When it comes to playing video poker, Jacks or Better has the absolute best payouts and odds for players. This popular version of video poker offers high paytables, great odds, and a high return-to-player percentage (RTP).
But, how can you play Jacks or Better and get the optimal payout for every hand? In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know, including the best version to play, which hands to bank on, and how high you should bet.
Then, we’ll list the best strategies, tips, tricks, and casinos offering real money bonuses to video poker players. If you’d prefer to start playing the game, our top picks are listed below.
Best Jacks Or Better Casinos
Hand Rankings
Most video poker games use regular poker hand rankings but usually put emphasis on one high-ranking hand. We’ve listed the highest-ranked hands first to help you get started:
- Royal Flush –a straight flush composed of suited high cards, such as 10, J, Q, K, A
- Full House – a pair with three of a kind
- Flush – all the cards are the same suit
- Straight Flush – a hand that is both a flush and a straight – like 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 of diamonds
- Two/Three of a Kind – two identical cards or three matching cards
- Two Pair – a hand containing two pairs, for example, two 3s and two 5s
- Pair of Jacks or Better – a pair of jacks combined with other cards
- Straight – five cards in sequence
- Outside Straight – this is a set of cards that can be made into a straight with another card on either end, like 7, 10, 8, 3
- Inside Straight – a would-be straight with a hole card in the middle.
Rules of the Game
To start playing Jacks or Better, you need to place your first bet (or ante). Then, you’ll receive five cards and get to study them before opening the betting round. After that, click deal and look at your cards before discarding any you don’t want. If you get a match on the paytable, you’ll get a payout, or you can click deal again.
Jacks or Better Odds & Payouts
With the rules and hand rankings in mind, it’s time to pick a game of Jacks or Better to play. While there are standard payouts and payback percentages, you should also consider the probability of a win. This influences how much you can expect to win, and it’s good to know beforehand.
So, consider these odds of winning for Jacks or Better casino games.
Jacks or Better Return to Player
First, you should always look at the payback or return-to-player percentages for the software provider’s version. Whenever you’re picking a game, make sure you’re reading reviews that give you the payoff for a full house and flush.
Optimally, you should be playing a payoff of nine times your bet for a full house and six times for a flush.
Full Paytable and Coins
Next, you need to think of your maximum bets and how much you’re willing to lose in the video poker game. You can bet between one and five coins, with varying real money values. Most experts recommend taking five coins, but it adds up fast.
Like slot machines, video pokers like Jacks or Better take a bet per spin. While you might win more with the max bet, it’s not always guaranteed.
Probability of a Win
With your payouts in mind, you should consider your odds of winning and which cards to hold onto. Unlike Deuces Wild, the probabilities of a full house, straight, and flush are nearly identical. So, work those hands into your strategy.
Best Jacks Or Better Games
Getting a Jack or higher is made easy with casino software providers like RealTime Gaming, Playtech, and NetEnt. These creators have expanded the classic game to include multiple hands and more payouts. So, you should check out their titles for an epic gaming experience.
With that said, we have one last piece of advice for any new players trying Jacks Or Better for the first time. And that is: never trust a guaranteed win strategy because there’s no way to influence video poker machines.
Instead, trust in your instincts and keep everything we’ve listed above in mind. Then, you can make your own strategy and a decent profit after testing free versions.