Video Poker Strategy
The 9/6 Jacks or Better hold list, and how to pick a machine
Video poker is the rare casino game where the machine tells you its return. The pay table on the glass sets it. Full-pay 9/6 Jacks or Better (9 for a full house, 6 for a flush) returns 99.54% with best play. The same game with a short pay table can drop to 95%.
The 9/6 Jacks or Better hold list
Scan from the top and play the first line that matches your hand. This list comes within a few hundredths of a percent of perfect play.
- Royal flush, straight flush or four of a kind (pat)
- Four cards to a royal flush
- Full house, flush, straight or three of a kind (pat)
- Four cards to a straight flush
- Two pair
- High pair (jacks or better)
- Three cards to a royal flush
- Four cards to a flush
- Low pair (tens or lower)
- Four cards to an outside straight
- Two suited high cards
- Three cards to a straight flush (with two high cards, or one high card and no gaps)
- Two unsuited high cards (holding three, keep the two lowest)
- Suited ten with a jack, queen or king
- One high card
- Three cards to a straight flush (other kinds)
- Discard everything and draw five
The four mistakes that cost the most
- Breaking a made flush or straight to chase a royal, unless you hold four to the royal.
- Holding a kicker with a pair. A pair is held as exactly two cards.
- Keeping a low pair over four to a flush. The flush draw wins.
- Holding three high cards. Keep the two lowest.
Bet max coins
The royal flush pays 800 per coin only at maximum coins. Playing fewer coins lowers the return, so choose a lower denomination rather than fewer coins.
Practice it free
The free video poker simulator plays Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker, Double Bonus and Deuces Wild and trains you on the right holds.
Go further
Carry the strategy to the table on a printable strategy card, or get every number worked out in Casino Game Theory & Advantage Play.
More free guides
All six games are in the free casino simulators.
Gambling carries real risk of loss, and no strategy removes the house edge on these games. Play only where it is legal and you are of age. If gambling stops being fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER. See the disclaimer.