Video Poker Odds

1. Video Poker Odds Calculator
2. Video Poker Odds

Serious video poker players stay away from bars, booze and distractions and that's the key to making money playing video poker. Remember, these returns and percentages are based on thousands of hands of video poker. Play what you want to, with the best pay-tables. Video poker actually shows you the game's financial return and your theoretical odds of winning. Why take chances with video and spinning reel slots when you can learn to recognize the best odds at a glance and train to be a winner? Superstitions – Video poker is full of old wives' tales and myths about how the games work and how to play.

Video poker is a staple offering of most casinos. The machines that host the game usually share floor space with the slot machine banks.

As a result, they often occupy the role of palate cleanser for slot machine players. Instead of merely riding the whims of fate, a video poker player can exert some level of control over his or her destiny.

The video poker scene in live casinos throughout Pennsylvania is alive and well. The landscape will only broaden as established casino brands throughout the state offer online casinos with video poker games.

Best casinos with video poker in PA

Are video poker games legal in PA?

Yes. Video poker games are legal at all of Pennsylvania's casinos.

The state authorized them by virtue of the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act of 2004. The law provided for the licensure and regulation of casinos and racetrack-casinos in the Keystone State.

Accordingly, all 12 casinos in Pennsylvania have many rows of video poker machines. However, private citizens and businesses are not permitted to operate video poker machines.

In fact, there was a massive bust against some private video poker usage last year. Anthony Zennerallegedly raked in millions for operating a ring of unlicensed video poker machines.

So, video poker is fine – as long as it's in the casinos.

How to play video poker for free in Pennsylvania

Great, Pennsylvania residents can play video poker. But, what if you've never played before?

No worries. There are several options for Pennsylvania inhabitants to practice playing video poker for free before they begin wagering their money.

First and foremost, Pennsylvanians can use Chumba Casino to practice their video poker. Now, to be clear, there is only one Chumba video poker game, Jacks or Better.

There are many more variants of video poker available. However, the Chumba version has a very important feature that should make it your first stop.

Namely, Chumba Casino's Jacks or Better provides a percentage calculator for the chances that your draw will improve to any winning hands. This feature will allow you to try different strategies and approaches to video poker.

Once you feel comfortable, then you can try out the variety of games available on either Parx Casino Online or SugarHouse Casino4Fun.

Both sites offer roughly 15 variants of video poker for play absolutely free. You will simply need to register in order to log in and take part.

Lucky pants bingo login. Make sure to try out each variant so that you can see which style of video poker you prefer. Everyone has their favorites, and these sites are a great way to discover yours.

Moving to real money video poker

Once you feel comfortable with all the different types of video poker, you may want to give the real money version a try. If so, both of these aforementioned sites are more than happy to help you transition over to the real money side.

Now, you will have to register all over again for a real money account.

Hollywood Online Casino does offer online video poker though. Unlike Parx, which only offers Jacks or Better, Hollywood offers the entire IGT Game King suite of nine different varieties, including Deuces Wild and Double Double Bonus Poker.

So, Pennsylvanians can choose between Hollywood, Parx, and Chumba. For now.

Every online casino will have several options for depositing cash onto them. Any one of the following methods may be available on your site of choice:

• ACH/E-check
• Visa/MasterCard
• Bank transfer
• PayNearMe (via 7-Eleven)
• PayPal/Skrill
• Wire transfer
• Cash in-person at the casino cage

Make sure to check the promotional offers at the site before you hit 'submit.' Many casinos will have opportunities to enhance your deposit amount.

Video poker apps

There are Android versions for all three PA online casinos.

The situation is a bit dodgier for Apple users. Hollywood Casino is the only one of the three with an iOS app. The bad news is the game library is extremely small. The good news is the Game King video poker suite is one of the available titles.

PlaySugarHouse has a solution that allows casino play via iPhone browser, but does not have video poker at the moment. Parx has no option for iPhone users.

Additionally, Chumba Casino is a completely browser-based site. So, it does not matter what device is used to log in.

As far as the games themselves, they work decently well. They are definitely playable through both laptops and devices, and it's clear that all three sites have taken pains to make sure that they optimize for mobile users.

However, there is a clunky quality to the mobile versions that may be distracting. It's hard to describe – some sort of lag, perhaps – but it betrays some sort of discomfort on the part of the mobile developers.

That said, we're nitpicking a bit here. There's no doubt that most people should be able to find a way onto these three sites to try their video poker options.

The basics of video poker strategy

So, what is video poker?

Video poker is a computerized version of five-card draw poker. Players are seeking to make a winning five-card hand. What constitutes a winning hand varies from game to game.

Video poker and slot machines are often lumped together, both in terms of their game class and physically in the casino. However, the element of control that a player exerts over a video poker game leads to a key difference between the two.

Namely, there is, in fact, a correct way to play each hand of video poker. Numerous books abound that help players identify the best statistical way to approach each hand.

As it happens, you can have these books along with you as you play. Casinos have no problem with players playing perfectly, because, as you may have guessed, there is still a house advantage over perfect play.

However, playing perfectly will minimize the house edge to fractions of a percentage point. So, it is possible to get quite a bit of bang for your buck on video poker, and sometimes, you'll come away a winner.

So, the payout percentages listed in each game variant below are calculated assuming that you are playing perfectly. If you are playing less than perfectly, the percentage will tip farther into the casino's favor.

One other factor that influences the odds of winning is the number of coins that a player is wagering. Video poker machines usually have some sort of outsized payout for the highest coin play. Typically, you'll have to play five coins on a single game to qualify.

However, these highest levels of play can also have progressive jackpots attached to them. So, if at all possible, you should play the highest level to maximize your expected value on your wagers.

Types of online video poker games in PA

A quick look at a video poker game list can be overwhelming. There are so many variants that it can seem impossible to master.

Surprisingly, though, the different types of video poker are all basically the same. The changes from the standard games are mere tweaks, by and large.

In terms of odds, video poker machines return over 96% of the cash wagered into them. This percentage places video poker as a much better bet than slot machines.

Video Poker Odds Calculator

The different variants do play with the odds, at least in terms of the timeframe. Which variant you prefer depends upon how much variance you want to accept.

Jacks or Better

The most prevalent video poker game, and indeed, the only one that Chumba Casino features, is Jacks or Better. Like most standards, Jacks or Better is beloved due to its simplicity.

The key to winning the game is inherent in its title. A player must make a pair of jacks or better in order to win.

As the hand strength increases, so does the payouts. As you'll see later, casinos have introduced ways of chipping away at these payouts.

In the early days, some Jacks or Better games would pay out as a 'full pay' machine; that is, full houses would pay 9x the bet and flushes 6x the bet.

Over time, casinos offered this ratio less and less often. For instance, Chumba's Jacks or Better is a 7x/5x game.

However, those shaves on the profits haven't really hurt the game. Overall, Jacks or Better will pay back 99.54% of its wagers.

Deuces Wild

Another common video poker variant is Deuces Wild. This version renders the four twos, or deuces, as wild cards.

This change inflates the normal hand strength that you're going to get. With four cards that can be anything, pairs can easily become three of a kind, and random hands can become straight or flush candidates.

Of course, the game takes this escalation into account in its winning conditions. Most forms of Deuces Wild require three of a kind or higher to pay out.

Strange as it would seem, a perfectly-played game of Deuces Wild will pay out 100.8%. If you can play correctly and play the highest number of coins available, there is a positive expectation.

Understand, however, that percentage is a long-run calculation. Most players are not going to have enough cash to stick around for the long run.

Bonus Poker/Double Bonus Poker/Double Double Bonus Poker

Bonus Poker plays exactly like Jacks or Better up to a certain point. That point is four of a kind.

Bonus Poker rewards players for achieving quads of any value with an extra payout. Unfortunately, the game also collects from other payouts to finance this perk.

So, even though there are higher individual payouts on some hands, the overall effect is a percentage return drop. Bonus Poker players will only see a return of 99.2%.

Bonus Poker has proven popular enough, however, to spawn two offspring, Double Bonus Poker and Double Double Bonus Poker. Like Bonus Poker, Double Bonus and Double Double Bonus place special value on four-of-a-kind hands.

So, they further separate four-of-a-kind hands by their value. Double Bonus Poker has an increased payout for players who acquire four aces.

However, the increased payout has turned things around on the expected payback. Double Bonus Poker returns 100.2% to its players.

Double Double Bonus Poker takes things a step farther than its cousins. Each possibility of four-of-a-kind is subject to a different payout.

The aces are still the target of most of the breakouts. Double Double Bonus Poker has a pay structure based upon the kicker in the quad ace hands.

Furthermore, four 2s, 3s, and 4s each get their own payout level. Then, 5s – kings are all paid at the same rate.

All those machinations don't actually make much of a difference overall, actually. The payout rate drops a tiny bit to 100.1%.

Any other variant you find will have elements of these three types of video poker in it. Just make sure to investigate each type you find and figure out what it's about before you bet.

Bonuses and rewards program

As you play on an online casino, you often have the ability to take part in the casino's loyalty program. Playing video poker certainly qualifies for any of these promotions.

However, a video poker player may find it significantly difficult to qualify for as many rewards points as their slot-machine brethren. Casinos often award fewer points for video poker, due to its high return to player ratio.

For instance, SugarHouse calculates how many points to award in its iRush Rewards program based upon the return-to-player percentage. So, a game that returns 94% of wagers to players will award points at a higher rate than a game that returns 96%, for instance.

As stated earlier, video poker returns a high percentage to players, usually upwards of 99%. As a result, video poker will not earn points at SugarHouse very quickly.

In a similar vein, Parx values slot play far more than video poker play. Rather than any sort of calculation, Parx's Xclub awards 1 point per $20 wagered on slots and 1 point per $60 wagered on video poker. So, playing video poker is a third less fruitful than playing slots.

General rules and hand rankings

Video poker is a five-card-draw style of poker. After placing your wager on a hand, you will initially be dealt five playing cards. You then have the option to 'hold' or 'fold' any number of those cards with the intent of making the highest-valued hand possible, according to the poker-hand hierarchy.

Poker hands are listed, in order, from strongest to weakest:

• Royal flush: A hand consists of the cards 10, jack, queen, king and ace, all of the same suit
• Straight flush: A hand consists of five sequential cards all of the same suit, such as 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of clubs
• Four-of-a-kind: A hand consists of all four cards of the same value, in each suit
• Full house: A hand consists of both one pair and one three-of-a-kind
• Flush: A hand consists of any combination of five cards that are all in the same suit
• Straight: A hand consists of five cards in a sequence, regardless of the suit
• Three-of-a-kind: A hand consists of three cards that are all the same value
• Two pair: A hand consists of two unlike pairs of cards
• Pair: A hand consists of one like pairs of cards
• High card: A hand consists of no pairs or a higher-value combination of cards
  The highest-value card is used to determine hand strength

Versions of video poker will offer different payouts for each outcome. Some games will come with conditions, such as requiring at least a pair of jacks. There are many variations of the game also include wild cards, and even jackpots, when certain conditions are right.

Video poker odds

When it comes to determining the odds in a game of video poker, we can understand the potential outcomes rather easily. That's because players play video poker with only one deck. That means odds are generally the same across all video poker games, be it at a live casino machine or on regulated PA online gambling site.

The general odds and payout schedule for jacks or better video poker hands are as follows:

Additionally, it may not be possible to win the total jackpot when holding a royal flush unless the maximum amount of wagering units are administered at the beginning of the hand. Keep in mind, some variations of the game will offer different payout structures, depending on a natural royal flush being dealt at the beginning of a hand.

Online versus casino video poker

There is little difference between online video poker and video poker played in live casinos because all the games are all machine-based.

The benefits of online video poker are you will never have to wait your turn to play a particular version, and there are so many varieties to enjoy.

Additionally, you can jump from variation to variation with no effort at all. As a result, games play much faster than in a live casino setting.

Where to Play video poker in Pennsylvania

Video poker is a ubiquitous feature of casinos, so it's no surprise that video poker machines are located in every Pennsylvania casino.

As stated earlier, video poker and slot machines often share space in a casino. Given how much of a pleasant change of pace video poker offers slot machine players (and vice versa), it's unlikely that this marriage of games will break up any time soon.

Below is a list of the addresses for all twelve of Pennsylvania's casinos. Please note that we have also listed the Live! Casino property, though it has not opened yet.

• Harrah's Philadelphia – 777 Harrah's Blvd, Chester, PA 19013
• Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course – 777 Hollywood Blvd, Grantville, PA 17028
• Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin – 4067 National Pike, Farmington, PA 15437
• The Meadows Racetrack and Casino – 210 Racetrack Rd, Washington, PA 15301
• Mohegan Sun Pocono – 1280 PA-315, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
• Mount Airy Casino Resort – 312 Woodland Rd, Mt Pocono, PA 18344
• Parx Casino & Racing – 2999 Street Rd, Bensalem, PA 19020
• Presque Isle Downs & Casino – 8199 Perry Hwy, Erie, PA 16509
• Rivers Casino (Pittsburgh) – 777 Casino Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
• Wind Creek Bethlehem – 77 Wind Creek Blvd, Bethlehem, PA 18015
• Sugarhouse Casino – 1001 N Delaware Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125
• Valley Forge Casino Resort – 1160 1st Ave, King of Prussia, PA 19406
• Live! Casino & Hotel – 900 Packer Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148

Pennsylvania's laws surrounding video poker machines

There is one clear legal motion that has precipitated Pennsylvania's video poker machines. The Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act of 2004 essentially inflated the gambling balloon for the entire state, providing for 12 casinos to be constructed.

Video poker also flowed into legality due to this law. As a dozen casinos came into being, video poker came with them.

Video poker will presumably make the jump to Pennsylvania's mini-casinos and online casinos when all the rest of the games do. There's no real distinction between them and slot machines.

History – How To Play – Rules – Odds – Strategy – Pro's Perspective

Video Poker is a single-player game that takes the edge off poker, mainly the competition with the other seated players at the poker table. In this game, there is only one player against a computer. Players will be paid according to the paytable of each game and according to the minimum paying hand.

These games can be enjoyed at land-based casinos on video poker machines that look a lot like slot machines. Online casinos also offer video poker as all the major software developers have their own variants. Players can enjoy online through their computers in the comfort of their own home. Most of the video poker versions adopt the 5-card poker game rules as players will get 5 cards and they will choose to discard cards and get replacement cards in order to form the final poker hand. The only difference is that there are no wagering rounds in between the dealt cards as players will only place a wager at the very beginning.

Although video poker is mainly a single player poker game, some video poker variants involve the dealer. In these games, players will have to beat the poker hand of the dealer in order to win the pot.

Video Poker History

Because video poker is basically the integration of poker and slot machines, its history can be traced back to the invention of slot machines itself. Charles Fey is the father of the slot machine. His slot machines had numbers on it and not poker hands. These coin-operated machines were developed in the U.S. in the 1800s and were very popular in saloons and cigar stores, especially in San Francisco.

Video poker started to appear in 1989 when the Card Bell was developed. This game was a poker machine that paid players instantly by using combinations such as a straight, a flush, and so on. In the improved design of the machine, the Skill Draw, a major feature was added — the Hold. The Hold feature has become an integral part of the video poker game of today.

Video poker machines started to become commercially viable following the integration of a monitor that looks like a TV screen. This allowed players to enjoy a 100 percent computerized game. The first-ever computerized video poker game was developed in the mid-1970s. It was very primitive compared to modern-day video poker games but it was the first-ever computerized video poker machine that paved the way for other video poker games. The popularity of these machines started to skyrocket when a company called SIRCOMA (Si Redd's Coin Machines) introduced a video poker game, namely Draw Poker, in 1979. SIRCOMA is now one of the biggest gaming developers for land-based and online casinos, going by the name IGT (International Game Technology).

The popularity of these machines increased until they were an absolute must in every land-based casino. Now, almost every single casino on the Vegas Strip offers its players a number of video slot machines. In the 1990s, with the huge breakthrough in technology, video poker games started to offer better gaming quality and more variations of the game were introduced.

Video poker also made one of its greatest development steps with the emergence of online gambling, and video poker became one of the most popular games in the online world. This transition enabled millions of players to enjoy the game, especially those who did not have a nearby land-based casino or a gambling venue they could visit in order to enjoy a game of video poker. The Internet industry provided players with countless versions of video poker. Some of the leading names in the business are Microgaming, Playtech, Cryptologic, IGT, and Betsoft Gaming. These different software versions started to include bonus rounds, gamble features, special features, wild cards, and many more.

How to Play Video Poker

There are two popular types of video poker games. The most popular video poker games offer a single-player poker experience, including 5-card draw poker games, and can be found in most online or land-based casinos. This type includes Jacks or Better, Tens or Better, Joker Poker, Deuces Wild, Joked and Deuces Wild, as well as Bonus Poker among others. The second type is a casino poker game that involves the player and the dealer, such as Caribbean Stud poker, which can only be found online. Each game has its own gaming procedure and rules.

Despite the fact that there are numerous variants, they all follow the same gaming procedure. The game starts as players place their desired stakes. They can place that stake by depositing a coin if it is a land-based video poker game. If it is an online video poker game, they will choose a coin or cash by clicking on the screen of the game.

After they place the wager, they will click on a button that says 'Deal.' They will then get a poker hand that consists of 5 cards. Players will look at these cards and then decide which cards they want to hold and which cards they want to discard/fold. They can choose the cards they want to hold by clicking on the cards themselves or the button that says 'Hold' under each card. When they are done choosing the cards, they will click on 'Draw.' They will then get replacement cards for the cards they did not hold which will form the final 5-card poker hand. Players will then be paid according to the paytable of the game and the bet that they have placed at the start.

Caribbean Stud poker is also a 5-card poker game but players must beat a dealer. In this game, players will also place an Ante bet before they are dealt the cards. They will then get 5 cards facing up, while the dealer will get 4 cards facing down and 1 card facing up. Players will then decide if they want to fold or if they wish to call. If they call, they will place another bet that is equal to twice the original bet. If they call, the dealer's final poker card will be revealed and the showdown will take place. In order for the dealer's hand to qualify, it has to at least have an Ace and a King. If the hand does not qualify, the player will win regardless of his hand. Some games might also offer a progressive jackpot that is triggered when players achieve a royal flush.

Video Poker Rules

The rules of a video poker game might differ from one game to another, so we are going to discuss different rules that could change based on where the game is played.

Video Poker Odds

The Minimum Paying Hand:

The minimum paying hand is the poker hand that players will have to achieve to be eligible to claim a payout. It differs from one game to another depending on the rules of the game as well as the other features. For example, if a game has a wild card or cards, it will have a higher minimum paying hand, which could be as high as 3 of a kind. This means that if players do not get a three of a kind, they will not qualify for a win. For a Jacks or Better, the minimum hand is a pair of Jacks. For Tens or Better, it is a pair of Jacks, but most games that do not have extra features will have a minimum hand pair of Jacks.

The Wild Card:

The wild card is a feature that is offered at some, but not all, of the video poker variants. The wild card is always the Joker or the Deuce. This wild card can be substituted for any other card from the deck in order to help players achieve a winning poker hand. In Deuces Wild, for example, the wild card is the 2, which is where the name of the game comes from. Another game is Joker Wild, where the Joker is the wild card. Some games might have more than one wild card, such as Joker and Deuces Wild. In this game, the 2 and the Joker are wild cards.

Hand Ranking:

Video poker follows the same hand ranking rules as regular poker with the Royal Flush being the highest hand. It is also important to note that in video poker, it is the hand that matters regardless of the value of the cards forming it. For example, a pair of Aces will pay the same as a pair of Jacks, and a Straight from 9 to K will pay the same as a straight from 2 to 6. Here is the poker hand ranking in descending order:

Royal Flush:

A straight flush that begins at 10 and ends with an Ace. At some games, this hand will trigger the progressive jackpot, if there is any.

Straight Flush:

Five consecutive cards in value of the same suit.

Four of a Kind:

Four identical cards.

Full House:

Three identical cards accompanied by a pair.

Flush:

Five cards of the same suit.

Straight:

Five consecutive cards in value.

3 of a kind:

Three identical cards.

Two Pair:

Two pairs in the final 5-card poker hand.

Pair of Tens:

The minimum paying hand possible at video poker.

Video Poker Odds

The odds and the payout of Video Poker will differ from one version to another, so we will only discuss the hand odds of the most popular game, Jacks or Better. We will discuss the pay seclude of a 9/6 Jacks or Better video poker while placing the maximum wager of 5 unit bet.

You should always place the maximum bet because it makes you eligible to win the grand jackpot prize of 4,000 if you get a royal flush. If you bet with 1 or 2 coins and get a royal flush, the payout will not be proportionally equal. If betting 5 coins is too expensive for your gambling budget, you can find a lot of .25 machines as online casinos usually offer their bets in denominations that include different sizes such as .25, 0.50, 1, 2, 5 and even 10 and 20.

Here is the payment schedule for each hand for a 9/6 Jacks or Better video poker game.

Here are good benchmarks on possible payouts based on an overall average. The outcomes vary depending on which version of video poker you are playing.
These numbers, on average, represent your odds for pulling a certain hand.

After studying this payout and odds table, it is notable that there is an inequality between the odds and the payouts of some hands despite the fact that a Full House is more likely to happen than a straight or a flush but pays more than these two hands. It is clear from the paytable that hands that are less likely to happen pay more than hands that are more likely to happen to. Despite this, the game is in the favor of the player, which is why it can be only found online or at big land-based casinos. You are surely not going to find them in bars or other smaller gambling venues.

Players will be able to view the paytable (it will not include the odds) at the top of the screen right above the cards. It will give players an idea of the payouts they can earn according to their bet and their poker hand.

Video Poker Strategy

Although video poker is a straightforward and simple game, players will find themselves wondering what cards they should hold, and when to discard. This simple strategy guide will be quite helpful in different situations throughout the game.

Video Poker Strategy Chart:

The first situation is when you get a low pair and one high card in your hand. You will immediately think whether to keep the low pair and go for a three of a kind, keep the high card and discard the rest to get a high and a qualifying pair or to keep the three cards and try getting two pairs.

Before making the decision, you will have to know your odds for each decision. The odds of getting the third card for a three of a kind are about 1 out of 6-8 times. The odds of getting the matching high card to form a pair are 1 out of 2-3. As for the odds of getting a two pair is slightly bigger than getting three of a kind. Therefore, it is obvious that the best course of action is to go for a qualifying pair.

For example, if you get two high cards like a Queen and a Jack, the question is whether to keep both or discard them. The best course of action is to keep the two cards and discard the rest as there is a big chance you would get another Jack or Queen, which will qualify you for a win.

If you get 3 different high cards, the best course of action is to keep two of the high cards. It does not matter which two as long as they qualify for a winning hand. A pair of jacks pays the same as a pair of aces, or just pick two and hold them.

If you get a pair of aces and a flush draw, you will wonder whether to keep the pair or discard it in the hopes of getting a flush. The safest course of action is to keep the pair but the best action is to go for the flush. A pair will only pay you even money while a flush will pay you 6 times your original bet, so it is worth the risk. Since there are a lot of games that offer different paying hands, gamble features, and wild cards, it is essential to check the rules and the paytable of the video poker game before you start playing. Knowing the minimum paying hand is quite important. The names of some video poker games might give you a clue, such as Tens or Better (a pair of tens is the minimum hand) and Jacks or Better (a pair of jacks is the minimum hand). For other games, it is essential to check the paytable and know the minimum paying hand because it will affect your decisions during the game.

Pro's Perspective: Video Poker Strategies and Tips

With John Grochowski

When you play poker, a few simple little tricks can make a big difference in regards to your return. Here are three tips to help keep you in action while you wait for the big-paying hands to come/

Investigate Pay Tables Before You Play

Not all video poker games are created equal, and it pays to do a little looking around. If you have several online casinos you would like to play at, take the time to check pay tables before you start wagering. Those who play in brick-and-mortar casinos should do the same – I've often found higher and lower pay tables on the same game in different areas of one casino.

The differences can be quite large. If one site has 9-6 Double Double Bonus Poker (98.98 percent return with expert play), another has 9-5 DDB (97.97 percent) and a third has 8-5 DDB (96.79 percent), think about what that means: In casino No. 1, the house expects to keep $1.02 per $100 in wagers, casino No. 2 expects to keep $2.03 and casino No. 3 expects to keep $3.21.

You can dramatically cut the house take by looking for the highest-paying version.

Learn Jacks or Better Strategy

When you learn the Jacks or Better strategy, you take a giant step toward learning strategies for other games. The basic format, with a pair of Jacks being the lowest paying hand, is a starting point for most non-wild card games, including Bonus Poker, Double Double Bonus Poker, Super Aces, and more.

To get the most out of any of those games, you need to learn specially adapted strategies that take advantage of what their paytables have to offer. But the adaptations bring small gains, with the Jacks or Better strategy taking us most of the way there.

Take 9-6 Double Double Bonus Poker, which returns 98.98 percent with its own special strategy. If you use the 9-6 Jacks or Better strategy, the average return is 98.44 percent. For the 9-6 Bonus Poker Deluxe, specialized strategy brings 99.64 percent, and JB strategy brings 99.61, while the 8-5 Bonus Poker has the same strategy as 9-6 JB and returns 99.16 percent.

If you want the most out of any game, the fine points are important, but the gains compared to Jacks or Better strategy is in the tenths of a percent.

Bet Enough to be Eligible for Max Payback

One common feature among video poker games is the disproportionate jump in the top jackpot if you wager five credits. With one credit wagered, a royal brings a 250-credit return, then pays 500 for 2, 750 for 3, and 1,000 for 4. But on the fifth coin, that jackpot leaps to the top 4,000 credits.

Thus, betting the five-credit max brings a higher payback percentage than betting less. The 98.98 percent return for 9-6 Double Double Bonus Poker assumes five-credit wagers. If you bet less, the return is only 97.83 percent.

There's a similar percentage difference in virtually every video poker game. Part of the expert strategy is betting enough to get the jackpot jump.