'Jacks or Better,' sometimes simply called 'Draw Poker,' is the most common variation of video poker. Payoffs begin at a pair of jacks. Full pay Jacks or Better is also known as 9/6 Jacks or Better since the payoff for a full house is 9 times the bet, and the payoff for a flush is 6 times the bet. Jacks or Better Video Poker Pay Tables and Odds As mentioned before, Jacks or Better is one of the few video poker games where you can find the full pay version. This is called 9 / 6 Jacks or Better, because. Video poker can pay out well if you know how to play the game properly. That's why so many players like to master a single version of video poker, like 'Bonus Poker' and 'Jacks or Better' rather than playing them all. During this time, the game also became popular in casinos as a real money game.

1. Free Jacks Or Better Poker
2. Jacks Or Better Online Poker

Video poker games are an integral part of every US casino, both online and land-based.

If you want to find quality casino sites where you can play some of the best video poker games online, you’ve landed on the right page. Apart from identifying top casino websites in the US, this article will also discuss how real money video poker works, what to look for when choosing a casino, how to play free video poker and which bonuses to use when playing.

If you don’t have a lot of experience playing online video poker, you should pay close attention to our tips and strategies section. In it, we will teach you how to minimize your risks and improve your chances of winning big.

Best online casinos with video poker

Playing real money video poker online

Since video poker machines are single-player electronic games, it’s no wonder that their transition to the online world was rather smooth. There are no major differences between land-based and online video poker, at least not when it comes to different game variants and rules.

However, playing video poker online has the upper hand because of two things — convenience and bonuses. Namely, instead of traveling to a local casino, you can simply log in to your online casino account and play video poker online with real money from your home. Furthermore, unlike land-based casinos, online gambling sites award bonuses to both new and existing players, and these bonuses are usually compatible with the casino’s selection of video poker games.

Free video poker vs. real money video poker

Most real money casinos will allow you to test their video poker games for free. Still, you might be wondering what’s so interesting about playing a gambling game where you have no chance of winning money. Well, playing video poker for free actually has plenty of benefits. Here are the main advantages of playing free video poker:

Benefits of playing free video poker

• If you’re new to video poker, trying it for free gives you a chance to see whether you like the game or not before risking your own money.
• Video poker is a game of skill, which makes it fun even when there’s no money involved.
• Playing free video poker allows you to practice and improve your strategy with no risk.

While free video poker has its set of advantages, it can get pretty monotonous after a while. When that happens, you should consider starting to play it for real money.

Benefits of playing real money video poker

• Real money video poker is ultimately more exciting than the free version of the game.
• You will have a chance to make a profit, potentially winning massive jackpots.
• Video poker games have a range of betting limits, suitable for small-time gamblers and high-rollers.

How online casino bonuses work with video poker

US online casinos offer several types of bonuses, many of which are compatible with the casinos’ range of video poker games.

For example, if the casino offers a 100% deposit match bonus up to $500 and you deposit $200 into your newly-created account, you will get an additional $200 to play with. Of course, this bonus won’t be withdrawable right away. Instead, you will have to complete the wagering requirements first, which mean playthroughs of anywhere between 10x and 30x.

However, video slots are usually the only full contributors to that requirement. Since video poker games have a relatively low house edge, the casinos will make it more difficult for you to clear the bonus by playing them. In most cases, the wagering contribution for video poker games is around 10% to 20%, which is why it will take more time for you to request a withdrawal.

Let’s say the casino of your choice has placed a 30x wagering requirement with a 10% wagering contribution on your $200 bonus. That means that you would have to wager a total of $60,000 (200x30x10) to clear the bonus’ wagering requirements and withdraw your winnings.

It seems like a lot, we know, but this is just an example. You can find many online casinos that offer bonuses that are easier to clear. So, when choosing bonuses with video poker in mind, look for the lowest possible wagering requirements and highest potential wagering contribution, as this will give you a realistic chance to turn your bonus into withdrawable cash.

You should also pay attention to other terms and conditions, including minimum deposit limit, maximum withdrawal limit, potential payment method restrictions and expiration date.

Earning comp points with video poker

Online casinos feature VIP programs with loyalty benefits. VIP rewards include cash back, free spins and higher banking limits. Most active casinos tie in their loyalty programs with their brick-and-mortar locations. For example, you can use PlaySugarHouse loyalty points at Pittsburgh’s Rivers Casino.

Do you need a promo code?

Some online gambling sites will ask you for a promo code or bonus code to qualify for either bonus. Be sure to use our codes to get the best deals. You must enter a promo code during the registration process so that you qualify for the casino’s welcome bonus.

Depending upon the site, you may need to enter a code whenever you deposit. This process qualifies you for reload deposit bonuses.

List of video poker games you can play for free

Game King currently holds the monopoly for online video poker. It supplies video poker variations to each active casino. You can see which variations are most likely to be available at video poker casinos below:

Free to play video poker games

Video poker casino apps

Video poker games have an ideal layout for mobile screens, which is why all the modern versions are compatible with the latest mobile devices.

You can play video poker on mobile in two ways — you can either log in to a casino account on your mobile browser or download the casino’s official app. Apps are ultimately better than mobile sites, as they provide a better user experience. However, to download and install an app, you will need to be located in one of the states where online gambling is regulated or use an app from a sweepstakes casino.

To download an app, simply go to the casino site you want to use on your mobile device and follow the prompts to get the app from there. Once you have downloaded and installed the app, open it up and log in or create an account to start playing.

Note that not all US casinos have apps. In such cases, you will have to resort to their mobile websites.

Legal casinos with video poker

Legal online video poker is available in those states that have legalized online gambling, such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan and a few others.

If you live in one of the states that has not yet legalized online gambling, you likely can still play video poker online at a sweepstakes casino. In any case, here is a list of top online casinos that operate in the states where online video poker is legal and regulated.

NJ video poker sites

New Jersey was one of the first states to legalize almost every form of online gambling, so it’s no wonder that some of the best US casinos offer their services to NJ residents.

One of the most popular options in the state is DraftKings, which is primarily a daily fantasy sports and sports betting site. Still, it does have its share of online casino games. DraftKings has several video poker games, the most notable being Jacks or Better, Double Double Bonus Poker and Game King Video Poker.

DraftKings’ welcome offer consists of a 100% deposit match bonus up to $1,500 and a $45 no deposit bonus, which is awarded instantly upon signing up. Other great options for NJ players include Betfair and BetMGM, both of which feature several quality video poker games and offer rewarding bonuses to their first-time customers.

PA video poker sites

Pennsylvania is another gambling-friendly state where you can join several reputable online casinos and try their range of video poker games. The residents of Pennsylvania also have DraftKings Casino at their disposal, along with FanDuel and BetMGM.

BetMGM offers a fantastic deal to new players, matching them up to $1,000 on first deposit and giving $25 as a join bonus.

WV video poker sites

Players from West Virginia can enjoy many of the same online casinos with the same range of video poker games as their fellow players from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The two most popular options are BetMGM and DraftKings, where you can pick up a 100% deposit bonus and a no deposit bonus.

Michigan video poker sites

Michigan is one of the more recent states to legalize online gambling. Up until late 2020, Michigan players didn’t have that many options when it came to playing online video poker games. Now, though, they can enjoy top-shelf games on sites like BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, Hollywood Casino and Golden Nugget.

Sweepstakes casinos

Sweepstakes casinos, meanwhile, are an option for people who want to play quality video poker games but are located in a state where online gambling remains illegal. The best sweepstakes casinos we can recommend are LuckyLand, Chumba and Funzpoints.

How to play video poker online

You can play video poker within a few steps, even if you’ve never played online before. The following steps will help you get started as quickly as possible.

Step 1: Choose a quality video poker casino

First, you want to research the online casinos to help you choose a quality gaming site. Legal and safe US casinos are licensed and regulated by the state. This includes the New Jersey Division and Gaming Enforcement and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB).

You can use our review to figure out which casinos you prefer.

When looking through our review or doing your research, you should keep the following factors in mind:

• Reputation: You should consider the brand’s reputation before depositing your money.
• GameSelection: Game variety, especially in the video poker department, is vital to your entertainment.
• Bonuses: You want opportunities to make extra money through bonuses and VIP rewards.
• WebsiteNavigation: Any quality US casino will offer simple website navigation.
• CustomerSupport: You want to interact with a friendly support staff whenever a problem arises.
• Deposit and Withdrawal Options: More banking methods will give you an easier path toward depositing and cashing out.

Step 2: Register for an account

After you choose a reliable casino, you must sign up. To do this, you’ll need to fill out the online casino’s registration form.

Gambling sites will require basic information, such as your name, email, phonenumber, username and password. You’ll also need to provide your SocialSecuritynumber.

Casinos require the latter for identificationpurposes. Also, regulated casinos must ensure that you’re not on the excluded gamblers list.

Step 3: Play free online video poker

Now that you’re registered for an online casino, you can play free video poker. Free online video poker provides both entertainment and the opportunity to improve your skills. Furthermore, you can test out video poker variations and determine if you like them. This option is perfect for exploring the video poker world without simultaneously risking your money.

Step 4: Make a deposit (optional)

If you like a particular online casino, you should consider depositing and playing for real money. All online gaming sites offer plenty of deposit methods.

Here are some of the available deposit options in Pennsylvania and NJ:

• Visa and Mastercard: Fund your account with one of the two biggest credit card brands.
• ACH: Send an e-check directly from your bank to an internet casino.
• E-Wallet: PA casinos accept e-wallet payments from Neteller, PayPal or Skrill.
• PayNearMe: You can visit a 7-Eleven convenience store and deposit with cash.

What should I look for in an online casino?

Players from every state where online gambling is legal will have multiple options for where they want to play video poker. But how do you choose the one that suits you? Of course, some casinos may be better than others, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are the best option for you personally. In other words, it all has to do with your own preferences.

In order to make the best choice, you should pay attention to the following things:

• Video poker variations — Almost every casino site has video poker games, but the number of variations is what separates the best from the rest. If you want to play common games like Jacks or Better, you are sure to find them on every site, but if you are interested in trying some of the rarer variations, you will have to dig a little deeper.
• Bonuses and promotions — Bonuses are one of the most important things to look for when choosing a casino site. When comparing bonuses, make sure to not only look at their surface values but also check minimum deposit limits, wagering requirements and video poker wagering contributions.
• Mobile compatibility — If you like using your mobile device for playing video poker, you should look for sites that feature mobile-friendly video poker games. Better yet, try to find a casino that has a designated app.
• Full-pay tables — If you’re an experienced video poker player who uses the optimal strategy, you should search for casino sites that offer full-pay games with the highest theoretical return-to-player rate.
• Legal and regulated — It’s very important that you select a website that’s legal and regulated in your state. For safety, avoid offshore sites.
• Customer support — Beginner players should look for a casino with responsive and friendly customer support, as you may need it to provide the right answers if you get stuck unlocking the bonuses or finding the games you want to play.

Casinos with full-pay video poker games

Full-pay video poker games are those games that offer the highest possible odds and theoretical returns, with short-pay games being the opposite.

Full-pay games pay proportionally more for the highest possible hand (royal flush), but only when you bet the maximum number of coins. The return to player on full-pay games is often close to or exceeds 100% when playing with the optimal strategy. Also, full-pay video poker games offer a 9/6 pay table for a full house or flush, compared to 8/6 or 8/5 pay tables in other games.

While some casinos hide their RTP numbers, leaving the players clueless as to how much they pay in the long run, some casinos are generous enough to provide a full-pay table. Some of the most popular full-pay video poker games you can find in US online casinos include Double Double Bonus Poker and Game King.

Standard video poker payouts

Online casinos offer a variety of pay tables throughout the online market. Each of these vary, depending on the specific game.

You should choose games that meet your expectations as far as risk and volatility. For example, Jacks or Better is the least-volatile video poker variation.

It offers a standard pay table that’s void of bonus tables. You can see the Jacks or Better pay table below:

You may seek a more-volatile video poker variation that offers extra payouts. In this case, Bonus Poker should prove satisfactory.

Here’s the pay table for Bonus Poker:

Currently, there are no progressive video poker jackpots in either the PA or NJ markets. The most you can win is 4,000 coins through a royal flush on a five-credit bet.

Perhaps these internet casinos will eventually add progressive jackpots. However, the most significant current payouts revolve around a royal flush and bonus prizes.

How to win at video poker

Video poker is a strategic game that gives you a better chance to win if you use properstrategy. You should keep the following tips in mind when playing online.

Choose games with a high RTP

Video poker games with high RTP improve your long-term chances of winning. Variations with higher payout percentages will award you more winnings over time.

The highest paying online video poker variants include:

• Jacks or Better: 99.54% RTP
• Double Double Bonus Poker: 99.51%
• Bonus Poker: 99.17%

You aren’t guaranteed to win more money with these games. After all, anything could happen in the short run. Nevertheless, high payout percentages boost your odds of winning profits.

Always bet five coins

You must wager all five coins per hand if you want to achieve the highest payback. By betting five coins, you unlock the full value of the royal flush payout.

Below, you can see how much a royal flush pays, depending on the number of coins you wager:

• One-credit bet = 250 coins
• Two-credit bet = 500 coins
• Three-credit bet = 750 coins
• Four-credit bet = 1,000 coins
• Five-credit bet = 4,000 coins

The royal flush payout increases proportionately up until you wager five coins. At this point, the royal flush value experiences a large boost.

Use a video poker trainer, strategy chart

Optimal payback requires expert strategy; however, the perfect approach varies, depending on which video poker game you’re playing.

Jacks or Better, for example, requires a different strategy than bonus poker. That said, you need to find the relevant materials for whatever game you’re playing.

Here are the two best resources for improving your video poker skills:

• Strategy Chart: This shows the order of importance for each hand.
• Trainer: This allows you to play video poker hands while correcting your mistakes.

You can significantly increase your video poker knowledge by using either of these tools. Again, you must use strategy materials that match the variation you’re playing.

Practice with free video poker

After you register for an account at an internet casino, you gain access to free video poker. Free video poker makes for great practice when you’re learning the game. You can implement the strategies you learn through charts and trainers in the free version. Once you feel comfortable, you can move on to real-money video poker with a better strategy.

Tips and strategies for playing video poker

Video poker can be a very rewarding game, as you won’t have to rely only on your luck but also on your skills and tactics. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you start playing:

Be responsible

Always decide on your bankroll and make sure not to exceed it. This is easier said than done, as video poker, like any other casino game, can be very addictive and push you to spend more money than originally intended.

Look for progressive payouts

Many video poker games feature life-changing jackpots that players can win with the right strategy and a little bit of luck. Try to find the games with progressive jackpots, as they allow for massive payouts and reduce the overall house edge.

Always bet the maximum amount

To add on to our previous statement, you should always max bet if your bankroll allows it. While this can be a risky strategy, betting the maximum amount is the only way you can get the jackpot.

Jacks or Better is the best alternative

If no full-pay games are available, try to find Jacks or Better, as it represents one of the highest-paying video poker games. What’s more, Jacks or Better is one of the easiest video poker games to learn, making it ideal for beginning players.

Video poker – History and development

Video poker appeared on the gaming scene in the 1970s when the technology arose to combine primitive computer technology and a TV monitor.

For those who recall what TVs were like in the mid-1970s, the VP monitor was certainly no LED flatscreen. Players used a row of buttons below the monitor to hold the cards that appeared on the screen before drawing to a final poker hand.

By 1979 and into the 1980s, IGT made video poker one of the most popular new games in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. They did so with their title Draw Poker. IGT then released Jacks or Better. This is still a popular version of video poker today, and IGT became a booming, publicly traded company.

As technology progressed in the following years, the appearance of VP machines stayed about the same. However, touch-screen capability relieved players of having to hit physical buttons.

One of the most popular VP terminals in the world is IGT’s Game King. The machine represented the pinnacle of digital casino technology for decades. It remains a favorite of regular video poker players. The Game King allowed casinos to offer multiple VP variants and denominations in a single terminal.

Ultimately, expect to find a variety of video poker iterations on one machine. Some of the most popular include Deuces Wild, Double Bonus, Double Double Bonus, and Ultimate X. Remember that not all video poker is created equal, so check the pay tables and freshen up on the optimal strategy for the variations.

Video Poker FAQ

What is the best video poker game to play for real money?

Jacks or Better is universally one of the best video poker variations available. It offers a nice combination of high 99.54% RTP and low volatility. Game King’s Double Double Bonus Poker is another quality real money game. It features a high payback of 99.51% and bonus payouts. Bonus Poker also gives you a solid chance to win. This game offers 99.17% RTP and moderate volatility.

Can I play video poker online for real money?

Absolutely! You can find almost every existing variation of video poker online and play it day and night. Real money video poker can range from a couple of cents to over a hundred dollars, depending on the game.

Which casino has the best video poker games?

If you want to find a regulated real money casino site with a versatile collection of video poker games, your best bet is to try DraftKings. If, on the other hand, online video poker is not legal in your state and you are trying sweepstakes casinos, Chumba is probably the best alternative you can find.

Which video poker game has the lowest house edge?

There are several video poker games that have a negative house edge, which is one of the main reasons why they are so popular. The RTP of Deuces Wild, for example, is 100.71%, followed by Joker Poker (100.64%), Double Bonus Poker (100.17%) and Double Double Bonus Poker (100.07%). Of course, you can expect these returns only if you’re using perfect strategy, but even if you’re not, these games will be more rewarding than the rest.

Are video poker games the same thing as slots?

No, these two are completely different. Video poker games use the basic rules of poker, while online slot machines are played across spinning reels where the goal is to connect identical symbols in a payline. Also, video slots are entirely based on a random number generator, meaning that the players don’t have any power in deciding their fate. On the other hand, video poker lets the players choose which cards to keep and which to discard, allowing for strategy.

What are the best odds on video poker?

The best odds on video poker are in the so-called full-pay games, where the payouts for full houses and flushes are 9 to 1 and 6 to 1, respectively. Also, keep an eye out for royal flush payouts, as the payout for this hand combination is usually proportionally higher when you bet the maximum number of coins. Still, keep in mind that it can differ from one game to another.

What is the best strategy for video poker?

Some general strategies for playing video poker suggest that you should max bet to become eligible for a higher royal flush payout, find games that offer the best house edge and look for progressive jackpot games. Of course, don’t forget to always gamble responsibly.

Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker presents video poker players with a slightly different way to think about the game. From an eight-card deal, you’ll have the opportunity to make two winning hands, one five-card hand and one three-card hand. If you can manage winning combinations out of the two, you’ll get a multiplier that will magnify the winning amount from the five-card hand.

One of the joys of video poker is that there are many different ways to play the game. You can branch out from basic Jacks or Better, which is the standard format for the game, by playing different pay tables and games with special features. In that way, you never have to play the same way twice.

Still, most of those games feature the same regular rhythm of play. You get five cards on the deal, decide which cards to hold or discard, then draw new cards to replace the ones that have been discarded. But Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker provides you with a completely different style of play, even as it adheres to a Jacks or Better-type pay table.

Eight Cards Instead of Five

When you play Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker, you’ll receive eight cards on the deal instead of the standard five for most video poker games. These cards will come from a 52-card deck and these will be your cards throughout the entirety of the process. In other words, you won’t be able to discard and replace them on the draw.

Your goal is to arrange these cards into two hands: one consisting of five cards and one consisting of three cards. Ideally, you’ll be able to make those into a pair of winning hands. There are specific winning combinations available on both the five-card and three-card pay tables.

Your first goal is to make a winning combination with the five-card hand, which will ensure you a win on that pay table. But if you can also form a winning combination with the other three cards, you’ll get a multiplier which is attached to the five-card winner. That can lead to amplified winnings that are larger than what you could expect from standard five-card poker.

The Luck Factor

You might find that you enjoy the style of play featured in Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker. In many ways, it’s more relaxing. There is no pressure on you to make the right choices about which cards to hold and discard.

Yet the other way to think of that is that you lack a bit of control when you play Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker. You’ll still have to make the right choice when it comes to how to arrange your cards. But some hardcore players might prefer the challenge of making that decision to give them an edge instead of relying a bit more on the luck of the draw like you have to do with this game.

In the following article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the game known as Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker. We’ll tell you how it differs from regular video poker games and we’ll also explain what the pay tables are like, both for the five-card hands and for the multipliers. Finally, we’ll explain how much you can expect in terms of payback from the game while also talking about the strategy involved.

Why People Love Video Poker

If you’re a newcomer to video poker and are interested in trying out Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker as your introduction to the game, you’ve actually stumbled on a somewhat drastic twist on the basic game. But what you will find is that the advantages that await the player are the same. There’s a reason why some people who play video poker refuse to play anything else.

In real money video poker, you are essentially getting a game that combines many of the key elements of table games and slot machines. What emerges from that combination is a game that includes only the best parts of those two families of games. And you end up with the best of both worlds.

Let’s take a look at a few of the advantages for players that apply to specifically Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker and to video poker as a whole:

• Video poker is a one-person experience. When you settle in at a video poker machine or get ready to play the game online, it is you and you alone who will be taking part. That means the ultimate in privacy and relaxation when you play, since you don’t have to worry about the actions or demands of anybody else.
• Video poker is a simple game to play. You can argue that Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker is actually easier than other video poker versions since you don’t have the step of holds and discards. All you really need to know is how to form winning poker combinations, and that’s something you can learn in a hurry.
• Video poker comes in many different formats. If you don’t like a certain pay table or style of game that you’re playing, you can easily change it up by seeking out a different machine in the casino or online game at a gambling website. By doing this, you can find the game that fits your desired level of risk and reward.
• Video poker gives you a little control over whether you win or lose. By incorporating strategy, video poker lends a little bit more impact into the player’s decisions. The end result is a much more active gambling experience, as opposed to slot machines, where you can do nothing but spin the reels and hope for the best.
• Video poker offers you chance for excellent payback. When you compare it to other one-person casino games, video poker offers payback that stands at the top of the list. And it even compares favorably with table games, which can be much more difficult to play.
• Video poker features transparent play. By that we mean, there is nothing hidden from you as a player. You can see how much you get paid for winning hands from the pay table, and you can also determine how often each winning hand will appear from the probabilities involved in a 52-card deck.
• Video poker is a great game for online play. Other casino games can be played online, but they often lose something in the translation. That’s not the case with video poker, where the sights, sounds, and gameplay are the same at a top casino gambling site as they would be in a casino.

These are just a few of the reasons you should consider video poker if you like to play for real money and are deciding between options. Video poker really ranks high in terms of player-friendliness.

Basic Video Poker Gameplay

As we said above, Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker deviates from the way most video poker games are played. But it’s important to understand the basic version so you can compare and decide if Big Split Poker Jacks or Better would be something you’d want to try. Take a look at a basic how-to guide for most versions of the game.

Step 1: The Bankroll

This is the one area of the game that is exactly the same for both common video poker and for Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker. In both cases, you need to have money to make wagers so that you can win real money in return. And that’s where the bankroll comes into play.

To create your bankroll, you have to insert money into a video poker machine. Many casinos will also allow you to enter a ticket which has credits already loaded onto it. If you’re playing online, you have to create a gambling account and fund it with a credit card, cryptocurrency, or some other method allowed by your gambling site of choice.

When your bankroll appears on screen, it will do so in the form of units known as credits or coins. These units will be tied into whatever the denomination of the game that you’re playing might be. For example, if you win 20 credits at a 10-cent machine, you’ll have won $2 (20 times .10).

Step 2: The Bet

This is the part of the game where basic video poker starts to deviate from Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker. Most video poker games allow you to choose a bet of between one and five credits. You can choose a different amount for every hand you play, or you can bet the same amount every time.

When you play basic video poker, the way to maximize your winnings is to bet five coins, also known as the max bet, every single time. That will allow you to get the most out of a royal flush. As you’ll see, that is something that also comes into play when you play Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker.

Step 3: The Hand

Basic video poker follows the framework of the table game known as Five-Card Draw. In both cases, you get five cards, choose whether to hold or discard each of those five cards, and draw new cards to replace any discarded ones. Your goal is to make the best possible five-card poker combination.

In Five-Card Draw, you have to beat multiple people at the table to win a pot. But that isn’t the case with video poker, where you’re the only one in the hand. When playing video poker, your goal is to form one of the winning combinations on the pay table:

• Pair of jacks or better
• Two pair
• Three of a kind
• Straight (five cards of consecutive rank, like 3-4-5-6-7)
• Flush (five cards of same suit)
• Full house (three of a kind and two pair in the same hand)
• Four of a kind
• Straight flush (straight with five cards of same suit)
• Royal flush (ten, jack, queen, king, and ace of the same suit)

These hands are listed in order of lowest-paying (on the bottom) to highest-paying (on the top). The reason the ones at the bottom pay more is that they are harder to accomplish. In other words, the tougher the hand is to achieve, the more it pays.

The Deal

A deal in basic video poker consists of five cards. These cards will come from a simulated deck of 52 within the game’s software. This software also uses a random number generator to ensure that each deal is random.

That software acts a kind of constant shuffling machine, so that you can’t ever judge what cards you might get on the deal based on what has happened on previous hands. Once the cards are dealt, the remaining 47 are also put into that simulated shuffling machine, so that the results of the draw are random as well. In other words, you won’t ever find trends or patterns in video poker, other than accidental ones.

The Decision

At this point in standard video poker, you have to decide which cards to hold and which to discard. Held cards will remain a part of your hand. Discarded cards will be replaced on the draw by others from the deck which, at that point, will have 47 cards still remaining (52 originally minus the five that were dealt).

How do you make this decision? Consider the following:

• What chance do you have of making a winning combination based on what you already have and what’s left in the deck?
• What kind of payback can you expect from the winning combinations you’re seeking?

The Draw

Once you have made your decision, you’ll indicate which cards you want to hold (if any) by pressing the buttons or clicking the icons corresponding to those cards. If you leave a card, it means that you want to discard it. After you’ve made your indications, you’ll activate the draw by hitting the proper button.

At that point, any cards you’ve discarded will be replaced by others from the deck of 47. If you end up with a winning combination, your bankroll will be credited. That completes the process, and you simply repeat the steps if you want to keep playing and if you have enough in your bankroll to keep betting.

Playing Big Split Poker Jacks or Better Video Poker

Not that you know how to play video poker, you can compare it to the process of playing Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker. You might find that you like this different version and the challenges it presents. Or you might want to stick with the basic format.

As we said above, the process for establishing a bankroll in Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker is the same as it is in regular video poker games. Let’s take a look now at where the games diverge.

The Bet

In Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker, you can still make the choice of betting between one and five coins per hand if you wish. If you stick with a bet of that size, the game will play out on a single five-coin pay table. But you will have no opportunity to get multipliers to amplify your winnings.

If you choose, you can essentially double the bet and play up to 10 coins per hand, which becomes the max bet. That will put the multipliers into effect. In other words, if you want to bet one coin for two hands, you’d have to bet two coins.

A 10-coin wager is the wisest bet if you’re trying to max out your payback percentage playing Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker over time. That would give you both access to the multiplier hand and the highest payout for the royal flush. If you feel like the game is getting a little expensive playing it in this way, you can always reduce the denomination to lessen the monetary amount of the wager while still getting the best rate of payback.

The Deal

This is where Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker really starts to stand out. Instead of receiving five cards, you’ll receive eight. These will come from a simulation of a standard deck of 52, just as if you were playing basic video poker and only receiving five cards.

The process of the random number generator shuffling the cards is still in place. You shouldn’t try to change up your bet size in order to “time” when you think you’re going to win. Instead, betting the max amount every time is the way to play.

The Decision (Five-Card Version)

Your decision-making process will depend on how much you’ve bet. If you’re only playing the five-card pay table, you’ll be concerned with simply making the best possible five-card poker hand out of the eight cards you’ve been dealt. The winning five-card poker hands are the same as what are listed above for basic video poker, with the exception that you won’t get paid for a pair of Jacks or Better in Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker.

If, however, you bet on the two pay tables, you also have to be concerned with trying to make a three-card winning combination. But you should only do this after you first form the five-card winning grouping. That’s because that three-card combination will act as a multiplier, and it won’t have anything to multiply if you don’t first get the five-card hand down as winner.

Here are the three-card combinations you’ll be trying to achieve:

• Three of a kind
• Straight flush
• Flush
• Straight
• Pair

These hands will be included on a separate Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker pay table that will show you how you’ll earn in multipliers for them. Ideally, you’ll get a winning five-card combination to earn payback, then a winning three-card combination to multiply that. Remember that you don’t get a draw round as you would in basic video poker.

Let’s take a look at a few examples of Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker deals to show how this works. First, let’s say that you’ve only made a bet on the five-card pay table. As a result, you don’t have to worry about the multiplier with the remaining three cards, and you can just concentrate on the best possible five-card hand.

Imagine you receive the following deal in that scenario:

In this hand, there are three winning combinations that you’ve made:

• Two pair (threes and kings)
• Straight (nine through king)
• Flush (clubs)

In this case, both the straight and flush pay 2 to 1 on the Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker pay table for a five-card hand. The two pair pays only even money.

On the Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker screen, you’ll see spots for a row of five cards and another row of three. In this case, you’ll put either the flush or the straight into the five-card spot and leave the other three for the bottom row. That maximizes the value of that hand.

Let’s take a look now at how the strategy changes when you play both pay tables. Assume that you made a max bet in Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker and get the following cards:

Here is a case where you have to think a little bit about your decision. You might notice that you have a five-card full house with the fours and eights, which would pay back 25 coins for the five-coin bet. If you play the hand this way, the remaining three cards (nine of clubs, ten of clubs, king of diamonds) don’t offer you any multiplier.

But what about if you decided instead to take the eight of clubs out of the full house and put it with the nine and 10 of clubs to form a three-card straight flush? That returns a 15x multiplier on the full-pay Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker pay table. And that would still leave you with two pair for the five-card hand, which means a five-coin payoff on that end (even-money on a five-coin bet).

Compare the two potential paybacks:

• Option 1: Full house (25 coins), no multiplier = 25 coins
• Option 2: Two pair (10 coins) times 15 for three-card straight flush = 150 coins

As you can see, the second option is by far the preferable one. That’s why, when playing Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker, you have to be careful about arranging your cards for the maximum effect. We’ll explain the proper way to do that when we get to the strategy section below.

Big Split Poker Jacks or Better Video Poker Pay Tables

Pay tables are a crucial part of the equation for any video poker game, and that’s the case for Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker. You just have to realize that you’ll be dealing with two sets of pay tables here: one for the five-card hand and one for the three-card hand.

As the name suggests, the pay table for Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker is based on the pay table for Jacks or Better in basic video poker. This is an important distinction to make, because there are Big Split variations that are based on Joker Poker and Deuces Wild games.

To make a comparison, here is what a Jacks or Better pay table looks like in terms of a normal, Five-Card Draw-based version of video poker.

Jacks or Better

Now, here is what the pay table looks like for Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker.

You’ll see that the basic Jacks or Better game is much more giving, in terms of payback for individual hands, than is the case for the Big Split Poker version. That’s because Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker allows the chance to make a five-card out of eight cards instead of just five. In other words, it’s a lot easier to form winning hands in that way, so the payback has to be less to account for that.

You’ll also note the rise in payback for the royal flush in Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker when you bet five coins.

Take a look:

• 1 through 4 coins bet: Royal flush pays 50 to 1
• 5 coins bet: Royal flush pays 200 to 1

That should give you incentive to play the max bet, especially since the royal flush is much more in play in Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker than in the basic format. If you get a royal flush, and you don’t have the five coins bet on the five-card pay table, you’ll really hurt your potential payback.

What about the three-card pay table for Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker? Take a look.

Where you see “high card” listed as “1x” payback, that’s the same as saying that there are no multipliers. After all, any number multiplied by one is just the number. In other words, you’ll get no multipliers on the three-card hand with anything less than a pair in Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker.

You’ll use these pay tables to make your decisions when playing Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker. And we’ll show you a foolproof way to make the right decision every time playing this game when we get to the strategy section.

Alternate Big Split Poker Jacks or Better Video Poker Pay Tables

The pay tables we showed you above were based on the full-pay version of the game. This is the one that will return you the highest payback over a long period of time. But you might encounter some pay tables that are a little bit lesser.

Below are some other pay tables you’re likely to find when playing Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker either online or in casinos. Keep in mind that any area where the pay table offers less payback will have a negative effect on your overall return.

Payback Percentage for Big Split Poker Jacks or Better Video Poker

Payback percentage is an important measurement for anyone who wants to tackle video poker in serious fashion. It estimates how much you can expect to return from your initial bankroll after playing a certain pay table or style of game a large number of times.

Keep in mind that payback percentage won’t be as effective in predicting results when you only play a game for a short period of time. During that period, luck is likely to have more of an impact on your results than anything else. But after you’ve played for a long time, the payback percentage will start to hold sway.

In the case of Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker, the payback for the full-pay tables sits at 99.95%. What does that mean in terms of its effect on your actual bankroll? Take a look:

• $1,000 bet = $999.50 in bankroll (50-cent loss)
• $10,000 bet = $9,995 in bankroll ($5 loss)
• $100,000 bet = $99,950 in bankroll ($50 loss)

Even though you are technically expected to lose a little bit of your bankroll playing Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker over time, the 99.95% payback is actually quite beneficial. Most casino games present you with an expected loss. This is called the house edge, and it’s how casinos and gambling websites stay in business.

But the minimal expected loss in Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker can be balanced and even overcome by rewards earned from casinos and gambling websites for player loyalty. In that way, you can actually hope to make a profit over time playing at this particular pay table.

The alternate Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker pay tables listed above will bring that payback percentage down a bit. That’s why you should always be on the lookout for the full-pay table or at least the ones closest to it, especially if you’re planning on winning in the long run.

Strategy for Big Split Poker Jacks or Better Video Poker

The strategy for most video poker games requires players to memorize strategy charts or practice for a long time with video poker software. But the good news with Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker is that it requires nothing so drastic or time-consuming. All it takes is you having a little patience.

There are two possible outcomes for a Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker eight-card deal that will have an impact on your decision-making:

• The original eight cards don’t possess any winning possibilities for the five-card hand, in which case, the hand is immediately over.
• The original eight cards do possess at least one winning combination for the five-card hand, in which case, you get to move the cards into the two separate rows.

Obviously, with Option 1, you have no decisions to make and the game will handle this automatically. But with Option 2, the machine, or online game, will highlight how much your total payback will be as you move cards in and out of the two rows.

In other words, you can’t miss. If you’re torn between two possibilities on a particular deal, just go through them both and see what the potential payback will be. And simply choose the highest possible payback out of all your options.

After a while playing Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker, you’ll be able to tell quite quickly how you should divvy up the cards on winning hands. Just make sure not to rush through it and give up some potential payback. Strategy for this game is as easy as any video poker game you might play, but you have to take a little time just to make sure you don’t gloss over the right choices.

Big Split Poker Jacks or Better Video Poker Pros and Cons

• The strategy is less taxing than it would be for basic video poker
• You can win big with multipliers attached to winning hands
• The top payback for the game is among the best in the world of video poker

• No chance to draw to better card combination
• Many hardcore video poker players might not like so much reliance on luck
• Lesser pay tables drop the expected payback considerably

Free Jacks Or Better Poker

Conclusion

Jacks Or Better Online Poker

Big Split Poker Jacks or Better video poker lets you enjoy a drastic twist on your typical video poker play so that you can enjoy a different way to think about the game. It’s just a matter of doing a little rearranging, and you’ll also be reassured that you have less chance of making a mistake that costs you some money while playing this game. When you see both the potential for big payback on a single hand and the expected payback over the long haul, you might put this game in your regular video poker rotation.