Video Poker Variations
| Updated: 6 Popular Video Poker Variations to Try Online
When video poker debuted in land-based casinos in the 1970s, it was available in a single variation that borrowed its rules from five-card draw. A lot has changed since those early days, and today there are numerous variations of the game, each with a distinctive paytable and hand rankings. It is important to distinguish among the different varieties of this popular casino game because each variation calls for a unique strategy.
Jacks or Better is easily the most popular variant players will encounter online, but there are plenty of options for those seeking a different gaming experience. Some variations, such as Deuces Wild and Joker Poker, use wild cards that improve your chances of forming winning hands. Others, such as Double Bonus Poker, offer extra payouts for specific card combinations.
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Some variations are linked to progressive jackpot networks, giving players the opportunity to win life-changing prizes that were previously associated primarily with slot games. This article provides information about six of the most popular video poker variations available online. Readers will learn about their most distinctive features, paytables, hand rankings, and long-term payout percentages. This information can help them identify the video poker varieties that best suit their bankrolls and individual playing styles.
Jacks or Better
Jacks or Better, also known as Draw Poker, is the most widespread variation of video poker and has gained popularity among players thanks to its simplicity and straightforward gameplay. Its simple rules and betting structure make the game suitable for video poker novices. Jacks or Better also laid the foundation for the variations that subsequently emerged. Regarded as the first video poker game in history, it appeared in the mid-1970s. It is dealt from a standard 52-card deck, and, as its name suggests, the lowest winning combination is a pair of Jacks or better. The odds of receiving a paying hand are relatively high, which also contributes to the game’s popularity.
This variant is highly favorable for players, especially in its full-pay version, known as “9/6 Jacks or Better,” which offers the best odds of winning and the potential to earn a long-term profit. Jacks or Better has one of the lowest house edges available, as it gives the casino a statistical advantage of only 0.46%. Accordingly, the long-term expected return is 99.54%, provided that players use the correct strategy and bet the maximum number of coins in each round.
| Jacks or Better Pay Table | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coins | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Royal Flush | 250 | 500 | 750 | 1000 | 4000 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 |
| Four of a Kind | 25 | 50 | 75 | 100 | 125 |
| Full House | 9 | 18 | 27 | 36 | 45 |
| Flush | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 |
| Straight | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Deuces Wild
Deuces Wild is another widespread video poker variation commonly available at online casinos. It takes its name from the colloquial term “deuce,” which refers to a card with a rank of two. All deuces are wild in this variation and can substitute for other cards, helping you complete more winning combinations. For instance, if you have two Aces and a deuce, the deuce counts as a third Ace, giving you the game’s lowest-paying combination, Three of a Kind. The game is played with a standard 52-card deck, with all four deuces designated as wild.
There are many variations of Deuces Wild, but the full-pay version is the most popular, as it offers a positive expected return of 100.76%. It is among the most sought-after variants because it can be both exciting and profitable. However, earning a long-term profit is possible only if you apply a reliable strategy and manage your funds adequately.
There is also a difference between wild cards in video poker and those in standard poker. In video poker, the payout for “unnatural” hands, or winning combinations completed with the help of wild cards, is lower. For example, a Royal Flush formed without wild cards pays 4000 coins, whereas the same winning combination completed with wild cards pays only 125 coins. Full-pay Deuces Wild gives players excellent chances of winning and profiting in the long term, but only if they follow a reliable strategy.
| Deuces Wild Pay Table | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coins | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Natural Royal Flush | 250 | 500 | 750 | 1000 | 4000 |
| 4 Deuces | 200 | 400 | 600 | 800 | 1000 |
| Deuces Royal Flush | 25 | 50 | 75 | 100 | 125 |
| Five of a Kind | 16 | 32 | 48 | 64 | 80 |
| Straight Flush | 13 | 26 | 39 | 52 | 65 |
| Four of a Kind | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
| Full House | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
| Flush | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Straight | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Three of a Kind | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Double Bonus
Double Bonus is another popular video poker variation. The lowest winning hand is a pair of Jacks or better, and the game uses a standard 52-card deck. This variation offers bonus payouts for several Four of a Kind combinations. A hand containing four Aces pays 800 coins at the highest betting level when five coins are in play. Players who collect four 2s, 3s, or 4s receive 400 coins, while four 5s through Kings pay 250 coins. The expected return is positive at 100.17%, provided that players choose 10/7 Double Bonus Poker and bet the maximum number of coins. Players must also follow the correct strategy for Double Bonus Poker to achieve this return over the long term.
Aces and Eights
Aces and Eights is a video poker variation that is nearly identical to Jacks or Better, except for the higher payouts for Four of a Kind hands containing Aces or Eights. The bonus payout for these winning combinations is usually 400 coins, whereas the standard payout for Four of a Kind is only 125 coins. Full-pay variants of Aces and Eights offer an expected return of 99.78%, provided that the maximum number of coins is in play and you follow the correct strategy.
Although its basic rules and gameplay are similar to those of Jacks or Better, Aces and Eights has a slightly higher payout percentage. Different versions come with different paytables, so make sure you double-check the payouts before betting real money. The best variation available is 25/8 Aces and Eights, which yields the highest possible expected return. It pays 25-to-1 for a Four of a Kind and 8-to-1 for a Full House. This full-pay version gives players better chances of winning because it has a lower house edge.
Joker Wild
Joker Wild, also known as Joker Poker, is one of the few video poker variations that uses a 53-card deck. The deck includes a joker that serves as a wild card, substituting for other cards and helping players complete more winning combinations. This makes it easier to form strong hands, so the payouts for certain card combinations are lower. In most cases, the lowest winning hand is a pair of Kings, two pairs, or a pair of Aces, depending on the version being played.
Some versions of Joker Wild offer enhanced payouts for Five of a Kind. The payout differs from one variation to another, but in most cases it is either 500 or 1,000 coins. The game has three versions: Kings or Better, Two Pairs or Better, and Aces or Better. These names correspond to the lowest winning combination in each variation. Kings or Better is the best of the three versions because it provides the highest payout percentage.
Tens or Better
Tens or Better is a popular video poker variation that closely resembles Jacks or Better. However, it offers lower payouts than Jacks or Better. The weakest winning hand is a pair of Tens, while the payouts for a Full House and a Flush are also lower.
The highest winning combination remains the Royal Flush, as in the other video poker variations. Tens or Better offers an expected return of 99.13%, provided that players bet the maximum number of coins and use a reliable strategy. Most versions include a Gamble feature that allows players to try to double their winnings after each winning combination. Using this feature is optional.
| Tens or Better Pay Table | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coins | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Royal Flush | 500 | 1000 | 2000 | 3000 | 4000 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 |
| Four of a Kind | 25 | 50 | 75 | 100 | 125 |
| Full House | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 |
| Flush | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 |
| Straight | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
| Two Pairs | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Tens or Better | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Conclusion
Video poker is one of the most exciting casino games because it combines chance with skill. Video poker enthusiasts can enjoy Deuces Wild, Joker Wild, Double Bonus Poker, Aces and Eights, and other variations to diversify their gaming experience.
Some variations offer special bonus payouts, while others feature wild cards that help players form winning combinations more easily. Players can experiment with different variations to find those that best suit their personal preferences. Before playing, however, it is advisable to double-check the rules and paytable to make sure the game is sufficiently favorable.