In this game guide, you'll find all information about the video poker game of Jacks or Better. Learn to play Jacks or Better, and find out which the most efficient winning strategy is even today.
How to Play Jacks or Better
In Jacks or Better video poker, you'll be playing against the video poker machine, or video poker software, if you play online. Before beginning to play, you must decide what amount of coins or money you wish to invest into a round. The bigger the coin amount, the better will be the payout.
After you've selected the amount of money you wish to play with, the action starts with the casino giving you 5 video poker cards. Your task will be to decide which cards to keep and which cards to discard. After this is finished, the next turn begins with the casino exchanging your discarded cards with new ones.
You win in Jacks or Better if you final hand contains a winning card combination. The difference between Jacks or Better and other video poker variants is, that in this version, you'll also win if you find a pair of Jacks.
Remember: If you are a newcomer to video poker, then Jacks or Better is your game. It not only offers you better winning chances, it's also simple and easy to understand.
Jacks or Better Winning Card Combinations
One of the most crucial things to remember when playing Jacks or Better are the winning card combinations. Even thou the casino always has them shown on the pay-table, it's still essential to remember them because based on these are the ones you have to base your decisions on. The winning hands in Jacks or Better are the following:
- Royal Flush - Cards A, K, Q, J, and 10, all of the same type.
- Straight Flush - These are five cards in a sequence and of the same type. Ex: Q, J, 10, 9, 8 of Spades.
- Four of a kind - A card combination of four cards of the same value.
- Full House - Three cards of the same type and a pair. Flush - Five cards of the same type.
- Straight - Five cards that are in sequence.
- Three of a kind - Three cards that have the same value.
- Two pair - Two cards that have the same value, and another two cards that have the same value, but another value than the first two.
- Jacks or Better - Two cards jacks, queens, kings or aces.
Jacks or Better Tips
Like in any other video poker variant, in Jacks or Better you have to decide what amount of money you wish to invest into each round. The rule is that if you invest a small amount of money, you'll probably play more games than usual and have better winning chances. On the other hand, if you invest the maximum allowed amount, the payout rates will be much bigger than the usual.
Advice: Only invest the maximum allowed amount of money into a video poker round when you're already an experienced player, or aren't afraid to lose your cash.
Understanding the odds of each Jacks or Better winning card combinations is also a must, since otherwise you wouldn't be able to take the correct decision. Check the table below:
| Card Combination | Odds | Probability | Payout |
| Royal Flush | 1 in 40,390 | 0.0024% | 4,000 |
| Straight Flush | 1 in 9,148 | 0.01% | 250 |
| Four of a kind | 1 in 423 | 0.23% | 125 |
| Full House | 1 in 86 | 1.16% | 45 |
| Flush | 1 in 90 | 1.11% | 30 |
| Straight | 1 in 89 | 1.12% | 20 |
| Three of a kind | 1 in 13 | 7.69% | 15 |
| Two pair | 1 in 7 | 14.28% | 10 |
| Jacks or better | 1 in 4 | 25% | 5 |
In the table above, the winning are calculated taking in consideration that the player inserted 5 coins (or any other currency), which is typically also the maximum allowed one.
If you want to learn more about Jacks or Better and video poker, then we recommend you to read out additional video poker game guides, as well. Good luck playing!