Video Poker is often one of the most under rated games at the casino, especially in light of the fact that it is really not a pure luck game like slots and some variations of this game can offer returns of over 100% over the long term when you play with the correct strategy.

There are a number of Video Poker varieties, each with their own strategy, so you will need to either stick to one variant or learn a variety of strategies...the choice is yours and the reward is definitely worth the effort. Below are a few guidelines on strategy for the more popular games of Video Poker.

Jacks or Better Video Poker Strategy

Jacks or Better, as the name implies, is the lowest value standard poker hand that will payout in this game is a hand comprised of at least a pair of Jacks or higher.

When playing Jacks or Better it is preferable to memorise the strategy chart below or at least have it somewhere handy so that you can look at it when you need to.

Strategy charts like this one are very easy to use and make game play simpler and more rewarding. Once your initial 5 cards have been dealt, you simply start from the top of the card and work your way down the list until you find your hand, the aim is to keep the cards which will make up the highest value hand as possible.

Full Pay Jacks or Better Video Poker Strategy Chart
Initial Video Poker Hand	Cards to Hold	Cards to Discard
Royal Straight Flush	5	0
Straight Flush	5	0
4 of a Kind	4	1
4 Cards to a Royal Straight Flush	4	1
Full House	5	0
Flush	5	0
3 of a Kind	3	2
Straight	5	0
4 Cards to a Straight Flush	4	1
Two Pairs	4	1
A Pair of Jacks or a Higher Pair	2	3
3 Cards to a Royal Straight Flush	3	2
4 Cards to a Flush	4	1
Ten - Jack - Queen - King (Unsuited)	4	1
A Pair of 10's or lower	2	3
Nine - Ten - Jack - Queen (unsuited)	4	1
Eight - Nine - Ten - Jack (unsuited)	4	1
Nine - Jack - Queen (Same suite)	3	2
4 Cards to a Straight (open ended,no high Cards)	4	1
3 Cards to a Straight Flush, two gaps, two high cards	3	2
3 Cards to a Straight Flush, one gap, one high card	3	2
3 Cards to a Straight Flush, open ended, no high cards	3	2
Jack - Queen - King - Ace (Unsuited)	3	2
2 Cards to a Royal Straight Flush, two high cards	2	3
4 Cards to a Straight, one gap, three high cards	4	1
3 Cards to a straight flush, one gap, no high cards	3	2
Jack - Queen - King (Unsuited)	3	2
2 High Cards (Unsuited). If you have 3 high cards don't keep an ace.	2	3
2 Cards to a to a Royal Flush with a 10 and no Ace	2	3
1 High Card	1	4
3 cards to a Straight Flush, Two gaps, no high Cards	3	2
Other Video Poker Hands	0	5

Aces and Faces Video Poker Strategy

Aces and Faces is a standard video poker game very similar to Jacks or Better but with extra high payouts for Four of a Kind, payouts made of Aces or Face cards (Kings, Queens and Jacks).

In light of the extra payouts for the Four of a Kind Aces and Face hands your strategy should be designed to produce these hands as far as possible. Don't break up a paying hand unless you only need 1 card to complete a Royal Flush.

Full Pay Aces and Faces Strategy Chart
Non paying hands you should hold:
1.	4 cards to a Royal Flush
2.	4 cards to a Straight Flush
3.	3 cards to a Royal Flush
4.	4 cards to a Flush
5.	Any pair under a Jack
6.	4 cards to an outside straight
7.	2 suited high cards
8.	3 cards to a straight flush
9.	2 unsuited high cards (if more than 2 choose the 2 lower ones).
10.	Suited high cards 10-J, 10-Q, 10-K
11.	A card Jack or better

Deuces Wild Video Poker Strategy

In this Video Poker game, the Deuces (2's) are Wild Cards that can complete any hand (so it has the value of any card) and there is a chance of getting up to 4 wild cards in a game as there are 4 cards with the value of 2 in a standard playing deck of 52 cards.

Again you will need to memorise the strategy cards below which cover every scenario and the most preferable hands within each hand dealt in order to maximise your winning potential:

No Deuces in Your Initial Poker Hand?
1.	Royal Straight Flush
2.	Four Cards to a Royal Flush
3.	Straight Flush
4.	Four of a Kind
5.	Full House
6.	Three of a Kind
7.	Flush
8.	Straight
9.	Four Cards to a Straight Flush
10.	Three Cards to a Royal Straight Flush
11.	One Pair
12.	Four Cards to a Flush
13.	Four Cards to a Open Ended Straight - except 3456
14.	Three Cards to a Straight Flush
15.	4 - 5 - 6(s)
16.	3 - 4 - 5(s)
17.	Ten - Jack
18.	Three Cards to a Straight Flush - with two gaps, from 7 to King high
19.	Ten, Queen or Jack, Queen
20.	3 - 4 - 5(s) OR 3 - 5 - 6(s)
21.	Four Cards to A Royal Straight Flush, with one gap - includes 3456, but not Ace345
22.	All Other Hands - Draw 5 new cards

One Deuce in Your Initial Poker Hand
1.	Royal Straight Flush
2.	Five of a Kind
3.	Straight Flush
4.	Four of a Kind
5.	Four cards to a Wild Royal Straight Flush
6.	Full House
7.	Four Cards to a Straight Flush Open Ended - from 2 & 5-6-7 and up to 2 & 9-10-Jack
8.	Three of a Kind
9.	Flush
10.	Straight
11.	Four Cards to a Straight Flush, with one gap, includes 2 & 3-4-5(s) and 2 & 4-5-6(s)
12.	Four Cards to a Straight Flush Open Ended with Two gaps, from 7 to King High
13.	2 & Ace34(s) OR 2 & Ace35(s) OR 2 & Ace45(s)
14.	Three Cards to a Royal Straight Flush - but NOT with an Ace
15.	Three Cards to a Straight Flush - open ended, From 2 & 67(s) up to 2 & 910
16.	Three Cards to a Royal with an Ace
17.	Deuce Only

Two Deuces in Your Initial Poker Hand
1.	Wild Royal Straight Flush
2.	Five of a Kind
3.	Straight Flush
4.	Four of a Kind
5.	Four Cards to a Wild Royal Straight Flush
6.	Four Cards forming a open ended straight flush - from 2,2 & 6-7(s) up to 2,2 & 9-10(s)
7.	Two Deuces - draw 3 new cards

Three Deuces in Your Initial Poker Hand
1.	Wild Royal Straight Flush
2.	Five of a Kind: 2 - 2 -2 and a pair of Tens to Aces
3.	3 Deuces only - Draw two new cards

Four Deuces in Your Initial Poker Hand
1.	Four Deuces - Draw one new card

Now that you've got the hang of it, sign up at Casino Euro and have a go at their Video Poker selection. Or click here to go to the Rules page to play a few hands of free Video Poker.

Improve your chances of winning other casino games with our game strategies guide.