How do I learn video poker?

Start with the rules and hand rankings, learn 9/6 Jacks or Better strategy, then drill it in the trainer until your holds are automatic. Work the beginner path below in order.

What are the hardest video poker decisions?

The close calls between a made hand and a draw: high pair over a flush draw, breaking a flush for a royal, and a low pair over a four-card straight. Each has a decision page with the exact math.

Learn Video Poker

From your first hand to perfect play

A free path through video poker, built on an engine that grades every decision exactly. Follow it in order or jump to the hard calls.

Start here

How to play video poker

The rules, the draw, and how a hand actually works.

Hand rankings

Every paying hand, from a high pair to the royal flush.

Reading pay tables

Full-pay vs short-pay, and why the numbers decide your return.

Your first strategy

9/6 Jacks or Better, the game every player should master first.

Multi-hand video poker

Triple Play, Five Play, Ten Play: same holds, exact variance math.

Royal flush odds, for real

Not the deal-only myth. The actual hit frequency under optimal play.

Compare all 14 games

Return and variance side by side. Which games are steady, which are wild.

Risk of ruin, computed

What bankroll a real player edge actually requires. The numbers may surprise you.

How often you improve

Exact frequency of every paying hand, not just royals. Computed hand by hand.

The hard calls

The decisions that cost players the most, each with the exact expected value of both plays.

Four to a flush or a low pair?

Hold the four-card flush

Should you break a flush to draw to a royal?

Hold four to the royal

A high pair or a four-card flush?

Hold the high pair

A low pair or a four-card straight?

Hold the low pair

A high pair or three to a royal?

Hold the high pair

Do you hold a four-card inside straight?

Redraw — don’t hold it

Four to a straight flush or a high pair?

Hold four to the straight flush

Break a made straight to draw to a royal?

Hold four to the royal

With two pair, do you hold both pairs?

Hold both pairs

Three of a kind or a four-card flush?

Hold the three of a kind

Two suited high cards or a low pair?

Hold the low pair

JT suited or a single ace?

Hold the two to a royal

Prove it

Think you have it? Take a free certification exam at Beginner (20 hands), Intermediate (50), or Advanced (100), graded against exact optimal play, and earn a shareable certificate. Then keep sharp with the daily challenge.

Open the trainer →