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The Ultimate Jacks or Better Strategy
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Before we can reveal the ultimate Jacks or Better strategy, it would be wise to understand the basics. Following our simple guide is sure to increase your win rate.
The Basics — A Beginner’s Guide
The main question is how to win at video poker? Jacks or Better is most likely the video poker game that started it all. It’s also an incredibly popular form of video poker. Predictably enough, you win the game if you have at least a pair of jacks.
In addition, Jacks or Better is probably the highest paying casino game. Using the right Jack or Better video poker strategy, and a 9/6 version of Jacks or Better gives you an incredible 99.56% payback. In other words, you have to contend with a house edge of 0.46%, which makes it one of the lowest of all casino games.
A 9/6 Jacks or Better means that a full house pays nine coins and a flush pays six.
Even Higher Paying Games?
It bears mentioning that there are alternative video poker games that offer an even better payback chance. These are:
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Full-pay Deuces Wild — 100.76% payback
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Full-pay Joker Poker — 100.64%
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10 / 7 Double Bonus — 100.17%
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10 / 6 Double Double Bonus — 100.07%
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Triple Bonus Plus — 99.80%
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Super Double Bonus — 99.69%
However, the problem with these games is that they’re pretty hard to find.
The Strategy — Make the Right Decisions
There are many Jacks or Better trainers and strategies online. However, very few of those are actually optimal. Most online strategies either cater to beginners or are an intermediate strategy.
All it takes for you to start winning in Jacks or Better is to follow the list and keep playing. In essence, Jacks or Better is a numbers game — pure mathematics.
Multi-hand Jacks or Better Strategy is the same, except that you have to keep track of more than one hand at a time.
How to Win? – Secrets of the Experts
Winning in Jacks or Better is mostly based on the luck of the draw. However, there is an optimal way to play, and it is very simple. Just follow the list and you’ll be maximizing your chances of winning.
Starting Hand | Cards to Hold | Cards to Draw |
| Royal Flush | 5 | 0 |
| Straight Flush | 5 | 0 |
| Four of a Kind | 4 | 1 |
| Four Cards to a Royal Flush | 4 | 1 |
| Full House | 5 | 0 |
| Flush | 5 | 0 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 2 |
| Straight | 5 | 0 |
| Four Cards to a Straight Flush | 4 | 1 |
| Two Pairs | 4 | 1 |
| A Pair of Jacks or Higher | 2 | 3 |
| Three Cards to Royal Flush | 3 | 2 |
| Four Cards to a Flush | 4 | 1 |
| Ten - Jack - Queen - King (Unsuited) | 4 | 1 |
| Pair of Tens 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 |
| Nine - Ten - 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 |
| 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 |
| A High Card | 1 | 4 |
| 3 cards to a Straight Flush, Two Gaps, no High Cards | 3 | 2 |
| All other hands | 0 | 5 |
Explaining the Terms — Poker Parlance
If you’re not an expert, some of these terms might sound strange to you. Don’t worry. We’ll explain everything.
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High Card:
A high card is one of the four top-valued cards in the game — Jack, Queen, King, or Ace.
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Inside Straight:
The opposite of an open-ended straight, an inside straight, can be completed by a specific card. (e.g. 7, 8, 10, Jack)
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Gaps:
Gaps are missing cards that would complete an inside straight.
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Open-Ended:
An open-ended straight, aka outside straight, is a straight that can be completed at either end (e.g., 8, 9, 10, Jack). Open-ended straights are better for the player as there are eight cards that can complete them – compared to the inside straight’s four.
The Optimal Strategies — Your Way to the Top
How to play Jacks or Better optimally is a matter of much debate in the gaming world, but we’ve narrowed it down to a few key strategies.
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Knowledge:
Know everything about the game’s rules; don’t rush into things. If you’re a beginner, practise with play money.
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Skill:
Even though Jacks or Better is a luck-based game, like most gambling games, it still has an aspect of skill. Like with all skill-based games, practice makes perfect.
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Patience:
Patience is a virtue for a reason, and even more so in Jacks or Better! If you want to win, you can’t rush or just rely on pure luck. Every hand can be used in more than one way, so be careful not to lose your head!
Summary
So we’ve just gone through why Jacks or Better is a staple of every casino out there. We’ve discussed the best strategies. All that is left is for you to play and win!
Have fun, be responsible, and good luck!
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