Easiest Jacks Or Better Video Poker Strategy - A Tutorial For Beginners And Casual Casino Gamblers

[@tkell31]

I finally decided to print an optimal strategy chart and just carry it with me. Kind of surprising how suboptimally I was playing when it came to some pretty common situations. I would also recommend looking up a chart unique to the pay table on the machine you are playing since the decisions change as the payout for a flush or full house change.

[@TheMysticGambler]

Good points. Thanks!

[@jwallknowsbestvidz]

4:07 Why did you hold the two lowest cards?

[@TheMysticGambler]

Because it gives the best opportunity to improve the hand.

[@TheAustin09]

Can you elaborate on that? I’m really confused why you’d hold the lowers and just any 2. I’m assuming the math says holding 2 over 3 of them makes sense when looking for the pair etc but why does it matter which ones.

[@wazindo]

I knew nothing about poker or video poker 10 days ago before seeing this video(like I didn’t even know what a flush was). Been playing like crazy, long sessions. Not really losing anything. Converted $250 free play into $275 cash using this last night at MGM. And I wasted some free play on slots and I tried a few ultimate X hands. Definitely going to focus on video poker now. Which game is best to learn next?

[@TheMysticGambler]

Now that you have the basics for Jacks or Better games, you could move to the bonus versions fairly easily. Bonus Poker uses the same strategy and is still steady. Double Bonus starts getting very streaky, with big mountains and deep valleys. Later look at learning the Deuces games.

[@historyomitted]

Thanks for this!

[@TheMysticGambler]

My pleasure!

[@Cody-e1e]

Sorry if I missed it but why are you not holding the 10 with a suited face card if you're playing for the royal?

[@TheMysticGambler]

So, when the Queen - 10 suited came up, you're right that for the optimal strategy, I should have held the 10 instead of holding only the Queen. I only did that because the simplified strategy that I was teaching did not specifically include two Royals. However, I did make a point at the 2:20 mark to say that when looking for three or four Royals that a suited 10 should not be overlooked. By saying to hold two high cards in this very basic strategy, it took care of most of the two card royals that would come up. Thanks for the question. May the good news be yours.

[@barrywilmeth3554]

its "Jacks" or better.

[@Stellarffxi]

Did you say 1/7 flushes hit? Is that because you already have 4 cards from that suit out there it lowers it that much? Cuz typically you'd think it would hit 1/4 for a specific suit..

[@TheMysticGambler]

Yeah, it's roughly one out of 7. During actual play, it can be frustrating because you would think it would be 1 out of 4. Years ago a poker math wiz explained it to me but I don't remember the details.

[@tkell31]

It's 9 out of 47 or roughly 19.14% to hit the flush.

[@TheMysticGambler]

@@tkell31 Well alright. There's an exact number. Thanks. The point is that it doesn't happen as much as one might expect.

[@DayToneTom]

It would be 1 out of 4 odds if it were a full 52 card deck (13 cards of each suit). But if you already are holding 4 cards of the same suit, then your odds of catching the 5th suited card go way down because there’s only 9 of those left in the deck, 13 of one suit, 13 of another suit, and 12 of the 4th suit. Odds change dramatically and constantly once any 1 card is exposed.

[@icebergslim1872]

So hold 4 to a flush over a low pair right?

[@TheMysticGambler]

Yes, in the game of Jacks or Better.

[@valentinaharold1333]

Is jacks or better the same as draw poker? The machine only has draw piker double double bonus. Is it played the sane is this the same thing ?

[@TheMysticGambler]

"Draw Poker" and "Jacks are Better" are normally the same game. Just make sure that the pay table pays you 2 credits (per coin in) for two pairs. Thanks for the comment.

[@valentinaharold1333]

@@TheMysticGambler for the first column it pays 1 as you go over it goes to 2, 3,5,20

[@anyoldthing]

what is a flush draw could you explain the terminolay .

[@TheMysticGambler]

A flush draw refers to having 4 cards in your hand that are of the same suit, holding all 4 cards and taking a deal, hoping that you get a card of the same suit as the 4 that you held. If all five cards in your hand are of the same suit, that's a flush and you win. Thanks for the question.

[@ladylight2222]

Why did you not hold all 4 8’s and only held 3 for a payout of 125? I’m completely new and just subscribed to learn video poker thank you!

[@TheMysticGambler]

The 4 8's were picked up after I held 3 on the draw, and I was indeed paid the 125. In video poker, you're dealt one hand and get one draw from that hand after you hold the cards you want to keep. Thanks for the question.

[@ladylight2222]

@@TheMysticGamblerthank you😊

[@seth3427]

Used this method yesterday built up to 500 dollars from 15 and then hit a royal flush for 4,000

[@TheMysticGambler]

Way to go! I wish I commented on the earlier. The good news was yours!

[@glowy_vegas1643]

How much do you bet what was pay table?

[@seth3427]

@@glowy_vegas1643 i did max bet 5 dollars a hand 1 dollar a card

[@TheMysticGambler]

@@glowy_vegas1643 We all prefer the 9/6 pay table but it's not as widely available as it once was. So the 9/5 is a more likely game. I'm not above playing an 8/5 but that's about it unless I'm desperate. Quarters. Thanks for the comment!

[@valentinaharold1333]

Thank you for this going to casino now to test my birthday luck!

[@markrodriguez9442]

So it's low pair,high pair and high cards?

[@TheMysticGambler]

Paying hands (all), Low pair, High Cards, for this super simplified strategy.

[@dwv1000]

I'm discouraged at the 1 ,2 no limit poker tables. Let's just say it's not what it used to be. I have a few hours at this video poker thing and I'm liking it.

[@TheMysticGambler]

It's a great game and it's just you and 52 cards. There are no sharks playing.

[@BayCitySmokerz]

You go for outside straights right?

[@TheMysticGambler]

Yes.

[@BayCitySmokerz]

@@TheMysticGambler Thank you!

[@psychotictendency]

Isnt highest pay on video poker 9/6 instead of 9/5 for "Jacks or Better"? Video shows 9/5 so confused

[@TheMysticGambler]

Yes. The highest pay is 9/6, but it is increasingly hard to find. Most people are more likely to find 9/5 or even worse.That's why I used it. As the video says, play the highest pay table that you can find. Thanks for the question.

[@BigVlado3]

So is this method better than the perfect strategy or is it just an easier version of it. I Presume the perfect strategy has higher RTP.

[@TheMysticGambler]

This is for people who don't want to learn the perfect strategy but would like to keep more of their money. Yes, since they wouldn't be playing perfectly, they would not get as much replay. Thanks for commenting here.

[@DrSchor]

how can anything be better than perfect?

[@TheBaldr]

3:38 You had a straight and went for something else?

[@TheMysticGambler]

Thanks, but that was 4 cards to an inside straight. In the Jacks or Better game, we don't go for inside straights. If it were a bonus game, probably yes.

[@Mike-ef7xe]

Thank you

[@TheMysticGambler]

You're welcome. Thanks for the comment.

[@anceledusstorm7534]

Ok I hear you but the thing is the machines handles this for you pretty much. I thought this was going to teach me some tricks. Lol. I’ll keep watching

[@TheMysticGambler]

Haha - and keep playing! Thanks for the comment!

[@matthew_natividad]

I still don’t get it

[@Alphagambler117]

It’s a pain to learn but once you learn it’s easy

[@TheMysticGambler]

Hold all winning cards and discard the others. If no wins on the deal, just hold all pairs of anything. Start there. That's pretty easy to do isn't it? Practice and you'll get it.

[@ac-ir9gs]

​@@TheMysticGamblersome people are idiots it's really unbelievable

[@JenniferJohnson-fh8fx]

What if you have 4 suited with no low pair?

[@TheMysticGambler]

It's plainly in the video but hold 4 to a flush draw. That's what 4 suited cards is. Thanks for the comment.

[@DayToneTom]

There’s some really bad advice in this video. If you have all low cards but no pairs, check for a straight draw. ALWAYS hold 4 to the straight, especially if it’s an open ended straight (you have 8 outs to catch to hit the straight). Also 3:39 player gets dealt 7 K 10 A J - ALWAYS keep that gut shot in Jacks or better or Bonus Poker unless at least 3 of them are suited to the Royal. The player in the video only keeps K J. Terrible play. Not sure what else is wrong in this video as I had seen enough and closed this feed.

[@TheMysticGambler]

Thanks for the comment, but you have obviously missed the context of this video. We created it for those who are not interested in learning video poker strategy but to play reasonably well, casually. Specifically, you suggest that you should always hold 4 to a straight. Correct advice is NEVER hold 4 to an inside straight in Jacks or Better. Looking for open 4 to straights is correct, but not in the context of this particular video. The intent of the video is to make it as simple as possible for a somewhat disinterested player. With that in mind, what you are saying at 3:39 is also very wrong. Dropping the Ace in that situation is one of the first learned plays when studying any Jacks or Better strategy. You're much more likely to improve that hand by holding the KJ. Chasing royals with your gut is a losing strategy. You may feel comfortable with such decisions, but posting on this thread as an 'expert' on this game shows your lack of perspective in this case.

[@outbackigloo6489]

@@TheMysticGambler- I partially disagree with you on the inside straights, although I get it that you are providing a simpler strategy for the casual gamer. I would draw to an inside straight in Jacks or Better if I am holding three high cards of different suits. As for the play at 3:39, your hold opened up the chance for a royal flush, making it the optimal play.

[@DayToneTom]

@@TheMysticGambler 🤣

[@DayToneTom]

@@TheMysticGambler drawing to a straight is to complex for beginners? HUH? Good luck to you bud

[@DayToneTom]

@@outbackigloo6489 🤣😆🤣

[@OrlandoGarza-jg3il]

I have played video poker for two hours with only $20 dollars.On a slot machine I lose $20 dollars in five minutes. I am sticking with video poker.I do it for entertainment not to make money.

[@TheMysticGambler]

That's really what it's all about. You can't get rich in a casino but you can have a really good time and occasionally hit a jackpot that will make your day. It’s a great game. May the good news be yours!

[@warrior_mtl4895]

👍

[@TheMysticGambler]

Thanks for the 'thumbs-up'. I hope the strategy is useful.

[@boogitybear2283]

Video Poker is such a Rigged game most the time you’re giving a pair to hold once you draw again it’s nothing. Don’t gamble anything is my advice.

[@TheMysticGambler]

We don't gamble because "most of the time." We gamble because sometimes we win and we win big. Well, actually, we also gamble because it's fun. In the case of video poker, it's us against the casino. True, the odds are in the casino's favor, but at least we have a say-so.

[@DrSchor]

@@TheMysticGambler your say so is just an illusion of control. no matter what you decide, as you know, the results are always in the casino's favor

[@infoarmed3085]

@@DrSchor That's a given. But video poker players that play with optimal strategy have a definite advantage over those that don't. That is a mathematical fact. Thanks for the comment.

[@boogitybear2283]

@@TheMysticGambler video poker is rigged, plain and simple

[@TheMysticGambler]

While your advice not to gamble is good advice, people don't always do the right thing. So, what I say is, if you must gamble, find out what the best games are, and if a strategy applies, learn the strategy.

[@motorhead281]

You always draw a Royal (highest jackpot), but never a Straight Flush (2nd highest jackpot)... you play emotionally, which is not a good strategy.

[@TheMysticGambler]

Thanks for the comment but there's a lot more to it. I would suggest that you watch some of my other videos if you're interested. What you are commenting on here is a very simple way for regular people to play video poker and not lose their money as quickly as somebody that just plays intuitively. Thanks again. May the good news be yours.

[@DrSchor]

@@TheMysticGambler not losing quickly is losing. don't you work hard for your money

[@isabelleoesch6582]

"PromoSM" 😎