Video Poker Strategy: Finding the 100% Games
Some video poker pay tables return over 99.5% with optimal play — and a few exceed 100%. The key is recognizing full pay and playing it perfectly.
Overview
Video poker is the only slot-style machine where player decisions affect the long-run return. Every machine has a published pay table that, combined with optimal hold strategy, defines a precise expected return. Skilled video poker players hunt for "full pay" machines and execute near-perfect strategy to hold house edge to fractions of a percent — or flip it slightly positive when combined with slot club and promotional value.
The Math
9/6 Jacks or Better (a flush pays 6, a full house pays 9) returns 99.54% with optimal strategy. 8/5 Jacks pays the same flush and a lower full house and drops to 97.30%. 10/7 Double Bonus Poker returns 100.17% with perfect play — a theoretical advantage for the player before comps. Deuces Wild can also exceed 100% in rare full-pay versions.
The return assumes perfect hold decisions. Small errors — breaking up a low pair to chase a flush, for example — can cost 0.5% or more. The Wizard of Odds publishes free strategy charts for every major pay table.
How To Apply It
- Read the pay table before inserting money. 9/6 vs 8/5 Jacks is a 2.24% swing.
- Always play max coins. The royal flush bonus is only available at max bet, and skipping it crushes EV.
- Memorize the strategy chart for the specific game you are playing — Jacks, Bonus Poker, and Deuces all differ.
- Join the slot club. Cashback and promotions are often what pushes a 99.5% machine past breakeven.
- Use a practice app to drill tough hands (low pair vs 4-card flush, etc.).
Common Mistakes
- Playing the first machine you see without checking pay tables.
- Holding kickers with pairs (costs EV).
- Chasing inside straights in Jacks or Better.
- Skipping max coin to "stretch" the bankroll.
Bottom Line
Video poker rewards diligence. The gap between a 99.5% full-pay machine and a 97% short-pay version is enormous over thousands of hands. Set a budget, play max coins on full pay only, and treat any session that stops being fun as a signal to cash out. Help is available through 800GAM and ncpgambling.org/chat.