Video Poker Variations

Jacks or Better

Jacks or Better is widely considered the title from which all other video poker variants evolved, which makes sense given its strong resemblance to five-card draw poker. These games are available at most online casinos and, importantly, are supported by many leading software providers. Their straightforward rules make them ideal for seasoned players and complete beginners alike.

Once players set their wager, they receive five face-up cards, and at that moment each of the 2,598,960 possible hands is equally likely to appear. The next decision is whether to hold all five cards, discard some, or replace them all. After the draw, the payout is determined by the final hand and the size of the stake.

One of the first things to note is that the game is played with a single standard deck and no jokers.

Gambling enthusiasts should remember that paytables and return percentages can vary dramatically between Jacks or Better versions. The most sought-after are the 9/6 (full-pay) machines because they pay more generously for a Full House and a Flush. Hitting a Royal Flush at max bet on such a machine yields an 800-for-1 payout, although this rare hand requires a suited 10, J, Q, K, and A.

Looking further down the five-coin column, a Straight Flush awards 50 for 1, while Four of a Kind pays 25 for 1. Full House, Flush, and Straight pay 6, 6, and 4 for 1, respectively. Three of a Kind returns 3 for 1, and Two Pairs pays 2 for 1.

The least rewarding hand is Jacks or Better, which pays even money when you are dealt a pair of Js, Qs, Ks, or As. In Tens or Better, the same even-money payout is also awarded for a pair of 10s.

Because pay scales differ, so do RTPs. Full-pay versions deliver the highest returns: the 9/6 game sits at about 99.54%. The 9/5 variant drops to 98.45%, while the 6/5 game offers the lowest RTP.

Return percentage isn’t the only factor to consider. Players should also check the maximum number of hands they can play simultaneously. Playtech’s Jacks or Better, for example, supports 1, 4, 10, or 25 hands at once – the same limit found in NetEnt’s version.

Deuces Wild

Deuces Wild is another of the most popular video poker variants and shares plenty of similarities with Jacks or Better. The biggest difference, of course, is that deuces act as wild cards. Because of this, newcomers might feel slightly overwhelmed at first.

Although Deuces Wild is also played with a standard 52-card deck, the presence of wild deuces makes it much easier to form winning hands. Players will encounter combinations not available in Jacks or Better, such as Five of a Kind and Wild Royal Flush.

Naturally, the paytable is adjusted to reflect these rule changes. The lowest-paying hand is Three of a Kind rather than Jacks or Better, and it returns even money.

Royal Flush remains the top-paying hand; in full-pay versions it still pays 800 for 1. Four Deuces also offers a respectable payout, but rewards for many other hands are markedly lower.

Variants of Deuces Wild with an RTP of 98.91% are often called “ugly” games. You can spot them by checking the payoffs for Five of a Kind and Straight Flush; if they are 15 for 1 and 9 for 1, respectively, you are looking at an ugly version. These games give the house an edge of 1.09%, whereas full-pay versions allow players to hold the advantage.

Tens or Better

Tens or Better is one of the most widely available video poker variants, and its main difference from Jacks or Better is that the least-lucrative hand is a pair of tens. Because winning requirements are lower than in most other versions, payouts for certain hands are reduced.

The pay scheme of Tens or Better is generally less rewarding than that of Jacks or Better, and although this affects only specific hands, the impact on long-term profit becomes noticeable. For example, when you compare the payouts for a Full House, Jacks or Better is the more favorable option. Even though the gap in RTP between the two isn’t huge, Jacks or Better still seems like a better alternative.

Holding two tens on the initial deal at least returns your stake, and you still have a fair chance of upgrading to Four of a Kind, Full House, Two Pairs, or Three of a Kind.

Players should also pay close attention to the game’s long-term payback percentage. Trying a full-pay variant of Tens or Better is the best choice, as its RTP is about 99.14%.

However, finding a full-pay version of Tens or Better can be difficult. The next-best option is usually the 25/6/4 pay table, which offers a 98.10% RTP when you wager five credits. These machines are rare, and in addition to their overall return, you should note the reduced payout for a Flush.

Other uncommon versions include 25/5/5, 20/6/5, and 40/20/6/5. The last one is best avoided because the casino gains a larger edge by lowering the payouts for a Straight Flush and Four of a Kind.

Aces and Faces

Gambling enthusiasts who prefer no-frills video poker might enjoy Aces and Faces because no wild cards are used.

Across the various versions of Aces and Faces, some payouts remain constant while others vary dramatically. As usual, a Royal Flush delivers the most eye-catching payout – 800 for 1 when five coins are played. Betting just one coin reduces the payoff to 500 for 1.

In this game, players also receive bonus payouts for Four of a Kind made with face cards, which pays 40 for 1. Another bonus is triggered when four Aces appear together, awarding 80 for 1.

Because of these differences, players should check whether their casino offers an 8/5 version of Aces and Faces. This variant carries an RTP of roughly 99.26%. There are also 7/6 and 7/5 versions with RTPs of about 99.2% and 98.1%, respectively.

Bonus Poker

Bonus Poker is easily one of the video poker variants that generates extra excitement. Although the gameplay is largely standard, its bonus payouts should not be overlooked. Essentially, the pay structure is slightly altered compared with Jacks or Better, which is part of its appeal.

The most common version is the 8/5 pay table, meaning a Full House pays 8 for 1 and a Flush pays 5 for 1. The RTP for this version of Bonus Poker is typically around 99.92%.

The rewards get even bigger when four Aces appear. Four Aces pay 80 for 1, while four 2s, 3s, or 4s pay 40 for 1. Four of a Kind made up of 5s through Ks pays 25 for 1. Jacks or Better remains the lowest-paying hand, returning 1 for 1.

Alongside the 8/5 versions, players will encounter 7/5 machines where a Full House pays 7 for 1. In this case, the RTP drops to about 98.01%. In short, the lower the payouts for Flush and Full House, the lower the game’s expected return.

Double Bonus Poker

Double Bonus Poker is a variation of Bonus Poker that, as the name suggests, offers even more generous payouts. Players can expect higher rewards for Four of a Kind but reduced payouts for Two Pairs, which drop from 2 for 1 to 1 for 1.

In most versions, four Aces pay 160 for 1, while Four of a Kind made up of 2s through 4s pays 80 for 1. Four 5s through Ks pays 50 for 1.

With the right strategy and a favorable pay table, skilled players can actually gain an edge over the house. This is true of the full-pay 10/7/5 Double Bonus Poker, which boasts an expected return of 100.17%.

For the most part, however, available Double Bonus Poker games are short-pay. Common pay tables are 9/7/5 and 9/6/5. In these cases, RTP drops to 99.11% and about 97.81%, respectively.

Double Double Bonus Poker

When you see the words “double” or “triple” before a video poker title, it usually signals larger payouts for Four of a Kind.

That is precisely the appeal of Double Double Bonus Poker, a favorite among players seeking bigger payoffs per hand. Its pay schedule offers significantly higher rewards for all types of Four of a Kind, something you won’t find in standard games. The inclusion of kicker hands sweetens the deal even further. For example, four Aces with a 2, 3, or 4 kicker pays 400 for 1.

Because of these boosted payouts, returns for some common hands are reduced. Two Pairs, for instance, pays only 1 for 1 instead of the usual 2 for 1.

The full-pay version of Double Double Bonus Poker offers an RTP of 98.98%. By comparison, the 9/6 Jacks or Better machine sits at 99.54%. Another widespread variant is the 9/5 Double Double Bonus Poker, where a Flush pays 5 for 1 and RTP drops to 97.87%.

Joker Poker

Also known as Joker Wild, Joker Poker distinguishes itself through the inclusion of wild cards. Instead of 52 cards, Joker Poker is played with 53.

Naturally, the pay schedule is adjusted to compensate for the improved odds of landing a strong hand.

It’s easy to see why Joker Poker is so popular: full-pay machines boast an RTP of 100.64%, giving players a 0.64% edge over the house. The 7/5 version is definitely worth a look as a Full House pays 7 for 1 and a Flush pays 5 for 1.

The best Joker Poker games pay 800 for 1 on a natural Royal Flush, while Five of a Kind pays 200 for 1. Thanks to the wild card, players can also hit a Wild Royal Flush, which pays 100 for 1.

Of course, not every Joker Poker machine follows this pay table. Some reduce Five of a Kind to 150 for 1 and a Wild Royal Flush to 80 for 1.

Double Joker Poker is another interesting offshoot. By adding a second Joker, it improves players’ chances even further, but the pay table is adjusted downward to keep the house edge intact.

Deuces and Joker Wild

Deuces and Joker Wild is a 52-card video poker variant that adds a single Joker. Because the four deuces are also wild, players have significantly better chances of making winning hands. At the start of each round, the probability of receiving a Joker or another wild card is roughly 1 in 10.

With five wild cards in the deck, the odds of landing Five of a Kind are about the same as hitting a Full House in standard video poker.

The advantage provided by the five wild cards is offset by a modified paytable. Jacks or Better and Two Pairs are removed, and payouts for many remaining hands are substantially lower.

It’s important to note that natural and wild Royal Flushes pay different amounts. Depending on the version, a natural Royal Flush pays 800 for 1, while a wild Royal Flush pays only 12 for 1.

The full-pay Deuces and Joker Wild is the most attractive option, delivering an RTP of about 99.07%.

Players will also encounter 8/6 and 9/5 versions with RTPs of 98.52% and 98.35%, respectively.

Bonus Deuces Wild

Bonus Deuces Wild is a video poker variant derived from Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild that delivers especially juicy payouts on high-ranking hands.

The full-pay, or 10/4/4, version pays 800 for 1 on a Royal Flush. At the bottom of its pay scale, however, Three of a Kind and Straight return only even money.

This reduction compensates for extra bonuses, such as the 400-for-1 payout awarded for four Deuces plus an Ace. Generous rewards are also given for any Four Deuces, which pays 200 for 1. Five Aces pay 80 for 1, while five 3s, 4s, or 5s pay 40 for 1.

Choosing a full-pay Bonus Deuces Wild machine yields an expected return of 99.86%. Short-pay versions, including those that offer 9 coins instead of 10, reduce RTP to around 99.45% – still better than many alternatives.

What is Variance in Video Poker

You may be wondering why volatility matters when playing video poker. Just as in other casino games, higher volatility means larger swings in your bankroll.

In simple terms, volatility describes the magnitude of those swings, while variance assigns a numerical value to them. In video poker, variance typically ranges from about 12–15 up to 200.

Therefore, high-volatility games can deplete – or boost – your bankroll more quickly than low-volatility ones.

Video Poker Versions by Variance