Video poker strategy
Two things decide what video poker costs: the paytable and your holds.
By Ryan Jessop. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- Find a 9/6 paytable.
- Hold by a ranked list.
- Full pay returns about 99.5%.
- Short pay can cost ten times as much.
AnswerPlay Jacks or Better on a 9/6 paytable and hold according to a ranked list of hands. That returns about 99.5%.
Reading the paytable
| Full house / flush | Name | RTP with correct play |
|---|---|---|
| 9 / 6 | Full pay | About 99.5% |
| 8 / 5 | Short pay | About 97.3% |
| 7 / 5 | Short pay | About 96.2% |
| 6 / 5 | Short pay | About 95% |
The two numbers are the per-coin payouts for a full house and a flush.
What to hold, in order
- Any made hand of two pair or better (break a flush or straight only for four to a royal).
- Four to a royal flush.
- A high pair, jacks or better.
- Three to a royal flush.
- Four to a flush.
- A low pair.
- Four to an open-ended straight.
- Two suited high cards.
- One or two high cards.
- Otherwise, draw five.
A simplified list; full charts have more lines.
Common mistakes
- Keeping a kicker with a pair.
- Holding three to a flush over a low pair.
- Breaking a high pair for four to a flush.
Speed
Video poker is quick. At 400 hands an hour, a 0.5% edge at £1 a hand is about £2 an hour; a 5% edge is £20.
More strategy: Craps bets and odds, Blackjack basic strategy and Roulette bets and odds.
Games and casinos: Blackjack UK, Slots UK, PlayOJO games review and Best RTP slots UK.
Maximum coins
On many games the royal flush pays a bonus only at five coins. If that makes the stake too high, drop the coin value, not the coin count.
The double-up
A fair 50-50 with no edge, and a quick way to raise the swings. Decline it if you want the session to last.
Go further: Live roulette UK, Low volatility slots UK and Live vs online casino games.
House edges and RTPs are standard published figures for common rules, and are long-run averages. Offer terms dated 5 October 2026. How we check. 18+. Free help: 0808 8020 133 or safer gambling.
Frequently asked questions
What is 9/6 Jacks or Better?
The full-pay table: 9 for a full house, 6 for a flush.
What is the RTP?
About 99.5% with correct play.
Should I keep a kicker?
No.
Is it available at UK casinos?
Check each lobby; we have not confirmed it.