If you walk through a casino and observe the video poker machines, you will likely see dozens of players mindlessly slapping the “Draw” button as fast as they can.

If you learn the optimal strategy, Video Poker transforms from a predatory casino trap into one of the most mathematically fair games on the entire casino floor.

In this article, we are going to break down the absolute perfect mathematical strategy for the most popular and foundational version of the game: Jacks or Better.

Step 1: Finding the “Full Pay” 9/6 Machine

The casino secretly alters their House Edge by changing the payouts on only two specific hands: the Full House and the Flush.

This means the machine pays exactly 9 coins for a Full House (per 1 coin bet) and 6 coins for a Flush.

However, casinos are greedy. They will frequently place “Short Pay” machines (like an 8/5 or a 7/5 machine) right next to the good ones.

If the casino does not offer 9/6 Jacks or Better, the correct strategy is to turn around and walk out the door.

The Math Behind the Maximum Bet

Many casual players, trying to conserve their bankroll, will only bet 1 or 2 coins per hand.

If you bet 1 coin, a Royal Flush pays 250 coins. But if you bet the maximum 5 coins, the Royal Flush payout jumps massively to 4,000 coins (instead of the mathematically linear 1,250).

If betting 5 coins on a $1 machine ($5 a hand) is too expensive for your bankroll, do not drop down to betting 1 coin.

Playing less than maximum coins instantly turns a beatable game into a terrible mathematical trap.

How to Play Perfect Jacks or Better Strategy

The golden rule is: always play the hand that has the highest Expected Value, even if it means throwing away a guaranteed winning hand to chase a bigger one.

The amateur will hold the pair of Jacks to guarantee the small win.

The payout for a standard Flush (30 coins) is not large enough to justify throwing away the guaranteed payout and the chance to draw Three of a Kind or Four of a Kind.

In Video Poker, you are not trying to beat a dealer; you are purely trying to make the absolute best poker hand possible, and throwing away useless kickers maximizes your drawing power.

The Order of Operations (From Highest EV to Lowest)

• The Monsters: Never break these hands under any circumstances. You have already won the lottery.
• Chasing the Dream: This is the highest Expected Value draw in the entire game.
• Solid Winners: Take the guaranteed money. The math says these payouts are too valuable to risk for a massive gamble.
• The Big Draw: A very strong draw, but still mathematically weaker than a guaranteed Three of a Kind.
• The Workhorse: Two Pair pays 10 coins. It keeps your bankroll afloat while you wait for the massive hands.
• 6. High Pair (Jacks, Queens, Kings, Aces): Hold the pair. Throw away everything else (including an open-ended straight draw).
• 7. 4 Cards to a Flush: Hold the four suited cards. This is mathematically better than holding a Low Pair (2s through 10s).
• 8. Low Pair (2s through 10s): Hold the pair. Throw away everything else (including a single High Card). Do NOT hold a kicker.
• The Open-Ender: You have 8 “outs” to hit the straight. Inside straights only have 4 “outs” and are mathematically terrible draws.
• Accepting the Loss: Sometimes the best play is to simply reset the board completely.

The Math of the 9/6 Paytable (For a 5-Coin Bet)

Video Poker is the thinking person’s slot machine. It rewards discipline, mathematical rigor, and an absolute refusal to rely on “luck.”

Do not be intimidated by the speed of the professional players next to you.