Video poker occupies a unique position in the casino world — it is one of the few games where correct strategy genuinely reduces the house edge to near-zero levels. Unlike pokies, where outcomes are entirely random, video poker combines the instant gratification of a slot machine with the decision-making depth of a card game. For Australian players willing to learn basic strategy, video poker offers some of the most favourable odds available in any online or land-based casino.
How Video Poker Works: The Basics
Video poker is based on five-card draw poker. You are dealt five cards, choose which to keep and which to discard, and then receive replacement cards. Your final hand is evaluated against the pay table and you are paid accordingly. The game uses a standard 52-card deck and each hand is completely independent — there is no dealer to beat, no bluffing, and no other players. Your only opponent is the pay table.
The Standard Video Poker Hand Rankings
- Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit — the highest-paying hand in all variants
- Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit
- Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank
- Full House: Three of a kind plus a pair
- Flush: Five cards of the same suit, not consecutive
- Straight: Five consecutive cards of mixed suits
- Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank
- Two Pair: Two different pairs
- Jacks or Better: A single pair of jacks, queens, kings or aces — the minimum qualifying hand in Jacks or Better
Jacks or Better: The Foundation of Video Poker Strategy
Jacks or Better is the standard video poker variant and the best starting point for Australian beginners. The minimum paying hand is a pair of jacks or higher. The game's simplicity makes it ideal for learning optimal strategy, and with the right pay table, the house edge can be reduced to approximately 0.46% with perfect play.
Identifying a Full-Pay Jacks or Better Machine
Not all Jacks or Better machines are equal. The pay table directly determines the expected return. A "full-pay" machine offers the best payout structure. The key payouts to check are the flush and the full house — these distinguish full-pay from reduced-pay machines.
- Royal Flush: 800 coins (per coin bet, typically paid at maximum bet only)
- Straight Flush: 50 coins
- Four of a Kind: 25 coins
- Full House: 9 coins — this is the critical differentiator
- Flush: 6 coins — this is the second critical differentiator
- Straight: 4 coins
- Three of a Kind: 3 coins
- Two Pair: 2 coins
- Jacks or Better: 1 coin
A machine paying 9 coins for a full house and 6 coins for a flush is called a "9/6 Jacks or Better" machine. This is the full-pay version offering 99.54% RTP with perfect strategy. Machines paying 8/5 or lower reduce the RTP significantly and should be avoided.
Deuces Wild: The High-RTP Alternative
Deuces Wild is the second most popular video poker variant and offers even higher theoretical returns than Jacks or Better. In this game, all four deuces (twos) act as wild cards, substituting for any card to complete a hand. The presence of wild cards changes the hand rankings — a natural royal flush (no wild cards) pays the highest, while five of a kind becomes possible thanks to the wild deuces.
Deuces Wild Hand Rankings
- Natural Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit with no deuces — 800 coins
- Four Deuces: All four 2s in the deck — 200 coins
- Wild Royal Flush: A royal flush using one or more deuces as wild cards — 25 coins
- Five of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank plus a deuce — 15 coins
- Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit — 9 coins (on full-pay machines)
- Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank — 5 coins
- Full House: Three of a kind plus a pair — 3 coins
- Flush: Five cards of the same suit — 2 coins
- Straight: Five consecutive cards of mixed suits — 2 coins
- Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank — 1 coin
Full-pay Deuces Wild machines offer approximately 100.76% RTP with perfect strategy — one of the few casino games that can theoretically return more than 100% over the long run. However, finding full-pay Deuces Wild online requires checking the pay table carefully, as many machines use reduced payouts that drop the return below 99%.
Video Poker Strategy: The Optimal Decision Framework
Optimal video poker strategy is based on expected value calculations for every possible starting hand. Rather than playing by intuition, you follow a ranked list of holds that maximises the average return for each decision. The strategy differs between Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild, but the principle is the same: always hold the combination with the highest expected value.
Jacks or Better: Core Strategy Rules
- Always hold a royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, or flush
- Always hold four cards to a royal flush — this has higher expected value than a made straight or flush
- Hold three of a kind over a low pair
- Hold a high pair (jacks or better) over a four-card straight or flush draw
- Hold a low pair over a single high card
- Never hold a kicker with a pair — keeping an ace alongside a pair of jacks reduces your chance of improving to three of a kind or a full house
The most common mistake in video poker is holding a kicker with a pair. Players instinctively want to keep a high card "just in case," but mathematically this reduces the expected value of the hand. Always break up a pair-plus-kicker and keep only the pair.
Deuces Wild: Core Strategy Rules
- Always hold all four deuces — this is the strongest possible starting position
- With three deuces, hold only the deuces unless you have a wild royal flush or five of a kind already made
- With two deuces, hold any four-card royal flush draw or five of a kind; otherwise hold only the deuces
- With one deuce, prioritise straight flush draws and royal flush draws; the deuce dramatically improves these hands
- With no deuces, follow a similar hierarchy to Jacks or Better but adjust for the wild-card-enhanced pay table
Other Video Poker Variants Worth Exploring
Beyond Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild, Australian online casinos offer several other video poker variants that add twists to the standard format. Each has its own optimal strategy and pay table considerations.
Bonus Poker and Double Bonus Poker
Bonus Poker increases the payouts for four of a kind hands, particularly four aces. Double Bonus Poker takes this further with even higher four-of-a-kind payouts but typically reduces the payout for two pair from 2 coins to 1 coin. This increases volatility significantly — the game relies more heavily on hitting premium hands.
Joker Poker
Joker Poker adds a single joker to the 52-card deck, acting as a wild card. The minimum paying hand is typically kings or better (instead of jacks), and a new hand ranking — five of a kind — is added. The strategy is simpler than Deuces Wild because there is only one wild card rather than four.
Aces and Faces
Aces and Faces is a Jacks or Better variant that pays bonus amounts for four of a kind in aces, kings, queens or jacks. The base game strategy remains similar to Jacks or Better, but the increased four-of-a-kind payouts slightly alter which holds are optimal when you have a high pair combined with other high cards.
Playing Video Poker Online vs. in Land-Based Venues
Online video poker offers several advantages for Australian players. The pay tables are clearly displayed, allowing you to verify whether a machine is full-pay before playing. Stakes are typically lower, making it easier to practise strategy without significant financial exposure. Most importantly, you can reference strategy charts while playing — something that is awkward or prohibited at physical machines. Land-based video poker, by contrast, offers a tactile experience that some players prefer, along with the atmosphere of the gaming floor.
Bankroll Management for Video Poker
Video poker's low house edge makes it one of the most bankroll-friendly games available, but variance still matters. Royal flushes occur approximately once every 40,000 hands, meaning long stretches without the top payout are normal. A session bankroll of 200–300 times your bet size provides adequate coverage for normal variance. Playing at maximum bet (typically 5 coins) is essential because the royal flush payout is often disproportionately higher at max bet — sometimes double or more the proportional payout at lower stakes.
Always play video poker at maximum coins. The royal flush payout is typically 250 coins per coin bet at 1–4 coins, but jumps to 800 coins at 5 coins. This represents a massive increase in expected value that makes max-bet play mathematically essential.
Using Strategy Charts Effectively
Video poker strategy charts rank every possible starting hand from highest to lowest expected value. While memorising a full chart is ideal, most players start by learning the top 15–20 most common decisions that cover the majority of hands. Keep a strategy chart open while playing online, and review your decisions after each session to identify recurring mistakes. Over time, the correct holds become second nature.
Responsible Video Poker Play in Australia
Video poker's rapid pace — a hand every 5–10 seconds online — can accelerate spending without the player noticing. Set a strict session budget before opening a video poker game, use deposit limits on licensed Australian platforms, and take regular breaks. The low house edge is only an advantage if you play with discipline. Chasing losses, ignoring strategy charts, or playing reduced-pay machines eliminates the mathematical edge that makes video poker attractive. Approach it as a game of skill-enhanced entertainment, and the combination of strategy and chance delivers one of the most satisfying experiences in any casino.