If every Video Slot player followed a basic strategy when they wager at internet casinos, the latter will make far less money. They might even tighten up the returns on Video Poker. But right now you have a chance to improve the odds against the house considerably if you follow these simple strategies for each of the main games.
If you are a high roller, playing at $5 machines or higher, you should take time to learn the strategy and to study advanced “pro” strategies, in turn this will improve your edge against the house significantly.
Why doesn’t everyone use these strategies? For exactly the same reason that players give casinos their money at Blackjack, Craps, Roulette and many other table games, they don’t even bother to do a bit of research to make themselves some extra cash.
Once you have selected the machine which offers the best payout schedule for the casino game you want to wager at, you need to follow a simple strategy to give yourself the best opportunity to win. The key to a successful strategy is that it improves your chances of hitting that elusive Royal Flush.
Jacks or Better Basic Strategy
Play every hand following this order of priorities. Holding and discarding cards. Check and play each hand from the top of the list downwards.
| Hold | Four of a Kind, Straight Flush, Royal Flush | Hold all Carefully* |
| Hold | 4 to a Royal Flush | Discard fifth card. Even if it provides a paying combination |
| Hold | Three-of-a-Kind, Straight, Flush. Full House | Hold all Carefully |
| Hold | 4 to a Straight Flush | Discard fifth card, even it provides a paying combination |
| Hold | Two Pair | |
| Hold | Pair-Jacks or better | |
| Hold | 3 to a Royal Flush | |
| Hold | Low Pair-tens or lower | |
| Hold | 4 to an open-ended Straight** | |
| Hold | Two suited cards-Jacks or better | |
| Hold | 3 to a Straight Flush | |
| Hold | Any two cards, Jack or higher | If more than two cards Jacks or higher. Hold the two lowest cards*** |
| Hold | Suited J10, Q10, K10 | |
| Hold | One card, Jack or better | |
| Hold | Nothing | Discard all five cards |
| When you are dealt a big winning hand, it is easy to get over exited and fail to hold one card, or to press the hold button twice by mistake (this cancels the fold) resulting you losing a big win. Although some Video Poker Poker games automatically hold winning combinations others don’t. An open-ended Straight is one which can be completed by two cards. For example, if you have 7, 8, 9, and 10 then you either hit a 6 or a Jack. In contrast, a “Gut-Shot” or “Belly-Buster” Straight is one where there is only one card you can hit to make a Straight. For instance, if you have 5, 6, 8, 9, you only need a 7 to complete the Straight. ***This combines payout for pairing Jacks or higher, and maximizes Straight opportunities. | ||
