Video poker Payouts & Probability

Video Poker, like Blackjack can be one of the best games you can play in the casino. If you play properly, some Video Poker machines actually offer over 100% payback. It can also be one of the worst games if you play by hunch instead of using the proper basic strategy, derived from the mathematics of the game.

There are many variations of video poker games. Each game has its own pay schedule. Unlike slot machines you can determine the payback percentage of a video poker machine by reading the pay schedule on the machine. The most common Video Poker game is Jacks or Better (JB). The maximum payback for a full pay JB machine is 99.54%. Although this game does not have a positive return, this is the game you should learn first. It is the most popular and the one that you will most likely find in all locations. If you combine it with good slot club benefits or other promotions you can come out ahead. By learning Jacks or Better first you will have a strong foundation when you move on to other games. If your favorite casino offers full pay Deuces Wild, you will want to learn that game with its 100.7 payback.

In order to win at video poker you will need to know more than just how to play the game. In his book “Video Poker - Optimum Play”, Dan Paymar shows you how to read the pay schedules of the machines in order to choose the ones with the highest payback potential. He discusses bankroll considerations you will need to determine your chances of hitting a jackpot. Other chapters will show you how to evaluate the contribution of comps and promotions to the games total payback. The risk of ruin and volatility of the games are also covered.