Video Poker Strategy

Video Poker Strategy Charts: Every Game, Exact Play

The correct hold for every hand, ranked by expected value and computed by an engine validated against all 2,598,960 five-card hands. Free, with a trainer to drill it.

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Strategy charts by game

9/6 Jacks or Better
99.54% return
The reference game. Master it first.
8/5 Bonus Poker
99.17% return
Jacks or Better with bigger quads.
10/7 Double Bonus
100.17% return
A rare positive-return game.
9/6 Double Double Bonus
98.98% return
The high-variance aces game.
Full-Pay Deuces Wild
100.76% return
Wild cards, player edge, its own strategy.
Full-Pay Joker Poker
100.65% return
One wild joker. Never discard it.
Aces and Eights
99.78% return
Highest non-wild return here. Bonus quads on aces, 8s, 7s.
Super Double Bonus
99.69% return
Four quad tiers, boosted straight flush.
Bonus Poker Deluxe
99.64% return
Flat 80-coin quads, easiest bonus game to learn.
Triple Double Bonus
99.58% return
Kicker bonus pays like a royal. High volatility.
All American
99.60% return
Straight, flush, full house all pay the same.
9/5 Jacks or Better
98.45% return
The common short pay: what it costs.
8/5 Jacks or Better
97.30% return
The double cut. Strategy tested.
9/5 Double Double Bonus
97.87% return
The short pay that flips a play.

Choosing a game and pay table

Two machines running the same game can return very different amounts depending on the pay table printed on the glass. Before you play, learn to read the pay table and check which games return the most on our best games page. Then use the strategy page that matches your exact machine.

Master the hard calls

Once you know the order, the decision pages settle the close calls that cost players the most: a high pair over a flush draw, breaking a flush for a royal, and more, each with the exact math.