Video Poker Basic Strategy
| Updated: Improve Your Odds with Basic Video Poker Strategy
If you have been reading the articles in our guide in order, you should now understand the basics, including the rules, betting structure, and characteristics of popular variations such as 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 can help you reduce the house edge, improve your odds, and make better playing decisions.
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 improve their video poker game. It shows you which cards from your starting hand to keep and which to discard, improving your chances of earning a payout. Armed with this knowledge, you can make more informed decisions and improve your long-term results.
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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 are necessary for variants with wild cards or bonus payouts for specific hands.
Basic Strategy Overview
Basic strategy is commonly used by less experienced video poker players. Its simplicity makes it a good fit for video poker novices. Basic strategy is now more accessible than ever, as you can find it in chart format on numerous gambling-focused websites. In brief, this strategy shows players the optimal moves to make based on the composition of their starting hands. It relies on easy-to-understand rules and principles. It is also worth mentioning that basic strategy charts vary depending on the video poker variation for which they are designed.
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 by suggesting the optimal move for each 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 keep them all. These decisions can be difficult to make without basic strategy because of the large 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.
When players are dealt a completed premium hand, such as a Royal Flush, they should keep all five cards. With incomplete hands, they must decide which cards to hold and which to replace. This is where basic strategy comes into play. Let’s take a closer look at some fundamentals players should remember.
| Video Poker Basic Strategy | |
|---|---|
| Player’s Hand | Cards to 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-card RoyalAJ1027 | 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, 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 qualify in some games. High cards are usually kept because they can form a qualifying pair. However, there are cases in which replacing a high card is beneficial, such as when you are one card away from a Royal Flush. In this situation, it is generally best to discard the card that does not belong to the combination and draw one replacement card. Although completing the Royal Flush is unlikely, the potential payout can make this the preferred strategic play.
Second, players should hold high cards in many situations. Four of a Kind, Straight Flush, Full House, Royal Flush, and Two Pair are among the card combinations that are 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 combination, it is often best to keep a high card, if they have one, because it could result in at least a high pair. In some variations, however, it is better to hold a low pair than a single high card.
Another point to remember is that replacing all the cards in your initial hand should be a last resort. As a general rule, players should keep cards that have meaningful potential to form a winning combination. However, not every partial combination should be held. Players should consult the appropriate strategy chart when comparing options such as Straight draws, suited cards, pairs, and high cards.
Finally, Straight draws can be worth keeping because this winning combination offers a higher payout than a pair. However, the odds of completing a Straight do not justify chasing one in every situation. In some cases, it is better to keep a pair instead of going for the Straight. Players should break a completed 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 containing 4, 5, 6, and 7 is open-ended because it can be completed by drawing either a 3 or an 8. Conversely, inside Straight draws contain four nonconsecutive 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 draw because only one card denomination, the 6, can complete it. Outside Straights are easier to complete and are therefore more valuable.
Conclusion
Basic strategy is the simplest approach video poker players can master to improve their game. When applied correctly, it can reduce the house edge and improve your long-term results, although it does not guarantee a profit. The strategy is fairly easy to memorize, making it suitable for players with different levels of experience. Players can find video poker in many land-based and online casinos, making it easy to practice and refine their strategy. Many online casinos also offer demo versions of their video poker games, allowing you to hone your skills without risking any real money.