Video Poker Strategy Guide
Video poker is the rare casino game where skill decides your return and the math is fully known. This guide walks the whole game — how a hand works, the exact optimal hold order, the real odds, the house edge, and how to read a pay table — then hands you a trainer to drill it against exact play.
Short answer
Play a full-pay machine, bet five coins every hand, and hold the highest-value play your dealt cards can make. On 9/6 Jacks or Better that returns 99.54% with perfect play — about 46 cents lost per $100 cycled, one of the lowest house edges on the floor. The trainer grades every hold against that exact math.
Start here
Rules, the deal-hold-draw flow, and why you always bet five coins.
The exact hold order for 9/6 Jacks or Better, ranked by expected value.
How often a royal, quads, or a plain high pair actually lands under optimal play.
What each game really costs per hand, straight from the engine returns.
Read the glass before you sit down: 9/6 vs 8/5 vs 6/5 and what it costs you.
Every full-pay game ranked, highest return first.
The handful of holds that quietly bleed your return.
Every term on the glass and in the strategy chart, defined.
Play real hands, get graded against exact optimal play, and see the expected value you give up on every mistake.
Common questions
Is video poker beatable?
A few full-pay games return over 100% with perfect play — full-pay Deuces Wild at 100.76% and 10/7 Double Bonus at 100.17% — so they are theoretically positive before comps. They are high variance and unforgiving of mistakes, and full-pay versions are increasingly rare.
Which game should a beginner learn first?
9/6 Jacks or Better. It is the most common full-pay game, has the simplest strategy, and at 99.54% it is nearly break-even with correct play. Every other game is a variation on its hold order.
Does strategy change by pay table?
Yes. The optimal hold order shifts with the payouts, so each game and pay table has its own strategy. Use the page that matches the exact machine you are playing.
Is any of this real-money gambling?
No. Everything here is a free practice tool. There is no wagering, no signup, and no money involved — just the exact math and a trainer to drill it.