The odds on a certain hand vary from game to game. Where the Video Poker games get an edge is with players who do not pursue a best strategy. In other words, winging any given game based on a slack understanding of Poker is going to lose you money.

Each Video Poker deviation has its own quirks when it comes to the odds and best possible player strategy. In the next section we'll give you a quick guide to the most popular games.

Jacks or better
Jacks Or Better strategy can get a complex. For a full analysis check our references below, or follow this quick strategy guide:

Keep any hand that already pays. Possible exceptions, by potential value, are:

Keep any two suited high cards. Discard unsuited high cards.
Four mixed-suit high cards:
keep any three suited, toss the unsuited.
otherwise, keep them all.
Three unsuited high cards:
keep all three of K-Q-J.
with A-K-J or A-Q-J, discard the A.
Keep any two unsuited high cards.
Keep any single high card.
Tens or better
Same strategy as Jacks Or Better where 10 is now a high card.

Deuces wild
General strategy includes, best options first:

Hold any 5 Of A Kind or Royal Flush.
Else, if you've got four 2's: keep 'em!.
Else, if you've got three 2's:
hold any made 5 Of A Kind or Royal Flush
otherwise, keep the 2's and discard the rest.
Else, if you've got two 2's:
hold any made Straight, Five Of A Kind or Royal Flush.
hold any 4 of a Kind.
hold any 4 of a Royal Flush.
otherwise, keep the 2's and discard the rest.
Else, if you've got a single 2, keep any made hand EXCEPT:
hold four card Royal Flushes over made Straights, Flushes and Straight Flushes.
keep four card Straight Flushes of all types.
hold three card Royal Flushes .
pairs: with two pair, keep one, but not both.
hold four card Flushes.
hold four card Straights.
hold three card Straight Flushes, including gaps.
hold four card inside Straights.
hang on to two card Q or J high Straight Flushes .
discard two card Royal Flushes.
if you've come this low in the list, discard everything and try again.

Jokers wild:

Keep in mind that only K and A are high cards: this is a Kings or Better game.

General strategy:

Keep a Joker if you get it. You'll only see in once in ten hands, on average.
Don't keep an inside Straight.
Straight Flushes are a good payer and they occur significantly more frequently than in a game like Jacks or Better

All American:

Straights and Flushes pay well here so it tips the usual strategy in their favor:

Prefer inside Straights over one or two high cards.
Prefer 4 card outside Straights and 4 card flushes over pairs, even high ones.
Hold any three cards to a Flush.

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