Video Poker Basic Strategy
| Updated: Improve Your Odds with Basic Video Poker Strategy
If you have been reading the articles in our guide methodically, you have certainly learned the basics by now, including the rules, betting structure, and the characteristics of popular variations like Jacks or Better. It is time to take your game to the next level by mastering basic video poker strategy. Learning the correct strategy for your chosen video poker variant will enable you to further reduce the house edge, improve your odds, and become a consistent winner.
The strategy covered in this article is easy to memorize and apply in a real casino environment. Its straightforward nature makes it suitable for novice players who want to elevate their video poker game. It shows you which cards from your starting hand to keep and which to discard, thereby improving your chances of earning a payout. Armed with this knowledge, you can beat the game and become a long-term winner.
Once you master basic strategy, you can build on it by learning the intermediate and advanced strategies outlined in this guide. Keep in mind, however, that this basic strategy is intended primarily for Jacks or Better and similar variations that share its payout structure. Strategy adjustments will be necessary for variants with wild cards or bonus payouts for specific hands.
Basic Strategy Overview
Basic strategy is commonly implemented by less experienced video poker players. It works well and has proven highly efficient and reliable. Its simplicity makes it the perfect fit for video poker novices. Basic strategy is now more accessible than ever, as you will encounter it in chart format on numerous gambling-focused websites. In brief, this strategy shows players the optimal moves to make depending on the composition of their starting hands. It relies on easy-to-grasp rules and principles. It is also worth mentioning that basic strategy charts vary, depending on the video poker variation they are designed for.
How the Basic Strategy Works
The most important decision a video poker player must make is which cards to hold and which ones to replace. Basic strategy serves as a guide since it suggests the optimal moves in every possible situation. Players always receive five cards on the initial draw, regardless of the variation they have chosen. They then have the option to replace all five cards or none at all. These decisions can be difficult to make without basic strategy because of the huge number of possible five-card combinations in video poker. In fact, there are nearly 2.6 million possible five-card combinations in a single 52-card deck.
Unless players are dealt the strongest hand, the Royal Flush, they must discard at least one card. This rule inevitably raises the question of which cards you should hold and which to replace. This is where basic strategy comes into play. Let’s elaborate by looking at some fundamentals players should remember.
| Video Poker Basic Strategy | |
|---|---|
| Players’ Hand | Draw |
| 4 card RoyalAKQJ5 | 1 |
| 3 card RoyalAKQ27 | 2 |
| 2 card Royal (with a 10)10A528 | 3 |
| 2 card Royal (without a 10)AK278 | 3 |
| 4 card FlushA3795 | 1 |
| 1 high cardA5279 | 4 |
| 2 high cardsKQ258 | 3 |
| 3 high cards (J,Q,K)AJ1027 | 2 |
| Three of a KindKKK72 | 2 |
| Any 4 card Straight Flush6789K | 1 |
| Any 3 card Straight Flush89102A | 2 |
| 4 card Straight5678Q | 1 |
| Two PairJJ33K | 1 |
| Low Pair77285 | 3 |
| High Pair (Jacks or Better)JJ267 | 3 |
| No valuable cards25789 | 5 |
First of all, there are certain cards or combinations of cards that players should always keep. One of the most important rules of basic strategy is to keep cards that could result in a winning combination after the second draw. In many video poker variations, you need a pair of Jacks or better to earn a payout, although a pair of tens will also do the trick in some games. High cards are usually kept because they return your original wager if they pair up. However, there are cases when replacing high cards proves beneficial, for instance, when you are a single card away from a Royal Flush. In such situations, it is a good idea to discard the card that does not belong to the combination and aim for at least a Flush. The odds are against you, and in most cases you will lose. Nevertheless, the risk might be worth taking, as you could secure a larger payout if luck is on your side.
Secondly, players should hold high cards in most cases. Four of a Kind, Straight Flush, Full House, Royal Flush, and Two Pair are among the card combinations that are always held. If players obtain Three of a Kind, they should replace the two remaining cards to try to improve to a Full House or Four of a Kind. If they are dealt a hand with no winning combinations whatsoever, it is best to keep the high card, if they have one, as this could potentially result in at least a high pair. Players usually keep high cards because they have a 1/13 chance of getting a matching high card to form a low-paying winning combination. In some variations, however, it is better to hold a low pair rather than a single high card.
Another point to remember is that replacing all cards in your initial hand should be a last resort. The rule of thumb dictates that whenever players have a card that can lead to a winning combination, they should always keep it. For instance, three cards that can turn into a Straight, two sequential cards, or any cards of the same denomination or suit are always held.
Last but not least, whenever players have a card that could contribute to a Straight, they should keep it because the payouts for this winning combination are higher. However, the odds of completing a Straight are not high enough to justify chasing it every time, and in some cases, it is best to keep a pair instead of going for the Straight. Players should break a Straight only if they have four cards to a Royal Flush.
Another important factor is the difference between an outside (open-ended) and an inside (gutshot) Straight draw. An outside Straight is “open-ended” because it consists of four consecutive cards and can be completed by a card on either end. For example, a hand that contains 4, 5, 6, and 7 is open-ended because it can be completed by drawing either a 3 or an 8. Conversely, inside Straights contain four non-consecutive cards that require an “inside” card to complete the hand. For example, a hand consisting of 4, 5, 7, and 8 is an inside Straight because only one card denomination, the 6, can complete it. Outside Straights are easier to complete and are therefore worth keeping.
Conclusion
Basic strategy is the simplest approach video poker players can master to improve their game. It increases your advantage and helps you win more in the long term. The strategy is fairly easy to memorize, which makes it suitable for players across the board, regardless of experience level. Nowadays, players can find video poker in most land-based and online casinos, making it extremely easy to practice and refine their strategy. Most online casinos also offer demo versions of their video poker games, allowing you to hone your skills without risking any real money.