a kind, and some (such as Double Bonus) pay less for two pair, so they swing more. Your bankroll should be larger for those games.

Where to Find Good Video Poker in 2026

Las Vegas

Area	What to expect in 2026
Downtown (Fremont Street)	The best overall selection. El Cortez, Plaza, Four Queens and The D regularly carry 9/6 Jacks or Better, NSU Deuces Wild and 10/7 Double Bonus.
Plaza (downtown)	Six titles at 99% or better at several bars, from 25¢ to $5, including 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe (99.64%) and 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54%).
Locals casinos	South Point has the largest selection of 99%+ games, including 16/10 Deuces Wild and 9/6 Jacks or Better. Most Boyd Gaming locals casinos advertise “Up to 99.8%” machines.
Las Vegas Strip	Most Strip casinos have moved to short-pay machines (8/5 or 7/5 Jacks or Better). Caesars Palace is noted for good high-limit video poker.

Based on 2026 player guides and casino websites listed in Sources. Machine inventories and pay tables change often, so check the pay table before you play, even at casinos known for good games.

Online

Online video poker is offered by many licensed casinos, often from the same suppliers that make land-based machines. Online pay tables also vary, so check the help screen before playing. Some online games pay the full royal flush at any bet size, but many don’t.

Availability: Online casino rules differ by country and change over time. Only play at sites licensed where you live. Readers in India should check the current rules for their state.

Video Poker Strategy (Jacks or Better)

Beginner strategy chart (9/6 Jacks or Better)

This is a simplified beginner strategy, not perfect strategy. Perfect (optimal) strategy for 9/6 Jacks or Better returns 99.54% and contains many more exceptions. This chart gets you close while staying easy to remember. Work from the top: hold the first hand on the list that you have.

Priority	Hold this	Example
1	Royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house	Hold all
2	4 to a royal flush	A♠ K♠ Q♠ 10♠
3	Three of a kind, straight, flush	Hold (keep all 5 for straights and flushes)
4	Two pair	Hold both pairs
5	High pair (J, Q, K, A)	Q-Q
6	3 to a royal flush	K♥ Q♥ 10♥
7	4 to a flush	2♣ 6♣ 9♣ K♣
8	Low pair (2s–10s)	7-7
9	4 to an outside straight	5-6-7-8
10	2 suited high cards	Q♦ J♦
11	3 to a straight flush	5♠ 6♠ 7♠
12	2 unsuited high cards (if more than two, keep the lowest two)	K-J
13	Suited 10 with J, Q or K	10♥ J♥
14	One high card	A
15	Nothing worth holding	Discard all five

Beginner strategy only. Optimal strategy (for example, the Wizard of Odds 9/6 Jacks or Better strategy) has more exceptions for specific card combinations. Use an optimal strategy chart once you’re comfortable.

Key strategy rules

• In Jacks or Better, don’t normally keep a kicker with a paying pair. With a pair of jacks and an ace, hold only the jacks. Other games, such as Double Double Bonus, can have exceptions.

• Hold a low pair over 4 to an outside straight.

• Hold 4 to a flush over a low pair.

• Break a flush or straight for 4 to a royal flush. The royal is worth chasing.

• Hold a high pair over 4 to a flush.

• Discarding all five cards is sometimes correct. When you have no high cards and no draws, a full redraw is better.

Common strategy mistakes

1. Betting fewer than five coins.

2. Holding a kicker with a pair.

3. Keeping three to a flush or three to a straight (usually wrong).

4. Breaking a high pair for a 4-card straight.

5. Playing a short-pay machine without checking.

6. Using a Jacks or Better strategy on Deuces Wild or Bonus games, which need their own strategies.

Video Poker Odds Worth Knowing

Fact	Figure
Royal flush frequency (9/6 Jacks or Better, perfect play)	About 1 in 40,391 hands
Hands that pay something (Jacks or Better)	About 45%
House edge, 9/6 Jacks or Better	0.46%
House edge, 8/5 Jacks or Better	2.70%

About the royal flush: At 600 hands an hour, 1 in 40,391 means about 67 hours of play between royals on average. Part of the 99.54% return comes from royals, so in a short session you’re usually playing at a lower return than the long-term figure.

Bankroll Tips

Game type	Swings	Bankroll guideline
Jacks or Better	Low	Smallest bankroll needed
Bonus Poker / Bonus Poker Deluxe	Medium	Moderate bankroll
Double Bonus / Double Double Bonus	High	Larger bankroll
Deuces Wild	High	Larger bankroll

• Set a session budget before you sit down.

• Choose a denomination where five-coin play fits your budget.

• Slot clubs and players’ cards can add a small return through comps and cash-back. Always use one if you’re playing.

Video Poker vs Other Casino Games

Game	Typical house edge (good rules, correct play)	Skill matters?
9/6 Jacks or Better	0.46%	Yes
Let It Ride	3.51% per unit	Yes (simple)
Three Card Poker (Ante & Play)	3.37% of Ante	Yes (simple)
Ultimate Texas Hold’em	~2.19% of Ante	Yes
Slot machines	Usually much higher	No

Why video poker stands out: It’s one of the few machine games where you can see the pay table, calculate the exact return and improve your results through strategy.

A Short History of Video Poker

Video poker became established in the late 1970s, when Si Redd’s company SIRCOMA introduced Draw Poker machines. The company later became IGT, which is still one of the largest video poker makers. Jacks or Better (“Draw Poker”) became the most common version. Games like Bonus Poker, Double Bonus and Deuces Wild followed. Video poker became especially popular with Las Vegas locals, who tend to play at locals casinos away from the Strip.

Video Poker Glossary

Term	Meaning
Full pay	The best common pay table for a game (e.g. 9/6 Jacks or Better)
Short pay	A reduced pay table
9/6, 8/5	Full house / flush payouts per coin
Hold	Keep a card for the draw
Kicker	An unpaired card kept alongside a pair (usually a mistake)
RTP / return	Percentage of bets paid back over time with perfect play
Max coins	Betting 5 coins, needed for the full royal payout
NSU	“Not So Ugly”, a popular Deuces Wild pay table
Wild card	A card that can count as any card (e.g. 2s in Deuces Wild)
Progressive	A machine whose royal flush jackpot grows over time

FAQs

What is video poker?

Video poker is a casino machine game based on five-card draw poker. You get five cards, choose which to hold, draw replacements once, and are paid according to a pay table.

Which video poker game has the best odds?

Among games still commonly available, 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54%), 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe (99.64%) and NSU Deuces Wild (99.73%) are among the best. 10/7 Double Bonus returns 100.17% but is rare.

What are the best video poker pay tables?

Look for 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54%), 8/5 Bonus Poker (99.17%), 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe (99.64%), 10/7 Double Bonus (100.17%), 9/6 Double Double Bonus (98.98%) and NSU Deuces Wild (99.73%). Returns assume optimal strategy and max coins.