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Game Rules & Tutorials
Intermediate
7 min read

Video Poker Strategy

By WinZity Editorial Team

Video poker has some of the best odds in the casino — full-pay versions can return 99.5%+ to perfect players. The catch: you have to know which cards to hold.

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Pick the right pay table

Look for '9/6 Jacks or Better' — full house pays 9, flush pays 6. This version has a 99.54% RTP. Lower pay tables (8/5, 7/5) cut the RTP significantly.

Hold priority order

When choosing what to keep, follow this rough priority:

  • Royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind — keep all five.
  • Full house, flush, straight — keep all five.
  • Three of a kind — keep the three, draw two.
  • Four cards to a flush or open-ended straight — keep them.
  • High pair (Jacks+) — keep the pair, draw three.
  • Low pair — usually keep, draw three.

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Always bet max coins

Royal flush payouts jump dramatically on a max-coin (5-coin) bet. Bet less and you're throwing away the biggest payout.

Use a strategy chart

There's a perfect chart for every video poker variant. Print one or pull it up on your phone — no shame, even pros use them.

Key takeaway

Find 9/6 Jacks or Better, bet max coins, follow a strategy chart, and you're playing one of the highest-RTP games in the casino.

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Play responsibly

Casino play should always be entertainment, never a way to make money. Visit our Responsible Gambling page if you ever feel out of control.

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