Simple Jacks Or Better Video Poker Strategy

By Author: Ivan Cuxeva Jr
Total Articles: 782
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Jacks or Better is a variation of five-card draw poker. Knowing the basic rules of poker is a fundamental step required to learn Jacks or Better, however if you don't know how to play it Jacks or Better is a great way to get acquainted with that game.

The hand ranking is the same in Poker and Jacks or better; with the exception that the lowest winning hand possible which is a pair of "jacks or better"-- this is the concept taken to give this game its name. Since knowing the card rankings is important the first step to play this game is to memorize all the rankings. A Royal Flush, which consists of sequential cards of the same suit from Ten through Ace, is the highest possible hand.

From Top to bottom the following are possible winning card arrangement which will result on a winning hand,

* The Royal Flush: (A, K, Q, J, and 10 of the same suit.), Payoff: 800
* Straight Flush: consists of any five cards of the same suit in order, Payoff: 50
* Four of a Kind: formed by four same-value cards, such as four 3's or four 9's, Payoff: 25
* Full House: consists of three same-value ...
... cards plus a pair of another value card, Payoff: 9
* Flush: formed by five cards in the same suit, no particular order, Payoff: 6
* Straight: consists of five cards in sequential order, non-matching suits, Payoff: 4
* Three of a Kind: formed by three same-value cards and two unmatched cards, Payoff: 2
* Two Pair: consists on any two sets of same-value cards, Payoff: 1

Pair (Jacks or better: any pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings or Aces).

The payoff amounts will vary from place to place but the winnings are proportional in the order shown above. When playing Jacks or Better it is always recommended to analyze every hand, then select the first option on the list that applies to the hand you were dealt. Breath Deeply (not too deep if you are in a "smoking casino area") take your time as the machine will patiently wait for you to make your move; then apply the following techniques according to your situation:

Hold all paying hands you're dealt, except break up a lesser paying hand if you get four cards to a royal flush.

When you're dealt non-paying hands, check for the following and hold accordingly:

Hold any four cards to a straight flush.
Hold any three cards to a royal flush.
Hold any four cards to a flush.
Hold any low pair (tens or lower)
Hold any four-card consecutive straight
Hold any two high cards of the same suit
Hold any three cards to a straight flush
Hold J, Q, and K of different suites
Hold any two high cards of different suits

If you don't have any of the combinations show above then draw five new cards. As you can see the strategies are pretty simple and if you follow them each and every time you have assured yourself a 90%+ winning chance at this great game.