Best Paying Video Poker Games
| Updated: Look for High Returns and Low Variance
Video poker is one of the few casino games where skillful play can improve expected returns, but players must follow perfect strategy and seek out variations with favorable paytables to achieve the highest possible return. Identifying the most rewarding games can be challenging, as dozens of 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 theoretical returns. You should compare Return to Player (RTP) percentages and look for full-pay variations, as these generally provide the most favorable odds. The higher the return percentage of a given variant, the better it is for the player.
Variance is another important factor to consider when playing video poker for real money. It measures the swings you may experience while playing and can have a pronounced impact on the longevity of your bankroll. Playing games with high return percentages and low variance can help maximize your expected returns while limiting the impact of the house edge on your bankroll. Not sure where to start? Here are a few recommended video poker variations that offer some of the highest theoretical returns.
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How to Choose the Best Video Poker Game
If you want to maximize your expected return while playing video poker, you should learn to identify the games with the most favorable paytables. In other words, you should be able to distinguish between advantageous and disadvantageous video poker variations. To do 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 lists the payouts for all winning combinations in a given game. If you play Jacks or Better, you should 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, while a Flush should pay at odds of 6 to 1. These 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 consider the payouts for other winning combinations, as they can vary depending on the variation and casino. Short-pay versions of video poker offer lower expected returns, even if you follow optimal strategy. Over time, this reduced return can have a noticeable impact on your bankroll.
However, it should be noted that, in many cases, games offering lower payouts for certain winning combinations compensate for this 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 offers 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 factor to consider is whether the game uses wild cards or offers bonus payouts for specific hands. Variations with wild cards can be exciting because they allow you to form winning combinations more easily. They can also increase the frequency of winning hands. However, bear in mind that some variations have altered payouts to compensate for the higher player advantage created by wild cards.
Best-Paying Video Poker Games
You can choose from numerous video poker variations and identify those offering the most favorable odds. Every video poker game has its own subtleties, paytable, and winning combinations that you should consider before playing. A game’s paytable is crucial because it directly affects its long-term expected return. The following are some of the most popular variations with high payout percentages.
9/6 Jacks or Better
Jacks or Better is one of the most popular video poker variations, and many other variants are based on its rules. If you are a novice player, this is one of the best games to start with. As mentioned above, you should look for full-pay machines when searching for the best-paying video poker games, as they offer the most favorable paytables.
Full-pay Jacks or Better offers a theoretical return of 99.54%. It pays 250 coins for a Royal Flush with a one-coin bet. If you bet the maximum of five coins, the payout for this winning combination increases to 4,000 coins. A five-coin bet is required to receive this enhanced Royal Flush payout. However, Jacks or Better does not feature wild cards.
9/6 Double Double Bonus Poker
Double Double Bonus Poker is another variation with a favorable expected return of 98.98%. This version has gained popularity because of its enhanced payouts for certain Four of a Kind hands. The version described here also includes a bonus round that gives you the opportunity to double your winnings. The rules of the bonus round are straightforward, making the feature easy to understand.
This round becomes available after each winning combination. If you decide to play it, you will be required to select one of four cards dealt face down. A fifth card is exposed, and your goal is to pick a card of a higher denomination. If you win the bonus round, you can try to double your winnings again.
In this variation, the Royal Flush also pays an impressive 4,000 coins, provided you bet the maximum of five coins. This game also features several winning combinations involving Four of a Kind. For instance, four Aces can pay 800 coins when you wager five coins.
9/5 Deuces Wild
Deuces Wild is another video poker variant that offers high returns. Full-pay versions offer a positive expected return of 100.76% and feature wild cards. Both features work to the player’s advantage. The game has a different paytable, with Three of a Kind usually serving as the lowest-paying hand. The full-pay version also offers a bonus payout of 1,000 coins for four deuces at the highest betting level.
This variant also offers a Deuces Royal Flush that pays 125 coins when you bet the maximum number of coins. The most valuable winning combination remains the Natural Royal Flush, which pays 4,000 coins. With proper strategy, you can gain an advantage over the house when playing full-pay Deuces Wild.
Conclusion
Video poker has a lot to offer players who enjoy combining skill with chance. As one of the most widespread casino games, it is available in numerous variations at online casinos. Most variations differ in terms of their payouts and winning combinations. Some games have more favorable paytables and higher expected returns, while others offer significantly lower payout percentages. It is therefore best to review the paytable in advance and use the appropriate strategy for the game you choose.