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What is Video Poker?

Learn the basics of Video Poker, from game rules to winning strategies. Improve your odds and maximize your chances of success with Oddschecker

Jan 2 2025, 10:58am | 12 min read

Video poker is a digital version of the classic card game you’ll find at online casinos. It combines features of traditional poker and slots, making it innovative yet straightforward to play. Like traditional poker, the goal is to build the strongest five-card hand to win.

If you’re interested in video poker, the game is featured at many online casinos in the US. At oddschecker, our goal is to bring you the best versions. Therefore, we’ve extensively covered how video poker works in this guide, along with the top sites to play. Continue reading to learn more.

How to Play Video Poker
Types of Video Poker Games
What Strategy is Best to Play Video Poker?
What is the Difference Between Video Poker and Live Poker?
What Online Casinos Offer Video Poker Games?
Bottom Line

How to Play Video Poker?

As we mentioned, online video poker incorporates elements from the traditional card game with slot machines. To play, you must first set your bet and hit the Deal button. Next, the software will share five cards, all face up. The suits and ranks are the same as you’d find in classic poker.

After receiving the cards, you have one shot at replacing them to build the strongest hand possible. You can choose to switch all, some, or none of them. All you have to do is click on the cards you don’t want to replace and hold them. Then, tap the Deal button again for the dealer to draw new cards. Everything happens randomly, and that’s how video poker is similar to slots.

Now, the final five cards you have will determine your hand and whether you win or not. Your payout will depend on the ranking. Here are the different ones to note:

Hands	Explanation
High Card	This hand has no matching cards. For example, it could contain K, J, 7, 5, and 3. It’s the lowest possible rank and rewards no payout in most video poker games.
One Pair	A one-pair hand features two cards of the same rank, like 9, 9, 7, 5, and 2.
Two Pair	You score this rank if you have two sets of pairs, such as Q, Q, 2, 2, and 5.
Three of a kind	This hand contains three cards of the same rank, like Q, Q, Q, 9, and 2.
Straight	This hand is one with five consecutive cards of any suit. An example is getting 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
Flush	You get a flush if your hand includes five non-consecutive cards but from the same suit.
Full House	A full house is three of a kind and a pair. For example, 7, 7, Q, Q, Q.
Four of a kind	As the name says, this hand contains four cards of the same rank. 6, 6, 6, 6, 5, is a good example.
Straight Flush	This means getting five straight cards of the same suit. For example, you have a straight flush if you get Q, J, 10, 9, and 8, all hearts.
Royal Flush	A royal flush features A, K, Q, J, and 10 of the same suit. It’s the highest possible hand you can get in video poker.

Types of Video Poker Games

We’ve found that online casinos in the US have more than five variants of video poker. They all have similar gameplay, but there are a few differences in terms of payouts, RTP, and highest-hand ranking. We’ve discussed the most popular ones to know below:

Jacks or Better

This is the most popular type of video poker. In Jacks or Better, you aim to build a hand with a pair of jacks or better. That’s the lowest possible rank, and anything below that will result in no payout. As you play Jacks or Better, you can score higher winnings with stronger hands like two pairs, three of a kind, flush, and others.

Jacks or Better is very straightforward, and that’s one reason it’s the most famous version of video poker. In addition, the variant has favorable video poker odds. Depending on the casino, you can expect 97% to 99.50% RTP.

Tens or Better

This variant is quite similar to Jacks or Better. However, as the name implies, the goal this time is to score a hand with a pair of 10s or higher. In short, you’ll receive a payout if your hand has at least two 10 cards.

Deuces Wild

One reason players appreciate slots is because they often come with bonus features like free spins. If you are looking for similar features in video poker, look no further than Deuces Wild. For the record, Deuces refers to the 2s, and they function as Wilds in this variant.

Typically, Wilds replace other symbols to form more winning combinations in slots. You get something similar with 2s in Deuces Wild. Whenever the cards are drawn, they can substitute for others to help you win.

For example, suppose you have 3, 3, 2, J, Q. In this case, the 2 can become a 3 to give you a three-of-a-kind hand. However, it can’t change to J or Q for a pair because the lowest payout in Deuces Wild is for three of a kind. Nevertheless, we rate it as one of the best video poker game types because the RTP is over 100%.

Joker Poker

Have you ever played poker with an additional Joker card? If this premise intrigues you, Joker Poker is an interesting option to consider. It’s pretty much the same as Deuces Wild, but instead of 2s, the extra Joker card acts as the Wild. If you’re dealt cards and a joker is among the five, it can replace others to build a better hand.

In most Joker Poker versions, you can’t win any payout with a hand below two Ks. Therefore, you’ll sometimes find the game referred to as Joker Poker: Kings or Better. Based on our findings reviewing online casinos, Joker Poker’s RTP ranges from 98.47% to 100%.

Double Bonus

Many players want to play video poker online and try to score high payouts. If that is your goal, Double Bonus is a variant we recommend. It’s like a sub-variant of the popular Jacks or Better, meaning you need a pair of Js or higher to win. However, Double Bonus video poker is unique because it gives you higher payouts for four-of-a-kind hands.

Specifically, you’ll get extra winnings for building a hand with four 5s or four Aces. Keep in mind, however, that you won’t score such hands regularly since the variant has very high volatility. Also, the RTP is lower at 99.2%.

All American

We won’t be surprised if this becomes your favorite video poker type as a US player. All American Poker is an interesting option that provides higher payouts for certain hands, just like Double Bonus. To be specific, you get more winnings with straights, flushes, and straight flushes.

It’s safe to say that the game rewards the strongest of hands. Therefore, you should always aim for the highest ranking when playing All American Video Poker. With an RTP of 99.38% to 100%, you might see good returns in the long run.

What Strategy is Best to Play Video Poker?

At this point, you know how video poker works, the hand rankings, and the different types. Now we’ll take a look at strategies you can apply when playing. Like online slots, the cards are drawn at random, so winning depends on chance. However, you can increase your video poker odds by knowing what cards to replace and when.

To help you, we’ve detailed our most effective strategies below:

Work With a Video Poker Strategy Chart

With a strategy chart, you get a simple guide on the best decisions to make. After the software deals the cards, you can consult the chart for advice on how many to retain or switch. Our experts at oddschecker designed this straightforward video poker strategy chart to help:

Hands	Explanation
Royal Flush	0 — You’ll get a good payout
Straight Flush	0 — You’ll get a good payout
Four of a Kind	0 — You’ll get a good payout
Full House	0 — You’ll get a good payout
Flush	0 — You’ll get a good payout
Straight	0 — You’ll get a good payout
Four to a Royal Flush	1
Four to a Straight Flush	1
Two Pair	1
Four to a Flush	1
Low pair (pairs having 10s or lower)	1
Three to a Royal Flush	2
Three to a Straight Flush	2
Three-of-a-Kind	2
Three High Cards	2
One Pair in Jacks or Better	3
Four to a Straight	3
Two to a Royal Flush	3
Two High Cards	3
One High Card	4
Any other hand	5

As the table shows, the top two hands are guaranteed wins. You don’t need to replace any card; just submit it and receive your payout.

If you get a Four of a Kind, Flush, Straight, or Full House, your payout will depend on the variant. It may be high or not, but the bottom line is that you can’t get a Straight Flush or Royal Flush. For all other hands, look at the chart to know the number of cards to replace.

Choose Low Pairs Over a Single High Card

In video poker or the traditional card game, it’s a no-brainer to keep a low pair over a single high card as it will likely result in a better payout. A low pair of 2 or 3 can easily become a three-of-kind if you draw new cards and get the same value. In addition, if you are playing a variant with a Wild card, your chances of winning are even higher.

Consider Breaking Up a Flush or Straight

A flush or straight is a strong hand that can fetch generous payouts. However, there are cases where you have four cards building up to a Royal Flush. You can choose to switch the remaining card and take your chances.

However, we don’t recommend breaking up your straight or flush if the target is to get a full house or four of a kind. That’s not a good video poker strategy because there’s little to no difference between the hands.

Break High Pairs at the Right Time

If you have a high pair in video poker, you’re in a solid position to win. Nevertheless, you may want to alter it and draw new cards to improve your hand. A good example is when you’re one card short of getting a royal flush or straight flush. As the strategy chart shows, any of the two is a sure win.

What is the Difference Between Video Poker and Live Poker?

Video poker and live poker use the same card suits and hand rankings. However, they vary in terms of how you play. As we’ve already explained, video poker online games involve replacing cards to create the strongest hand. Then, you can win based on your ranking.

In live poker, you won’t be competing against software. Instead, you go head-to-head against other players like yourself. Everyone places bets into the pot as the rounds progress, and you can take actions such as call, check, raise, and fold. The player standing at the end of the round gets the win.

What Online Casinos Offer Video Poker Games?

Based on our reviews, all top online casinos in the US offer video poker games, including:

These are only a few of the options, and you can check them out if they are active in your state. Next, we’ll look at the top titles they offer.

What are the best video poker games?

We spent time testing different video poker online games at US casinos. Based on our sessions, these are the best ones to check out:

Game King Video Poker

This video poker game combines several different variants into one. During our review, we found some Game King titles with up to nine different games. Among them are Deuces Wild and Jacks or Better. You’ll appreciate Game King Video Poker’s friendly interface, and the title has an option to speed up the sessions if you want faster gameplay.

To play this game, we recommend FanDuel Casino. The platform has a reliable video poker app you can install on Android or iOS devices. Plus, you can claim up to a $1,000 bonus in cashback as a new player.

Double Double Bonus Poker

Earlier, we talked about Double Bonus poker, which offers higher payouts for four-of-a-kind hands. That’s precisely what you get with this title. However, it’s Double Double Bonus, which means your potential winnings can be increased by 2x.

This video poker option is undoubtedly among the most favorable to play. We found it at several real-money gaming sites, but DraftKings Casino is our pick. You can get started with a "Play $10 and Get $100 in bonus credits” welcome bonus, and DraftKings has other exclusive games you’ll want to check out.

Ultimate X Poker Five Play (BetMGM)

If you want a high-stakes video poker game, Ultimate X Poker Five Play is a good pick. As the name says, you get to play five hands at a time. Each one you win comes with a multiplier, which will apply to the next round. The exact multiplier you’ll receive varies depending on the strength of the winning hand.

This video poker online variant is available at BetMGM Casino. You can enjoy it on the official website or app while claiming a 100% match bonus of up to $1,500 on your first deposit. As a new player, you need to fund your account with at least $10 to get the reward.

Jacks or Better

The standard Jacks or Better video poker game is among the best to play in the US. We’ve already highlighted that it’s the most popular of all variants. While playing, the target remains to get a pair of Js or higher hands.

Although Jacks or Better is available on several sites, we had the best experience with BetRivers Casino. There’s a 100% match bonus of up to $250 to claim once you sign up if you’re in Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, players in Michigan, New Jersey, and West Virginia will get cashback of up to $500.

Aces and Faces

At number 5, we have Aces and Faces, a game where you can get higher winnings for four-of-a-kind hands. However, the hands must have Aces or face cards for you to win. The volatility is quite high, but the payouts can be significant.

Aces and Faces is a leading game at PokerStars Casino. Make your first deposit on the gaming site, and you’ll become eligible for a match bonus of up to $100. Afterward, you can load Aces and Faces to play. Interestingly, PokerStars offers live poker rooms, which you can consider if you want the traditional version.

Bottom Line

Video poker remains an interesting and innovative game to play as a casino fan. It’s a good option if you want to enjoy the classic card game while maintaining some aspects of slots. Thanks to our guide, you should now understand everything about how it works. You can start playing today by picking any of the best titles and online casinos on our list.