Strategy Charts
Complete hand ranking strategies for all major video poker variations. Learn the optimal decision for every possible hand combination based on mathematical analysis.
Welcome to Video Poker Optimal Play
Discover comprehensive strategy guides, pay table analysis, and mathematical insights to improve your video poker game. Learn the fundamentals of optimal play based on probability and expected value.
Understanding Video Poker Pay Tables
Video poker pay tables are the foundation of optimal play strategy. Each machine displays the credits you receive for different winning hands, ranging from a pair of jacks to a royal flush. Understanding these tables is essential because two machines with seemingly identical games can have dramatically different return percentages based solely on their pay structures.
Professional players analyze pay tables before playing to identify machines with favorable odds. A machine offering 9 credits for a full house and 6 credits for a flush is significantly better than one offering 8 and 5, respectively. This difference compounds over thousands of hands played, directly impacting your long-term results and expected value.
The most important rule in video poker is to always play the machine with the best pay table available. Even the most optimal strategy cannot overcome a poor pay table. Therefore, comparing available machines and selecting the most generous pay structure should be your first priority before any gameplay begins.
Return Percentages and Expected Value
Return to Player (RTP) or Return Percentage represents the theoretical percentage of all wagered money that a machine returns to players over an infinite period. Video poker machines typically offer return percentages between 95% and 99.5% when played with optimal strategy, significantly higher than most casino games.
Expected value is the average amount you expect to win or lose per hand played. When playing optimally on a machine with a 99% return percentage, you lose approximately 1% of your wager per hand. Understanding this concept helps establish realistic expectations and proper bankroll management strategies.
Different pay table variations produce different return percentages. Jacks or Better machines can range from 95% to 99.5% depending on the specific pay table. Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker, and Double Bonus variants each have their own optimal strategies and varying return percentages. Learning which machines offer the best returns in your area is fundamental to profitable video poker play.
Featured Resources
Game Variations
Explore different video poker games including Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker, and Double Bonus. Understand unique rules and optimal strategies for each variant.
Bankroll Management
Learn professional bankroll management techniques to minimize variance and maximize your ability to play optimally. Understand session planning and risk management strategies.
Responsible Gaming
Video poker is a form of entertainment that involves monetary risk. This website provides educational information about strategy and optimal play mathematics, not guarantees of winning. All gambling activities carry the risk of losing money.
Set strict limits on time and money spent gaming. Never gamble with money you cannot afford to lose. If you experience problems with gambling, seek help from professional organizations dedicated to problem gambling assistance.
Educational strategy content helps you make informed decisions and understand probability, but no strategy guarantees success. Variance is a natural part of gaming, and short-term results may differ significantly from theoretical long-term expectations.
Why Learn Optimal Video Poker Strategy?
Video poker is unique among casino games because player decisions directly impact the mathematical outcome. Unlike slots where results are purely random, or blackjack where basic strategy reduces house edge, video poker rewards players who understand hand rankings, pay table analysis, and strategic card selection.
By learning optimal play strategies, you can achieve return percentages approaching 99.5% on the best machines. This positions video poker among the most favorable games available in casinos. The difference between optimal and poor strategy can amount to hundreds of dollars per thousand hands played.
Our comprehensive guides provide the mathematical foundation needed to play competently and understand the reasoning behind every strategic decision. Whether you play recreationally or seriously, understanding video poker strategy enhances both your results and your appreciation for the game's strategic depth.