Video Poker Rules

A hand in video poker works like this:

1. First you decide how much to wager, usually between one and one and four credits. Remember, though, that if you play multi-hand video poker you bet the same amount on every single hand.
2. Press Deal
3. Now you’ll receive a five-card hand and it’s time to decide what to hold and what to discard. This can be a little tricky if you haven’t played before we suggest that you read up on
4. Click the cards you want to hold.
5. Press Deal
6. Now you have your final hand and can compare it to the paytable visible on the machine. Below you’ll find the payouts for the most popular video poker game Jacks or Better. As you can see, the hand ranking is exactly like regular draw poker, with the small exception that a pair has to be jacks or better.

Deuces Wild Rules

In Deuces Wild, 2s work as jokers and can substitute for any other card in the deck. Since the wild deuces will make you receive much stronger hands on average, three-of-a-kind is the weakest hand that’s paid.

Deuces Wild Hand Ranking

Natural Royal Flush: A royal straight flush (10, J, Q, K, A all in the same suit) with no wild deuces used. Pays 4,000 credits.

Four Deuces: A four-of-a-kind with wild deuces. Pays 1,000 credits.

Wild Royal Flush: A royal straight flush with one or more deuces used to complete the hand. Pays 125 credits.

Five of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank plus a deuce (or three cards of the same rank plus two deuces etc.) Pays 75 credits.

Straight Flush: A flush with all cards in sequence (not royal). Pays 45 credits.

Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank. Pays 20 credits.

Full House:  Three cards of the same rank plus a pair. Pays 20 credits.

Flush:  Five cards of the same suit. Pays 15 credits.

Straight: Five cards in sequence, not suited. Pays 10 credits.

Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank. Pays 5 credits.

Joker Poker Rules

In Joker Poker, a wild joker is used which can substitute for any other card in the deck. So just like in Deuces Wild, you’re able to create five-of-a-kind etc.

However, in Deuces Wild you need at least trips to receive a payout, in Joker Poker it’s enough with a pair of kings.

Joker Poker Hand Ranking

Natural Royal Flush: A royal straight flush (10, J, Q, K, A all in the same suit) without jokers. Pays 5,000 credits.

Five of a Kind: All cards of the same rank with one or more jokers used. Pays 1,000 credits.

Joker Royal Flush: A royal straight flush with one or more jokers used. Pays 500

Straight Flush: A flush with all cards in sequence (not royal). Pays 250 credits.

Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank. Pays 85 credits.

Full House:  Three cards of the same rank plus a pair. Pays 35 credits.

Flush:  Five cards of the same suit. Pays 25 credits.

Straight: Five cards in sequence, not suited. Pays 15 credits.

Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank. Pays 10 credits.

Two Pair: Two pairs of different rank. Pays 5 credits

Kings or Better: A pair of kings or aces. Pays 5 credits.

10s Or Better Rules

Tens or better is very similar to Jacks or Better, but in this game you only need a pair of tens to win.  To make up for this, the casino lowers the payout for flush, full house and four-of-a-kind.

In 10s or better a flush pays 25 credits (when betting max), a full house 30 credits and a four-of-a-kind 100 credits.

Apart from this, the rules are exactly the same as in Jacks or Better.

Two Ways Royal Rules

The Main characteristic of this video poker machine is that there are two royal flushes both paying the same 4,000 credit when wagering the full amount.

1. Hi Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit
2. Lo Royal Flush: 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 of the same suit

Apart from this feature the rules are more or less the same as in Joker Poker.

Flush pays 25 credits instead of 30 and full house pays 30 instead of 45.

But on the other hand, a four of a kind pays 200 instead of 125.

All American Video Poker Rules

In All American Video Poker the payout rules are a bit different compared to most other machines.

You will receive the same payout for pair (jacks or better) and two pair, and you also get the same payout for straight, flush and full house, even though it’s a lot harder to get a full house than a straight.

All American Hand Ranking

Natural Royal Flush: A royal straight flush (10, J, Q, K, A all in the same suit.) Pays 4,000 credits.

Straight Flush: A flush with all cards in sequence (not royal). Pays 1,000 credits.

Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank. Pays 170 credits.

Full House:  Three cards of the same rank plus a pair. Pays 40 credits.

Flush:  Five cards of the same suit. Pays 40 credits.

Straight: Five cards in sequence, not suited. Pays 40 credits.

Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank. Pays 15 credits.

Two Pair: Two pairs of different rank. Pays 5 credits

Jacks or Better: A pair of jacks, queens, kings or aces. Pays 5 credits.

Video Poker Rules Summary

These were the rules of the most popular online machines – but there are other games too.

Before you start playing any of them, study the payout charts so you know which card is wild, how you get the biggest jackpot, what the minimum hand to receive payout is and so on. You may want to practice video poker for free before staking real money. At CasinoToplists.com, we provide a no-download, no-sign up game of Jacks or Better which lets you play with fake money. This is a great way to get familiar with the game and improve your skills before advancing to real money video poker.

Knowing the rules is one thing, making the correct decisions is another.