Video poker is one of the few casino games where your decisions change the result. In Jacks or Better, choosing the right cards to hold can lift the game's return to over 99% on a full-pay machine.
This guide teaches you how Jacks or Better works, how to read the paytable, and a simple Jacks or Better strategy chart you can use from your very first hand.
How Jacks or Better Works
Jacks or Better is played with a standard 52-card deck, reshuffled every hand.
- Place your bet, usually 1 to 5 coins.
- You're dealt five cards.
- Choose which cards to hold. Tap them to mark them.
- Draw. The cards you didn't hold are replaced.
- Get paid for your final hand according to the paytable.
The lowest paying hand is a pair of jacks or better (jacks, queens, kings or aces), which is where the game gets its name.
Reading the Paytable: Why 9/6 Matters
Jacks or Better machines differ in what they pay for a full house and a flush. A 9/6 machine pays 9 for a full house and 6 for a flush (per coin). That's known as "full pay".
| Hand | Pays (per coin) |
|---|---|
| Royal flush | 250 (800 with 5 coins) |
| Straight flush | 50 |
| Four of a kind | 25 |
| Full house | 9 |
| Flush | 6 |
| Straight | 4 |
| Three of a kind | 3 |
| Two pair | 2 |
| Jacks or better | 1 |
With perfect strategy and maximum coins, 9/6 Jacks or Better returns about 99.5%. Cut the full house and flush to 8/5 and the return falls to around 97.3%. A small change on the paytable makes a big difference over time.
Why maximum coins matter
The royal flush pays a bonus when you bet 5 coins: 4,000 coins instead of 1,250. That bonus is part of the 99.5% return. If five coins at your chosen denomination is too much for your budget, play a lower coin size with five coins rather than a higher one with fewer.
The Simple Jacks or Better Strategy Chart
Look at your five cards and find the highest line on this list that matches. Hold those cards and draw the rest.
- Royal flush, straight flush or four of a kind: hold
- Four to a royal flush
- Full house, flush, straight or three of a kind: hold
- Four to a straight flush
- Two pair
- High pair (jacks, queens, kings or aces)
- Three to a royal flush
- Four to a flush
- Low pair (2s through 10s)
- Four to an outside straight (open at both ends, e.g. 5-6-7-8)
- Two suited high cards
- Three to a straight flush
- Two unsuited high cards (if you have three, keep the two lowest)
- Suited 10 with a jack, queen or king
- One high card
- Nothing: discard all five and draw
This simplified chart gets you within a fraction of a percent of perfect play, and it's easy to memorise in a few sessions.
Three examples
- K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠ 4♦: hold the four spades. Four to a royal (line 2) beats everything below it.
- J♥ J♣ 7♠ 7♦ 2♣: hold both pairs (line 5). Two pair beats a single high pair.
- A♦ 9♣ 6♥ 4♠ 2♣: hold the ace alone (line 15).
Five Common Jacks or Better Mistakes
- Holding a kicker. With a pair, never hold an extra high card beside it. Hold the pair alone.
- Breaking a high pair for a flush draw. A high pair (line 6) beats four to a flush (line 8).
- Drawing to inside straights. A straight missing a middle card (like 5-6-8-9) is a weak draw. Don't hold it.
- Keeping a low pair with a high card. Hold just the low pair.
- Playing fewer than five coins. You give up the royal flush bonus.
Practice Tips
- Keep the chart open beside the game until it becomes second nature.
- Play slowly. Video poker rewards careful decisions, not speed.
- Know how it counts toward bonuses. Video poker often contributes less to wagering requirements than slots.
- Remember variance. Even at 99.5%, most of the return comes from rare hands like the royal flush. Short sessions can swing either way. Set limits with our casino budget guide.
For more on which casino bets give the house the smallest edge, see the smartest (and dumbest) bets you can make in a casino.
Play Jacks or Better at Platinum Reels
You'll find Jacks or Better in the video poker lobby. Check the paytable on the game screen before you play: look for 9 on the full house and 6 on the flush.
Double or Nothing
When you're playing a single hand, you can try to double any win in the Double or Nothing bonus round. Pick a card that's higher than the dealer's card to double your payout. Cards rank from ace (high) down to 2.
It's entirely optional. A lower card loses that win, so only gamble it if you're comfortable risking the payout. Your hold-and-draw strategy stays the same either way.
FAQ
What is the best strategy for Jacks or Better?
Hold the highest-ranked combination on the strategy chart, starting with made hands and four to a royal flush, and always draw to the best possible line.
What does 9/6 mean in Jacks or Better?
It means the machine pays 9 per coin for a full house and 6 per coin for a flush. It's the full-pay version, returning about 99.5% with perfect play.
Should I hold a kicker in video poker?
No. With a pair, hold only the pair.
Should I always bet max coins?
For the best return, yes, because the royal flush bonus only pays at five coins. Choose a smaller coin size if five coins doesn't fit your budget.
Can I beat Jacks or Better?
No strategy guarantees profit. Good strategy reduces the house edge to a very small amount, but every hand is still random.
Put the Chart to Work
Jacks or Better rewards players who learn a little strategy. Keep this chart handy, play at a comfortable coin size, and enjoy one of the best-value games in the lobby.
Players must be 21 or older. Please play responsibly.
