Best Paying Video Poker Games
| Updated: Look for High Returns and Low Variance
Video poker is one of the few beatable games on the casino floor, but players must follow perfect strategy and seek out variations with favorable paytables to become consistent winners. Identifying the most lucrative games is no picnic, as dozens of different variations have emerged over the years, each with a distinct paytable and payback percentage. The best video poker games are those that offer the highest returns. You must check and compare Return to Player (RTP) percentages and look for full-pay variations, as these give you the best odds of winning. The higher the return percentage of a given variant, the better it is for the player.
Variance is another important aspect to consider when playing video poker for real money. It is a measure of the swings you will experience while playing the game, and it has a pronounced impact on the longevity of your bankroll. Playing games with high return percentages and low variance is the surest way to maximize your profits and limit the impact of the house edge on your bankroll. Don’t know where to start? Here are a few recommended video poker variations that give you the best odds of winning.
How to Choose the Best Video Poker Game
If you want to maximize your winnings while playing video poker, you should learn to identify the most profitable games. In other words, you should be able to distinguish between advantageous and disadvantageous video poker variations. To achieve this, you must analyze the features and paytables of each game. Several factors can help you determine whether a given video poker variation is worth playing.
The paytable is one of the most important aspects to consider, as it contains the payouts for all winning combinations in a given game. If you play Jacks or Better, you must check the payouts for a Full House and a Flush. In Jacks or Better, a Full House should pay at odds of 9 to 1, and a Flush should pay at odds of 6 to 1. Such variations are considered “full-pay” versions of Jacks or Better and are highly advantageous to players, as they yield an expected return of 99.54% with optimal strategy.
You should also take into account other winning combinations, as they can vary depending on which variation you play and where you play. If you choose short-pay variations of video poker, you will inevitably end up losing more money even if you follow optimal strategy. This will result in an unpleasant gaming experience overall and will most likely cause you to quit.
However, it should be noted that in most cases, games that offer lower payouts for certain winning combinations usually compensate for it by increasing the payouts for other hands. In Deuces Wild, for example, a Full House pays 15 coins instead of the more common 45, but the game also allows for additional winning combinations, such as Four of a Kind with deuces, which pays 1,000 coins at the highest betting level when five coins are in play.
Another important thing to consider is whether the game uses wild cards or offers bonus payouts for specific hands. Variations with wild cards are very exciting, as they give you the chance to form winning combinations more easily. Thanks to them, you can significantly improve your game and win more frequently. However, bear in mind that some variations have altered payouts to compensate for the higher player advantage resulting from the wild cards.
Best Paying Video Poker Games
Nowadays, you can choose from multiple video poker variations and easily pick those that offer you the best odds. Every video poker game has its subtleties, a unique paytable, and winning combinations that you should consider beforehand. The paytable a particular game offers is crucial, as it directly impacts the amount of money you will win on average in the long term. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular variations that offer high payout percentages, so that the next time you want to play video poker, you know what to look for.
9/6 Jacks or Better
Jacks or Better is easily the most popular video poker variation out there, and other variants mostly borrow their rules from this game. If you are a novice player, it is best to start with this game. As already mentioned, if you want to find the best-paying video poker variant, you should look for full-pay machines, as they offer the most beneficial paytables.
Full-pay Jacks or Better offers a theoretical return of 99.54%. It pays out 250 to 1 for a Royal Flush at the lowest betting level with one coin. If you bet the maximum of five coins, the payout for this winning combination jumps to 4,000 coins. Because of this, it is advisable to always bet the maximum number of coins. However, Jacks or Better features no wild cards.
9/6 Double Double Bonus Poker
Double Double Bonus Poker is another variation with an extremely favorable expected return of 98.98%. This version has gained popularity because it offers payouts worth playing for. Another great thing about this variation is that it features a bonus round that can boost your excitement significantly. Additionally, you have the opportunity to double your profits. The rules of the bonus round are very straightforward, which makes this option even more enticing.
This round becomes available after each winning combination you land. Should you decide to give it a try, you will be required to select one of four cards dealt face down. The fifth card is exposed. Your goal is to pick a card of a higher denomination than the exposed card. If you win this bonus round, you can try to double your profit once again and accumulate even more winnings.
In this variation, the Royal Flush also pays out an impressive 4,000 coins, provided you bet the maximum of five coins. This game also features various winning combinations that involve Four of a Kind. For instance, if you manage to collect four Aces, you will be paid 800 coins. However, bear in mind that to win this amount, you should wager five coins.
9/5 Deuces Wild
Deuces Wild is another great variant of video poker that offers high returns. Full-pay versions offer a positive expected return of 100.76% and feature wild cards. Both of these features work to the player’s advantage. The game offers a slightly different paytable, as the lowest-paying hand is usually a Three of a Kind. The full-pay version also offers a bonus payout of 1,000 coins for four deuces at the highest bet level.
This variant also offers a Deuces Royal Flush that pays 125 coins when you bet the maximum number of coins. Of course, the most profitable winning combination remains the Natural Royal Flush. If you manage to collect it, you will be rewarded with 4,000 coins. With proper strategy, you have an advantage over the house when you play full-pay Deuces Wild.
Conclusion
Video poker undoubtedly has a lot to offer. It gives you the chance to put your skills to the test and try your luck while having fun. Since it is one of the most widespread games, it has a number of exciting variations across online casinos. Most variations differ from one another in terms of payouts and winning combinations. Some games have more beneficial paytables that allow you to make a profit, whereas others reduce your winning chances significantly. Thus, it is best to review the paytable in advance to ensure the game you are about to play is advantageous for you.