Although the odds for any given hand may vary from game to game, in general the house edge for Video Poker games is fairly small. In some cases it might even be 0%. The Video Poker games gain their edge from players who do not follow the optimal strategy. If you just try to get through any particular game and do not have a clear understanding of Poker you are going lose money.

When it comes to designing the optimum player strategy or the odds, each Video Poker variation is unique. The following sections will provide a simple guide for the most popular games. A complete detailed strategy guide would take pages. Intelligent players can student well at Video Poker.

1. Jacks Or Better/Tens or Better Poker Strategy
Hold on to any hand that has already paid. There are some potential exceptions such as:

• Hold four card Royal Flushes so as to make Straights or Flushes.
• Hold four card straight flushes, that are inside or outside.
• Hold High card Pairs rank here.
• Hold Three card Royal Flushes.
• Hold Four card Flushes.
• Hold Low Pairs rank here, trying to build Three Of A Kind.
• Hold Four card Flushes.
• Hold Four card Straights. Hold inside Straights but only if you have three or more high cards (J, Q, K, A).

If you have nothing of any value, try this general strategy, in order of preference:

• Hold any two cards that are suited. Discard high cards that are unsuited.
• Hold Four mixed-suit high cards:
  -keep any three suited, throw away the unsuited.
  -otherwise, keep all of them.
• Hold Three unsuited high cards:
  -keep all three of K-Q-J.
  -when you have A-K-J or A-Q-J, throw away the A.
• Hold any two unsuited high cards.
• Hold any single high card.

When you are playing Tens or better then should follow the same strategy as for Jacks Or Better but now 10 is a high card.

2. Deuces Wild Video Poker Strategy
Here is the general strategy which includes, best options first:

• If you have any 5 Of A Kind or Royal Flush, hold them.
• Otherwise, if you have four two's: hold them.
• Otherwise, if you have three two's:
  -hold any that will make five Of A Kind or Royal Flush
  -otherwise, hold the two's and get rid of the rest.
• Otherwise, if you have 2 two's:
  -hold any that will make a Straight, Five Of A Kind or a Royal Flush.
  -hold any four of a Kind.
  -hold any four of a Royal Flush.
  -else, keep the two's and get rid of the rest.
• Otherwise, if you have a single 2, hold any made hand EXCEPT:
  -keep four-card Royal Flushes over made Straights, Flushes and Straight Flushes.
  -hold all types of four-card Straight Flushes.
  -keep three-card Royal Flushes .
  -pairs: when you have two pair, keep the one, but not both of them.
  -keep four-card Flushes.
  -keep four-card Straights.
  -keep three-card Straight Flushes, as well as gaps.
  -keep four-card inside Straights.
  -hold two-card Queen or Jack high Straight Flushes .
  -get rid of two-card Royal Flushes.
  -if you have reached this point of the list, throw away everything and try again.

There are players who will hesitate to throw away five cards, but this is a very important strategy. You want to allow yourself room for additional card(s) which might include a deuce(s). Holding on to that that ace or king is a bad idea if the next possible hand could be four or five sevens.

People who are used to playing Jacks or Better only will throw away a complete hand - 5 cards, about 3% of the time. Those who play Deuces Wild will throw away a complete hand practically 20% of the time. That’s nearly every fifth hand.

If you are offering the best possible return from the initial five cards that are dealt, you should hold inside straights. That means that 6, 8, 9, 10 hand is able to produce a 7 or wild card in this video poker version. The chances of hitting four deuces are one in 5000 hands – which offers a secondary jackpot. This secondary jackpot can keep you in the game or you can pocket some winnings.

3. Jokers Wild Video Poker Strategy
In this game only the King and Ace are high cards: this is a Kings or Better game.

General strategy:

• If you get a joker, hold on to it. On the average you will only see it once in 10 hands.
• If you decide not to hold the joker then you should keep three cards to a royal over a pair of aces or kings. This is on account of the higher. You might be able to catch another ace or king and yet be paid.
• You should not keep an inside Straight.
• If in have 3 consecutive cards toward a straight flush, for example, 6, 7, 8 of hearts, then you should discard the other cards even if you have a small pair, to get the higher payback. If they are not consecutive then keep the small pair.
• Straight Flushes pay well and will tend to occur more frequently than you would see in a game such as Jacks or Better

4. All American Video Poker Strategy
Since Straights and Flushes are good payouts in this game you should tip the usual strategy in their favor:

• Inside Straights should be preferred over one or two high cards.
• Four-card Straights and four-card Flushes should be preferred over pairs, even high pairs.
• If you have any three cards toward a Flush, hold them.

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