Poker has many variations and modes of gaming. One of the most common and popular video poker variants is Jacks or Better. It is an easy, quick, and fun game to play if you know how to play five-card poker. It is an excellent alternative to slot machines for players who want privacy and prefer to play alone. You can easily start playing Jacks or Better and don’t even have to be a pro poker player. All you need to know is about the winning hands in poker. 

The game contains an element of skill additional to luck, as compared to pure luck when playing slot machines. Usually, games like blackjack, roulette, or online slot machines have a house edge that varies between 90% to 97%. On the other hand, this variant of poker comes with a huge house edge of up to 99.54%. But, you must know the rules and strategies well.

Jacks or Better Rules

Jacks or Better video poker follows the same rules as 5-card draw poker. However, you cannot raise or bluff as you will be playing against the computer, not against other players. Your objective is not to have a winning hand but a strong hand that allows a payout. A table is displayed on the screen that tells you how much your hand is worth. The minimum hand required for a payout on a Jack or Better machine is a pair of Jacks. The payout rate increases in line with the hand’s strength. 

Making a ranking hand is vital in Jacks or better. We have outlined the hand rankings in Jacks or Better beginner’s guide, but the best thing about the game is that the information is always in view. The hand rankings and payout table are often displayed on the machine. Thus, all you have to consider is how much you are going to bet. Yet, you should understand what the poker hand rankings are. 

The rules of the game are straightforward. The game is played with a standard52 card pack, and no wilds or any additional cards are used. All you need to know is how many credits you are willing to bet on each hand. You can bet anywhere between 1 and 5 coins. Once you select the credits, press the deal button. You will get a deal of five cards. Choose the cards you want to “lock” by pressing the button displayed under each card. Once you lock the cards that you wish to keep, hit the deal button again. This changes the unlock cards. The ultimate hand is compared against the paytable. Your winning amount will be displayed at the bottom of the screen.

This digital video poker variant involves two rounds of cards. In the first round, you can lock/hold cards you wish, whereas the second round is known as the showdown round. You can only hold/lock cards once the cards are dealt with the first time. In the second round, you cannot change or lock cards. 

Jack or Better Tips

Once you have mastered poker Jacks or Better rules and feel confident, you must learn video poker tips that can help you improve your game. This way, you will know what to do for each hand you have been given. Speaking of which, below are some tips on how to deal with cards you have been dealt.  

1. You must be familiar with the poker hand rankings and the related terms. Doing so will help you to make decisions when the pressure is on.

2. Never try to replace your hand if you have already had one of the following: Full House, Four of a Kind, Three of a Kind, or Two Pair.

3. When playing video poker on the internet, make the most of your winnings and hit the max bet button. This is because if you get a Royal Flush, you will be rewarded handsomely.

4. Never swap a High Pair for a hand; hold it and draw three additionally.

5. If you have four cards short of Royal Flush, discard the fifth card regardless of the situation. 

6. If the primary cards dealt with you are a Flush or a Straight, keep them unless you are only one card away from reaching a Royal Flush. 

7. If you don’t have any combinations or cards higher than Jacks, you must draw all five cards.

You may also read: 7 poker tips for beginners

Play free Jacks or Better

Once you are familiar with the rules, practising the game virtually is a great idea before you head over to play for real money. Playing Jacks or Better online for free will help you master the basics and become a pro player. Practising is crucial for beginners poker players and trying different techniques can open new ways to increase your winning chances. There are tons of sites helping you do that, and one such website is Gamentio. It allows you to play online poker free anytime, anywhere. Once you feel confident about your gameplay, you can then gamble for real money. So, grab your phone, download the Gamentio app for free, practice free Jacks or Better and see what all the excitement is about.

All the best!