More on Choosing a Video Poker Machine
Video Poker Pay Table VariationsChoosing a Video Poker MachineGood Video Poker GamesVideo Poker Machines - How to ChooseSteve Bourie's Guide to Video Poker
Difference Between Video Poker and Slot MachinesHow Video Poker Machines WorkGeneral Tips for Playing Video PokerVideo Poker Basic Strategy TipsHow Many Coins Should You Bet at Video PokerThe Best Video Poker Machines
The 2013 American Casino Guide
by Steve Bourie
The American Casino Guide has been published annually since 1992 and is the most comprehensive book available for information on all U.S. casinos including all casino/resorts, riverboats and Indian casinos.
The new 2013 edition includes detailed information on more than 700 casinos in 40 states, plus it includes 203 coupons valued at more than $1,000! The coupons can be used now in 2012 and are valid until late December 2013.
The new 2013 edition includes detailed information on more than 700 casinos in 40 states, plus it includes 203 coupons valued at more than $1,000! The coupons can be used now in 2012 and are valid until late December 2013.
Frugal Video Poker Software
Frugal Video Poker is one of the most comprehensive programs available with 54 pre-loaded games and scores of unique features. It is the first to combine in one program both a tutor which will signal your errors AND a strategy generator, so you can print out a chart to take with you to the casino. The handy Slot Club Calculator helps you figure what slot club and comps benefits add to the base value of the game you have analyzed. Editor's Choice.
Read a review of Frugal Video Poker SoftwareHow to Pick the Best Paying Video Poker Machines
by Steve Bourie
Now that you understand how a video poker machine works let’s learn how to pick out the best paying ones. In the beginning of this story it was mentioned that "you can tell a video poker
Steve Bourie is the author of the American Casino Guide, the most comprehensive publication available for information on any U.S. casino/resort, riverboat or Indian casino. His guide has been published annually since 1992 and is now the biggest selling book in the U.S. on the subject of casino gambling. Steve's website is www.americancasinoguide.com machine’s payback percentage just by looking at it." That’s true, but it takes a little bit of knowledge to know the difference among all the different types of machines. An example of some of the different machines available are: Tens or Better, Jacks or Better, Two Pairs or Better, Joker Poker and Deuces Wild. To make it even more confusing, not only are there different machines, but each of those machines can have a different pay schedule for the same hand.
Steve Bourie is the author of the American Casino Guide, the most comprehensive publication available for information on any U.S. casino/resort, riverboat or Indian casino. His guide has been published annually since 1992 and is now the biggest selling book in the U.S. on the subject of casino gambling. Steve's website is www.americancasinoguide.com machine’s payback percentage just by looking at it." That’s true, but it takes a little bit of knowledge to know the difference among all the different types of machines. An example of some of the different machines available are: Tens or Better, Jacks or Better, Two Pairs or Better, Joker Poker and Deuces Wild. To make it even more confusing, not only are there different machines, but each of those machines can have a different pay schedule for the same hand. Fortunately, every video poker machine’s payback percentage can be mathematically calculated. Not only does this let you know which machines offer you the best return, but it also tells you the best playing decisions to make on that particular machine based on the odds of that combination occurring. The bad news, however, is that it’s fairly impossible to do on your own so you’ll have to either buy a book that lists all of the percentages and strategies (see video poker books) or buy a computer program (see video poker training software) that does the work for you. Take a look at the tables below and you'll see some different types of video poker games and their payback percentages (when played with maximum coin and perfect strategy).
Jacks or Better Payout Table - Payout 98.25%
|
Royal Flush
|
250
|
500
|
750
|
1000
|
4000
|
|
Straight Flush
|
40
|
80
|
120
|
160
|
200
|
|
Four of a Kind
|
20
|
40
|
60
|
80
|
100
|
|
Full House
|
9
|
18
|
27
|
36
|
45
|
|
Flush
|
6
|
12
|
18
|
24
|
30
|
|
Straight
|
4
|
8
|
12
|
16
|
20
|
|
Three of a Kind
|
3
|
6
|
9
|
12
|
15
|
|
Two Pairs
|
2
|
4
|
6
|
8
|
10
|
|
Pair of Jacks or Better
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
Deuces Wild Payout Table - Payout 97.06%
|
Royal Flush
|
250
|
500
|
750
|
1000
|
4000
|
|
Four Deuces
|
200
|
400
|
600
|
800
|
1000
|
|
Wild Royal Flush
|
20
|
40
|
60
|
80
|
100
|
|
Five of a Kind
|
12
|
24
|
36
|
48
|
60
|
|
Straight Flush
|
9
|
18
|
27
|
36
|
45
|
|
Four of a Kind
|
4
|
8
|
12
|
16
|
20
|
|
Full House
|
4
|
8
|
12
|
16
|
20
|
|
Flush
|
3
|
6
|
9
|
12
|
15
|
|
Straight
|
2
|
4
|
6
|
8
|
10
|
|
Three of a Kind
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
Joker's Wild Payout Table - Payout 97.06%
|
Royal Flush
|
400
|
800
|
1200
|
1600
|
4000
|
|
Five of a Kind
|
200
|
400
|
600
|
800
|
1000
|
|
Wild Royal Flush
|
100
|
200
|
300
|
400
|
500
|
|
Straight Flush
|
50
|
100
|
150
|
200
|
250
|
|
Four of a Kind
|
15
|
30
|
45
|
60
|
75
|
|
Full House
|
7
|
14
|
21
|
28
|
35
|
|
Flush
|
5
|
10
|
15
|
20
|
25
|
|
Straight
|
3
|
6
|
9
|
12
|
15
|
|
Three of a Kind
|
2
|
4
|
6
|
8
|
10
|
|
Two Pairs
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
|
Pair of Kings or Better
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
Bonus Poker Payout Table - Payout 96.87%
|
Royal Flush
|
250
|
500
|
750
|
1000
|
4000
|
|
Four of a Kind (Aces)
|
80
|
160
|
240
|
320
|
400
|
|
Straight Flush
|
50
|
100
|
150
|
200
|
250
|
|
Four of a Kind (2-4)
|
40
|
80
|
120
|
160
|
200
|
|
Four of a Kind (5-K)
|
25
|
50
|
75
|
100
|
125
|
|
Full House
|
6
|
12
|
18
|
24
|
30
|
|
Flush
|
5
|
10
|
15
|
20
|
25
|
|
Straight
|
4
|
8
|
12
|
16
|
20
|
|
Three of a Kind
|
3
|
6
|
9
|
12
|
15
|
|
Two Pairs
|
2
|
4
|
6
|
8
|
10
|
|
Pair of Jacks or Better
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
You can see fourteen payout tables and payout percentages in the American Casino Guide
For those of you with a computer, Bob Dancer Presents Win Poker can determine the exact payback percentage for any video poker machine. It retails for $29.95 and besides calculating percentages it will also allow you to play video poker on different types of machines and analyze hands to show you the expected return for each play. You can set the game to automatically show you the best decision each time or you can set it to just warn you if you make a wrong decision on your own. It’s so simple that my 11-year-old son plays it and I’m confident he can play better than the average Las Vegas visitor. "I’m going for the flush, dad!"
[ learn video poker! ]