Video Poker Guide 2026
Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, strategy charts, and finding the best paytables
Video poker combines the skill of poker with the speed of slot machines, creating one of the most player-friendly games in any casino. Unlike slots where outcomes are purely random, video poker lets you make strategic decisions that directly affect your return. With optimal play, many video poker variants offer RTPs of 99% or higher — making them among the best bets in the casino. The most popular variant, Jacks or Better, returns 99.54% with perfect strategy. On a full-pay machine, the house edge is just 0.46%, comparable to blackjack with basic strategy.
🃏 Popular Video Poker Variants
Jacks or Better — The most common variant. You need at least a pair of Jacks to win. Full-pay (9/6) Jacks or Better offers 99.54% RTP. The '9/6' refers to the payout for a full house (9:1) and flush (6:1).
Deuces Wild — All twos (deuces) are wild cards, substituting for any other card. This makes winning hands much more frequent. Full-pay Deuces Wild offers 100.76% RTP — a positive expectation game with perfect strategy.
Double Bonus Poker — Higher payouts for four-of-a-kind hands, making it popular among experienced players. RTP ranges from 99.1% to 100.2% depending on the paytable.
Joker Poker — Also called Joker Wild, this variant adds a joker wild card to a 53-card deck. RTP can reach 100.6% on full-pay machines.
📊 Understanding Paytables
The most important skill in video poker is reading paytables. A 'full-pay' machine offers the best possible returns, while 'short-pay' machines reduce the RTP significantly. For Jacks or Better, always look for 9/6 (full house 9:1, flush 6:1). The most common short-pay version is 8/5 (8:1 full house, 5:1 flush), which drops the RTP to 97.3% — a 2.2% difference. For Deuces Wild, look for the full-pay 15/9/4 version (15:1 for five of a kind, 9:1 for straight flush, 4:1 for four of a kind).
🎯 Best Casinos for Video Poker
Finding good video poker online requires research. Many online casinos offer video poker but use short-pay tables. Jackpot City and Spin Casino both offer full-pay video poker variants. Browse our casino reviews to find platforms with the best video poker libraries and favourable paytables.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best video poker variant?
Full-pay Deuces Wild offers the highest theoretical RTP at 100.76%, but requires perfect strategy. Jacks or Better (9/6) at 99.54% is easier to learn.
What does 9/6 mean in video poker?
It refers to the payout for a full house (9:1) and flush (6:1). These two payouts have the biggest impact on the overall RTP.
Is video poker a game of skill?
Yes. Your card-holding decisions directly affect your return. With optimal strategy, you can achieve the maximum theoretical RTP for any variant.
Can you play video poker online?
Yes, most online casinos offer video poker. Look for full-pay machines and practice free versions before playing for real money.
Ready to Play?
Find the best video poker casinos with full-pay machines and exclusive bonuses.
Browse Casinos →