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Best Jacks or Better Video Poker AU

Winnie Isiah | December 8, 2023 | Updated on: December 21st, 2023

Jacks or Better is a type of video poker where the lowest winning hand is a pair of Jacks. This game shares common features with other variants, allowing casino players to easily switch between different versions once they learn the basics of video poker. Known for its simple rules, Jacks or Better is often considered one of the easiest variations to learn and master. This guide aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the basics and the correct strategy, empowering you to improve your outcomes and enjoy a more successful gaming experience.

Jack-or-Better-Video-Poker

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How to Join an Online Casino to Play Jacks or Better

With the popularity of the video poker game, you can find video poker options at the top Australian Online Casinos. Signing up is easy, and we’ll guide you through the steps needed to create an account and play Jacks or Better for real money winnings.

Choose an Online Casino

When choosing an online casino, it’s crucial to consider factors such as reputation, game variety, bonuses, and security. Look for licensed and regulated platforms to ensure a safe and fair gaming experience.

Create your Casino Account

To get started as a new player, you need to register an account to gain access to the casino games. Initiate the process by clicking the “Register” button and complete the registration form on the site.

Deposit Real Money

To enjoy Jacks or Better video poker, simply deposit real money. Plus, on your first deposit, many AU Online Casinos are most likely to offer new online players bonuses such as a deposit matching bonus, no deposit bonus, free spins bonus, cashback bonus and more bonuses, instantly doubling your initial bankroll.

Search for Jacks or Better

We suggest checking the video poker games category or using the search function to quickly find the Jacks or Better video poker game.

Enjoy the Game

Adjust your bet size. Once ready, press the “Deal” button to receive five cards. Decide which cards to hold and replace the others. If you win, the payout will be automatically credited.

How to Choose a Jacks or Better Poker Game?

To pick the best Jacks or Better game from Australian Online Casinos, look at the return to player (RTP) rate. This is an estimate of how much the casino game pays out compared to what’s bet. Usually, Jacks or Better video poker has an RTP between 90% and 99%, but the better versions can go above 99.50% if you use the right strategy (more on that later).

Different versions have different payouts for the same hand strength, affecting the RTP. For better results, go for a 9/6 video poker game, referring to the payouts for a full house and a flush. This table should look like the following, resulting in an RTP of 99.89%:

Hand Payout
Jacks or Better 1x
Two Pairs 2x
Three of a Kind 3x
Straight 4x
Flush 6x
Full House 9x
Four of a Kind 25x
Royal Flush 800x

Different versions of the game might give you a higher payout for getting a royal flush, but they might give you less for weaker hands. This way of playing is good for casino players who want to win big real money in Jacks or Better video poker, like high rollers.

Think about what kind of game you like when picking a casino game. Online video poker games may video poker games like the old video poker machines or have cool and new themes.

Some games let you play many hands at the same time. Even though it might seem a bit confusing for new players learning how to play Jacks or Better video poker, you’re actually playing just one hand, but you can see the results for many hands. With these multi-hand Jacks or Better games, you can play more hands in an hour, but keep in mind you’re also betting more each round.

Jacks or Better Odds & Payouts

The rules of Jacks or Better video poker and the odds remain the same, even if the payouts differ. Every game uses a standard deck of 52 cards, which is shuffled after each round. In games displaying multiple hands, each hand uses a separate deck version for fairness. This means that each hand you play has the same odds, as they don’t share cards.

It’s worth noting that many video poker games offer an increased payout for a royal flush in Jacks or Better when playing with five coins or at the maximum level. While the other payouts are just multiplied by the level because of the extra coins in the bet, the royal flush payout sees a significant increase.

In such situations, the odds for Jacks or Better video poker are more favourable at the maximum level. We suggest reducing the coin value while maximizing the level. This keeps the bet size approximately the same, but you still take advantage of the higher payout for the game’s strongest hand.

Unfortunately, the likelihood of obtaining a royal flush in the first five cards is 1 in 649,740. With optimal play in 9/6 video poker, the chance of forming a royal flush by making the right card changes is 1 in 40,391. However, these odds are still much lower than the likelihood of being struck by lightning in your lifetime, which is 1 in 15,300.

Here are the odds for the first hand in video poker Jacks or Better:

Hand Odds
2 Pairs 1 in 21
3 of a Kind 1 in 47
4 of a Kind 1 in 4,165
Any Pair 1 in 2.37
Flush 1 in 509
Full House 1 in 694
High Pair (Jacks, Kings, Aces, Queens) 1 in 7.69
Royal Flush 1 in 649,740
Straight 1 in 255
Straight Flush 1 in 72,193

Understanding the Hands

In Jacks or Better, understanding the various hands is crucial for effective real money gambling . Let’s break down the key hands you’ll encounter in this classic video poker game:

High and Low:

High: Any card that’s a Jack or higher, such as King, Queen, Ace and Jack.

Low:  All cards lower in value than a Jack, ranging from 2 to 10.

Specific Hands:

Royal Flush: Five sequential cards of matching suit starting with 10 and ending with Ace, the highest paying hand.

Straight Flush: Five sequential cards of the same suit up to 10, like 6, 7, 8, 9, 10).

Four of a Kind: Four cards with the same number, like x4 Kings or x4 2s.

Full House: A hand with three of a kind plus a pair, like x3 7s and x2 Kings.

Partial Hands:

4 to a Royal Flush: Holding x4 of the x5 cards forming  a Royal Flush, needing one more like a Queen, King, 10 and Jack.

Flush: x5 cards of the same suit.

3 of a Kind: A hand forming x2 cards of the same number.

Straight: x5 cards in sequential order but with the same suit.

Incomplete Flushes and Straights:

4 to a Straight Flush: Holding x4 of the x5 cards forming a Straight Flush.

2 Pair: 2 pairs of cards, each pair with the same number, like x2 4s and x2 Aces.

3 to a Royal Flush: Holding x3 cards for a Royal Flush.

4 to a Flush:  x4 cards of the same suit.

4 to a Straight: x4 cards in a sequential order, but not of the same suit.

3 to a Straight Flush: x3 cards in a sequential order and same suit to form a Straight Flush.

2 to a Royal Flush: x2 cards toward securing a Royal Flush.

Jacks or Better Strategy

The Jacks or Better strategy revolves around a crucial decision: which cards to keep and which to discard in various situations. The list below covers all possible card combinations from the virtual deck. To avoid mistakes and enhance success, prioritize the highest combination on the list in each scenario. This approach ensures online casino players consistently maximize their expected value and improve the chances of real money winnings.

Without delay, here is the optimal strategy for playing Jacks or Better video poker on a full-pay machine:

  1. Save a Royal Flush
  2. Save a Straight Flush
  3. Save 4 of a Kind
  4. Save Four to a Royal Flush
  5. Save a Full House
  6. Save a Flush
  7. Save Three of a Kind
  8. Save a Straight
  9. Save 4 to a Straight Flush
  10. Save 2 Pair
  11. Save a High Pair
  12. Save 3 to a Royal Flush
  13. Save 4 to a Flush
  14. Save KQJT offsuit
  15. Save a Low Pair
  16. Save 4 Cards to an Open-Ended Straight
  17. Save 3 to a Straight Flush
  18. Save Suited QJ
  19. Save 4 to an Inside Straight with 4 High Cards
  20. Save Suited KQ or KJ
  21. Save Suited AQ, AK or AJ
  22. Save 4 to an Inside Straight with 3 High Cards
  23. Save KQJ offsuit
  24. Save QJ offsuit
  25. Save JT offsuit
  26. Save Suited JT
  27. Save Suited QT
  28. Save 2 offsuit High Cards
  29. Keep a J
  30. Keep Suited KT
  31. Keep a Q
  32. Keep a K
  33. Keep an A
  34. Discard All Cards

If you learn and stick to this Jacks or Better video poker strategy, you can expect to get back over 99.89% of your bets in the long run. Combine this with making the correct moves and making the most of casino promotions and bonuses you might even turn your online gambling into something more profitable over time. Just remember, any time you deviate from this game strategy, it could cost you real money losses. So, don’t go chasing lucky hands. Always stick to the Jacks or Better strategy you learned here, and you’ll do well in most video poker games.

Tips for Jacks or Better

Here are some tips to make the most of your online Jacks or Better video poker gaming experience. While some may not apply in a land-based casino, they can give you an advantage on online gambling.

Practice Online for Free

Practicing online for free is a great way to hone your skills and familiarize yourself with the rules of Jacks or Better video poker. By trying the demo version with virtual credits, you can experiment with different strategies, understand the game dynamics, and build confidence before playing with real money.

To get started, look for reputable online casino platforms that offer free demo versions of Jacks or Better. Many online casinos provide a wide range of video poker games in their game libraries, allowing you to choose the specific variant you want to practice.

Use Casino Promotions & Bonuses

Jack-or-Better-Casino-Bonus

When you’re new to a casino, it’s smart to grab a welcome bonus. This bonus adds extra money to your casino account and sometimes gives you free spins, making your gaming experience more fun. Also, keep an eye out for ongoing promotions the casino offers. These could include extra bonuses, cashback rewards, or chances to join special tournaments. But here’s a tip: before you get excited and claim any bonus, make sure to read the casino’s rules. Check if the bonus works for video poker games like Jacks or Better, and see if there are any specific conditions you need to follow. This way, you get the most out of the bonuses.

Choose the Perfect Video Poker Game

Various versions offer different Jacks or Better payouts. The recommended variant is 9/6 video poker but confirm that four of a kind pays x25.

Bet the Max 5 Coins

When playing Jacks or Better, it’s smart to bet the maximum coins, which is usually 5 coins per round. This strategy is considered optimal because some video poker games offer an extra-special payout for a royal flush when you bet the highest amount. The royal flush is the best hand you can get, and betting the maximum coins ensures you get the highest possible reward when you’re lucky enough to land it. To manage your bets effectively, you can adjust the coin value instead of the number of coins. This way, you stay within your budget while still taking advantage of the maximum bet benefits. So, remember to go for those five coins per round to maximize your chances of hitting it big, especially if the royal flush is in your future.

Pros and Cons of Jack or Better

Whether Jacks or Better is fantastic or not depends on what you like in a video poker game. If you want a classic and easy game, it’s the perfect choice. But if you’re looking for more challenges and different features, you might prefer other video poker games. It’s all about what you enjoy and how complicated you want the game to be.

Pros Cons
1.       Suitable for Small Bankrolls:  Jacks or Better is great for players with smaller budgets as it has low variance.

2.       Widespread Availability:  Most online casinos offer Jacks or Better, providing easy access to players.

3.       Simple Strategy: The correct strategy for Jacks or Better is easy, making it easy for players to learn.

 

 1.       Rare High-Ranking Hands: High-ranking hands occur infrequently in Jacks or Better, reducing the excitement for some players.

2.       Potential for Monotony: Due to its low variance, playing Jacks or Better might become monotonous and boring after a while.

3.       Full-Pay Version Availability: Not all online casinos offer the full-pay version of Jacks or Better, limiting players’ options.

Alternatives to Jack or Better

While Jacks or Better is a classic and widely popular video poker game, there are several alternative variations that offer unique twists and challenges. Here are some notable alternatives to Jacks or Better:

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a quick and fun video poker game, Jacks or Better is a great choice. What makes it special is that it’s easy to play with a simple strategy.

While Jacks or Better needs a bit more thinking than some games like baccarat or craps, it’s still easier compared to other video poker games. Learning the strategy for Jacks or Better is helpful because it’s like a starting point for most other video poker games. Once you understand how to play and remember the Jacks or Better pay table, it’s easy to try other games when you want something different.

Jacks or Better FAQs