Master these 5 perfect strategies for video poker to maximize your chances of winning and improve your gameplay experience. Learn optimal card-holding decisions backed by mathematical analysis.
Video poker stands apart in the casino world as one of the few games where skilled players can actually achieve positive expected returns. Unlike slot machines, your decisions in video poker directly impact the outcome and your long-term results. Today, I’m diving into the 5 perfect strategies for video poker that can transform you from a casual player into a calculated advantage player. These aren’t just random tips—these 5 perfect strategies for video poker are mathematically proven approaches that professional gamblers rely on to give themselves the best possible edge against the house. Whether you’re playing Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, or any other popular variant, implementing these 5 perfect strategies for video poker will immediately improve your results and bankroll longevity.
Implementing the 5 Perfect Strategies for Video Poker
1. Choose the Right Pay Table
The foundation of the 5 perfect strategies for video poker begins with selecting the right machine. Not all video poker games are created equal, even when they share the same name. The pay table differences can dramatically affect your expected return.
For Jacks or Better, look for machines offering the 9/6 pay table (paying 9 coins for a full house and 6 for a flush on a one-coin bet). This configuration offers a return of 99.54% with perfect play, compared to the common 8/5 versions that return only 97.3%. That 2.24% difference is massive in the long run.
Similarly, for Deuces Wild, seek out the rare “full pay” machines offering returns over 100% with perfect play. These machines pay 5 coins for four of a kind, 15 for a straight flush, and 9 for five of a kind.
“The first decision you make—which machine to play—is actually more important than any card-holding decision during gameplay,” explains gambling mathematician Michael Shackleford, known as the “Wizard of Odds.” This critical choice forms the bedrock of any successful 5 perfect strategies for video poker implementation.
2. Master the Optimal Hold Strategy
The most technical but rewarding of the 5 perfect strategies for video poker involves making mathematically correct hold decisions for every possible hand. Each video poker variant has its own optimal strategy chart, developed through computer simulations analyzing millions of hands.
For Jacks or Better, here are some counterintuitive but mathematically correct hold decisions:
- Always break up a pair to hold four cards to a royal flush
- Never hold a kicker with a pair
- Hold three cards to a royal flush over a low pair
- Hold two suited high cards (J, Q, K, A) over a single high card
Many players make the mistake of “going for the win” rather than playing the mathematically optimal strategy. Remember, optimal video poker strategy isn’t about intuition—it’s about mathematics.
“Each decision you make should maximize the expected value of the hand, not necessarily the chances of winning something on this specific draw,” notes professional gambler and author Bob Dancer, who made over $1 million playing video poker.
Learning and applying perfect strategy charts is admittedly challenging, which is why strategy cards are permitted and even sold in casino gift shops. This component of the 5 perfect strategies for video poker requires the most study but yields the greatest rewards.
3. Apply Proper Bankroll Management
The third of our 5 perfect strategies for video poker focuses on proper bankroll management. Even with optimal play, video poker has significant variance, and you’ll experience winning and losing streaks.
For serious video poker players, I recommend:
- A minimum bankroll of 400 times your average bet for games with lower volatility like Jacks or Better
- 800 times your average bet for more volatile games like Deuces Wild
- Playing at denomination levels appropriate for your total bankroll
- Setting win goals and loss limits for each session
Proper bankroll sizing prevents you from going broke during normal downswings and allows you to stay in the game long enough for the math to work in your favor. Without adequate bankroll management, even perfect decision-making won’t save you from the harsh reality of short-term variance.
“Most players dramatically underestimate the bankroll needed to withstand the normal variance in video poker,” warns gambling author Jean Scott, known as the “Queen of Comps.” “This often forces them to quit during downswings, locking in losses that might have been recovered with sufficient funds.”
Advanced Techniques Among the 5 Perfect Strategies for Video Poker
4. Target Progressive Jackpots Strategically
One of the more advanced 5 perfect strategies for video poker involves calculating when progressive jackpots grow large enough to create positive expected value. Unlike fixed jackpots, progressives increase until someone wins, occasionally growing large enough to tip the mathematical advantage to the player.
To effectively implement this strategy:
- Track progressive jackpot sizes at your favorite casinos
- Calculate the break-even point (usually when the progressive is 150-200% of its starting value)
- Play only when the jackpot exceeds this threshold
- Continue using optimal hold strategy—don’t alter decisions to “chase” the royal flush
For example, in a typical Jacks or Better game with a base return of 99.54%, the break-even progressive royal flush jackpot is approximately 1,220 coins (the standard is 800 coins). Any jackpot above this figure gives the player a mathematical edge.
“The beauty of progressives is that the previous players have essentially contributed to a prize pool that you now have an advantaged chance of winning,” explains video poker expert Henry Tamburin. This approach represents one of the few times gambling truly offers a positive expected return.
5. Leverage Casino Promotions
The final component of our 5 perfect strategies for video poker involves strategically taking advantage of casino promotions. These include:
- Cashback programs that return a percentage of play
- Point multiplication days where rewards accrue faster
- Free play offers that reduce your overall risk
- Tournaments with favorable structures
These promotions can add 1-3% to your overall return, potentially pushing games from slightly negative to positive expected value. The key is calculating the true value of each promotion and adjusting your play schedule accordingly.
“In today’s competitive casino market, promotions often make the difference between a losing game and a winning one,” notes casino advantage play expert Jean Scott. “I’ve maintained a positive lifetime return on video poker not just through perfect play, but by religiously maximizing promotional value.”
To properly leverage promotions, keep detailed records of your play and the associated rewards. This data-driven approach is crucial for accurately calculating your all-in return rate.
Conclusion: Combining the 5 Perfect Strategies for Video Poker
Individually, each of these 5 perfect strategies for video poker will improve your results. Combined, they form a comprehensive approach that can transform video poker from an entertaining diversion into potentially profitable play. The mathematical reality is that relatively few players have the discipline and knowledge to implement all five strategies consistently, which is precisely why casinos continue offering these games despite their potentially beatable nature.
Start by mastering one strategy at a time, beginning with optimal hold decisions for your preferred game variant. As your skills develop, gradually incorporate the other elements of our 5 perfect strategies for video poker into your overall approach. With patience and practice, you’ll join the elite minority of video poker players who genuinely understand and exploit the mathematical advantages this unique casino game offers.
Remember that even with perfect implementation of these strategies, gambling should always be approached as entertainment first. Set reasonable expectations, play responsibly, and enjoy the intellectual challenge that makes video poker the thinking player’s casino game.
