Jacks or Better Short-term Playing Strategy  

The following is taken from Power Video Poker, 
the Only Video Poker Book You'll Ever Need!  

The following chart shows the Simplified Playing Strategy for all versions of Jacks of Better video poker.  While this playing strategy was developed for short-term play, you may use it for long-term play as well giving up only a few hundreds of a percent of potential return.

                   Simplified Playing Strategy for Jacks or Better

Explanation of Simplified Playing Strategy for Jacks or Better

The chart above lists the hierarchy of hands to be played in Jacks or Better video poker games.  The higher the hand is in the chart, the greater its value.  For example, Three of a Kind is ranked higher than a Straight and Two Pair outranks a High Pair.

Hand to be Held- Refers to the hand dealt to you with the first five cards.  You will always keep a hand that is closer to the top of the chart.

Cards Held – the number of cards you will keep of the original cards dealt.

Cards Drawn – the number of card you will draw.  For example, if you are dealt a High Pair, keep the pair and draw three cards.

Explanation of terms:  

1.      The term high refers to any card ranked Jack or higher.  The term low refers to cards less than a Jack in value.  Ace, King, Queen and Jack are high cards.  2 through 10 are low cards.

2.      A Royal Flush is refers to five sequential cards of the same suit staring with a 10 and ending with an Ace.  For example, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of spades.  This is the top hand for Jacks of Better.

3.      A Straight Flush refers to five sequential cards of the same suit but not starting with a 10 and ending with an Ace.  For example, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack of hearts.

4.      Four of a Kind refers to four cards of the same number or picture card.  For example, four 2s or four Kings.

5.      Full House consists of a hand with three cards of the same number or same picture card and two cards of the same number or same picture card.  For example, three 6s and two Queens.

6.      Four to a Royal Flush means that you have four of the five cards needed to make a Royal Flush.  For example, if you have Jack, Queen, King and Ace of diamonds.  In this case you only need one card, the Ten of diamonds to complete the Royal Flush.

7.      Flush consists of five card of the same suit.  For example 2 4 5 8 9 and Jack of spades.

8.      Three of a Kind is three cards of the same number or same picture card.  For example, three Jacks or three 7s.

9.      Straight is five cards all in sequential order but not of the same suit.  For example, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 or mixed suits.

10.  Four to a Straight Flush means that you have four of the five cards needed to make a Straight Flush.  For example, if you have 4, 5, 6 and 7 of spades.

11.  Two Pair refers to two pairs of the card of the same number or card picture.  For example, two 4s and two 9s.

12.  High Pair is a pair of cards valued Jack or Higher.  For example, a pair of Jacks or a pair of Kings

13.  Three to a Royal Flush means that you have three of the five cards needed to make a Royal Flush.

14.  Four to a Flush consists of four cards of the same suit.  For example, 4, 7, 9 and Jack of diamonds.

15.  Low Pair is two of the same cards valued ten or lower.  For example two 5s or two 9s.

16.  Four to a Straight consists of four cards in order but not of the same suit.  For example 4,5, 6 and 7 of mixed suits.

17.  Three to a Straight Flush means that you have three cards in order and of the same suit to make a Straight Flush.  For example, 3, 4, 5 or hearts or 5, 6, 7 of clubs.

18.  Two to a Royal Flush means you have two of the cards in order of the same suit to secure a Royal Flush.  For example, a Queen and King of hearts or a Jack and Queen of spades.

19.  Two High Cards means two cards which are not a pair valued as Jacks or better.  For example, Jack, Ace.

20.  One High Card refers to one card ranked Jack or better.  For example, if you have one King or just one Ace.

21.  Nothing means that none of your cards will make any of the hands mentioned above in the first five cards dealt to you.

 

Let’s take another look at the playing chart and consider some of the decisions you will have to make when you follow this playing strategy.

1.      Whenever you hold Four Cards to a Royal Flush discard the fifth card even if that card gives you a flush or a pair.

2.      A High Pair, Three of a Kind, a Straight and a Flush all outrank Three to a Royal Flush.  Play the Three to a Royal Flush when you have lesser hands such as Four to a Flush or a Low Pair.

3.      With Two Cards to a Royal Flush keep Four to a Straight, Four to a Flush or a High Pair.  Otherwise, go for the Royal Flush.

4.      Never break up a made Straight or a Flush, unless one card gives you a chance to make a Royal Flush.  Another way of saying this is that you will give up a Straight or Flush if you only need only card to make a Royal Flush.

5.      Keep a High Pair over Four to a Straight or Four to a Flush.

6.      You will never break up Four of a Kind, a Full House, Three of a Kind or Two Pair.  The worthless cards for the last two hands will be discarded.

7.      Always keep a High Pair unless you have Four Cards to a Royal Flush or Four to a Straight Flush.

8.      Keep a Low Pair over Four to a Straight or Three to a Straight Flush.  However, you will discard them in favor or Four to a Flush or Three or Four to a Royal Flush.

9.      If you are dealt an unmade hand you will try to improve them in the following order:
Four to a Royal Flush and Straight Flush, Three to a Royal Flush, Four to a Flush, Four to a Straight, Three to a Straight Flush, Two to a Royal Flush, Two High Cards and one High Card.  Any of these nonpaying hands can, with the right draws, turn into winning hands.

10.  Lacking any of the above, that is numbered cards 1 to 9, with no card Jack or higher, discard all of the cards and draw five fresh ones.

This strategy can be applied to the 
following versions of Jacks or Better:

1.      Jacks or Better

2.      Bonus Poker

3.      Bonus Poker Deluxe

4.      White Hot Aces Bonus Poker

5.      Double Bonus Poker

6.      Double Double Bonus Poker

7.      Triple Bonus Bonus Poker

8.      Triple Bonus Jacks or Better

9.    Super Double Bonus Poker

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