How to Play 10 Common Video Poker Hands the RIGHT Way!

We interview Linda Boyd, a well-known video poker expert and author, and she gives details on how to properly play 10 common Jacks or Better hands. Knowing how to play these hands correctly will make your money last longer in casinos!
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[@Sheshe77]

I found this video very straight forward and helpful.

[@dougronald561]

Linda Boyd is a very solid video poker expert. She wrote a book, The Video Poker Edge, and she knows her material inside and out, backwards and forwards.

[@darinkrinovich2062]

You say that why,because she wrote a book? One would hope that would make a difference but doesn't mean she did her due diligence. I myself would of liked to know how she comes up with her conclusions. Hopefully you don't take this as disrespect, none ment

[@dougronald561]

@@darinkrinovich2062 I read the book twice, and it’s solid, mathematically based.

[@TheJackpotGents]

@dougronald561 unfortunately she is no longer with us, she passed away during covid

[@dougronald561]

@@TheJackpotGents I’m Facebook friends with her still. Such a great video poker expert. The world won’t be the same without her. Baruch Dayan haemet.

[@greenbird3850]

Crackpot bs. How to play video poker correctly for max value is not explained by this crack.

[@esmelovesvintage]

I guessed less than half the hands she talked about. Gosh I need more videos like these, thank you! ☑️

[@markvainas8074]

Very good and helpful video. It reaffirmed the way I play the majority of these hands and I also picked up a few pointers.

[@DEANDESPERADO]

I have this saved in my favorites. Always refer back for a refresher.👍👍👍

[@rbailey225]

Three times this past summer I threw out three to the royal to keep a high pair and the last two royal cards were dealt. Everyone says it's the right play, and it is, but it sure doesn't feel like it at the time. Absolutely gutted.

[@Civ5forlife-td7hy]

the funny thing is the card deal is not predetermined. It is based on the exact microsecond that you push the draw button. So assuming is didnt take you exactly the same time to hold 2 cards and hit draw as it would 3 cards, you would not have gotten the 2 cards to the royal on the draw.

[@rbailey225]

@@Civ5forlife-td7hy Yep! Doesn't change the feeling in your gut when you see them come up though.

[@scvz9wolf9]

Finally a video that helped me. I’m a good poker player but video is completely different and I needed serious help. New subscriber and glad watched this.

[@TheJackpotGents]

Glad it helped!

[@juneyoshihiro844]

Very helpful, thank you

[@cjjohnson5924]

Nice work!

[@seankollar3291]

Awesome advise....thanks!!!

[@JACKPAVAL]

Awesome! Thank you!!!

[@casca7649]

very nice work, very understandable

[@randyj420]

Great tips on holding the flushes and not going for the straight flushes. Very easy to follow video - especially with highlighting the amounts - thanks. Also - thanks for the .pdf files - just downloaded 1. Some people may not know that you CAN bring a sheet of notes printed out to refer to while playing. This is mostly allowed!

[@themasterzman1172]

Interesting thx for sharing

[@ramiroalvarez5397]

Great advice or pointers in video joker playing! Cool 😎 too. 😊

[@shoot_again2753]

VP are like slots; most decisions are merely well programmed illusions. However all the things you mentioned are absolutely great poker advise on those pay scales!

[@obetwokenobi458]

More of this, more of this please. When you guys play point these hands out on your video's.

[@dansmith-ee9po]

Thank you for cleaning this up , I confess I’ve been playing the inside straight incorrectly., also was “never throwing away winning hand” ie a Pat flush with 4 to the Royal. I want to figure out when to adjust my play based on the amount of the progressive jackpot. Thank you so much for giving away this valuable information.

[@chrisbyers6084]

I've always refused draw to inside straight???

[@KeltonTitan]

I want my Royal Flush! Yet, it’s so hard to score anything higher than two pair and this video is very helpful 🤞🏻

[@juhs]

Great video! I always find myself in a pickle at the machine trying to hold based on strategy vs my gut

[@USArmy91222]

some helpful tips here, TY 👍🙂

[@TheJackpotGents]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jpb2157]

Good basic strategy video I agree with her I play strictly video poker in Connecticut you can find 99.9 payback machines pickem poker for instance but what everybody fails to realize on these videos if it's not your day set a limit and walk away because you have to be lucky in addition to being proficient at the game

[@chrisbyers6084]

Went to work at Stateline NV casino 1974. A long timer who ran the coin count/roll room gave me advice. "You can be lucky for a little while". I survived the environment by looking at gambling as entertainment. Same as you play a pin ball machine, not a money-making proposition.

[@cindaman]

I agree with it all but the 2 unsuited high cards I would just pick one of the high cards and go with that.

[@Eric-tb2je]

Oldie but goodie!

[@keithj6251]

I appreciate the strategies offered. I've noticed its hard to maintain discipline when the machine is dealing garbage, 999,000 out of 1,000.000 hands. I don't have the money for that.

[@timhinchcliffe5372]

A well made informative video.

[@TheJackpotGents]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Oheeeoh]

Thank you Linda. I hope you have a phenominal weekend!

[@Worktocruise]

Amazing anyone knows this much about a video a lot machine

[@tkell31]

How many overcards in the straight possibility do you need before giving up the small pair? In the example it was 3, but that is going to be pretty rare. Would Jack alone be enough? Some redundancy, but good information!

[@camouflage81]

Throw away 3 flush cards for 2 separate high cards? Actually I learned something new there. I would have gone for the flush, but maybe it's terrible odds awaiting 2 of the correct suit? What are the chances of getting the last 2 of the suit? And what are the chanses for, say 3 of a kind with one of the 2 high cards?

[@chrisbyers6084]

What about 2 pair? Hold for possible full house. Drop a pair and shoot for 4 of a kind? With and without face card pair

[@garypeters3295]

I can't find a single 9-6 Jacks or better in St. Louis. There used to be a few on the old Admiral Casino downtown. I cleaned up on those things.

[@debschannel6838]

I notice I have been doing it wrong so often. These are great tips. Although, I must say it would be hard to throw out a winning hand for a chance of a better if you are on your last dime.

[@davidrohder7897]

Linda's knowledge is unbelievable . When I am playing I always ask myself what would Linda do .

[@TheJackpotGents]

Couldn't agree more! Thanks

[@bonusman]

Advanced tips ..very good..Guess its not all luck and the casino doesn't always win, like those that don't know think..Many great players get banned from V.P

[@TheJackpotGents]

Thanks for watching!

[@ryandrest2056]

This woman is awesome.

[@countalucard4226]

I play dbl dbl bonus. If I get 2 pair and one is Aces I always throw out the second pair and go for the 4 aces.

[@wayneclark6624]

Question - if dealt jack queen king and ace of spades and the fifth card is ten of clubs - do i just take the money or do i gamble on the ten of spades ? i took the money But ??? your thoughts

[@DrSchor]

fortune (luck) favors the bold. you have answered your own question. by chickening out, you lost an opportunity to win big, which is why you were there in the first case. you can't have a high batting average if you are satisfied with just swinging for first base.

[@mikekole]

Geez, I'd love to find a 9-6 machine anymore.

[@ericg4568]

This is just my own personal observation. Every time that I had a flush, or straight or something in that fashion starting from the left side of the screen to right , my chances for winning were better than when the cards were lined up right side of the screen to the left to which I always lost that hand. I can't say that matter of factly but, it is something to think about.

[@mikekinsella2822]

the problem i have with video poker is that the royal flush will never hit ever if i am sitting at that machine. the guy next to the right of me might hit 1 and the lady sitting on the left of me might hit one too, but i will never hit one. I been playing 35 years 10s of thousands of hands. Thousands and thousand of dollars into the machine. Never got a royal. I convinced I could sit at a Machine and play it for 24 hrs a day 7 days a week for the rest of my life and drop dead at the machine and while they cart my dead carcuss out of the casino someone will put money into that machine and hit a royal on the very next hand.

[@CrissieLuckey]

What if you you have a 4 to a straight and 1 high card, such as 3, 4, 5, 6, Queen?

[@TheJackpotGents]

Then ypu go for the straight

[@Volcomsd1]

Great video! Thank you ❤

[@TheJackpotGents]

Glad you liked it!

[@franzherflek4116]

If you have the aghhption

[@jeff13148]

My problem is I live in New York and most if not all casinos here are VLT's. Doesn't matter what we do. Any suggestions on where to get advice on VLT slot machines. Thank you for the video.

[@TheJackpotGents]

In NY all racetrack casinos have video poker machines that operate in a different manner. There is no skill involved. Instead the games are played like a scratch-off lottery ticket with a pre-determined number of winners and losers - Read more, here - www.americancasinoguidebook.com/casinos-by-state/new-york-casinos.html We also did a video on those NY video poker machines - kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5_Oaa2He5yXZqM If you go to upstate casino in NY those machines operate like normal video poker games and skill is a factor.

[@rbailey225]

@@TheJackpotGents So if you're playing video poker at the track you can just keep hitting the deal button because the outcome is already determined when you hit deal?........why play?

[@TheJackpotGents]

@@rbailey225 really no reason. Most people just don't know.

[@leelaural]

@@TheJackpotGents I question whether the indian casino slot/poker machines are set to have a lower winning percentage.....they have no rules nor regulations to follow.

[@randyj420]

@@leelaural Most all video poker machines are made be Nevada company that are legit. There's absolutely nothing wrong with Indian casino machines - they still produce random cards like everywhere else. That is a rumor that is false - as far as Indian casinos possibly being different. This comes from 3 professionals in a video I recent watched. The casinos CAN and do have various good and bad payout variations on the various types of VP. So it's best to look at the payouts - say like 9/6 on Jacks or Better machine - and know the lower it goes the lower the payout. So, if at a casino that has some BAD payoff machines that are easier to find - you may look around and dig for a better payoff machine that is tucked away or not the 1st ones you see. PAYOUT is how they change things. NOT altering the machines random card deals. They explain it the way I did. Now, slot machines can be tweaked for lower payout - as machines on the Vegas strip are often not as good as those downtown...and penny slots - especially, on the strip - are bad.

[@sheaysczerba2842]

This is awesome! Is there one for Deuces Wild?

[@TheJackpotGents]

Not yet!

[@sheaysczerba2842]

@@TheJackpotGents 🤞

[@kramerica2k10]

All these are great but I'm holding 2 or more to the royal every time regardless if one is a 10 or not. I know it's not the "right" way, but I''ll do it every time.

[@DrSchor]

interesting. can you explain why you do what you know is wrong

[@kramerica2k10]

@@DrSchor Cuz it's called gambling for a reason :)

[@BeauBongo123]

Agreed with most of this but I would never hold two or more off suited high cards. You have eliminated the Royal Flush and 4 kind from the equation. Trying to just get your 5 coins back is not a winning play. I have hit numerous Royals keeping just one high card which never would have happened if I kept 2,3 or 4 off suited high cards.

[@ThisOldMan65]

If you were dealt a straight flush with 4 to the royal do you keep the straight flush? I’ve only seen this once. They went for the royal and missed. I would have done same, but I’ve always wondered what is the right play?

[@TheJackpotGents]

We have free video poker strategy charts on our website - www.americancasinoguidebook.com/video-poker/free-video-poker-strategy-charts.html According to the 9/6 Jacks or Better strategy chart - www.americancasinoguidebook.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/9-6-video-poker-charts.pdf - the correct move is to keep the straight flush. If you only had a regular flush, the correct play would be to go for the royal.

[@alanela6761]

Absolutely keep the straight flush. Your odds of drawing the card for the Royal are lower than the increase in pay out. Only one card in the deck can improve your hand. 2% to hit that card (4% if open ended, which would give you 2 outs)

[@EfficientRVer]

@@alanela6761 You are never open ended to a Royal. One end of it is the Royal, the other is just a straight flush. And if you are throwing out a straight flush to draw to a Royal, that straight flush card (the 9) is already gone because you just threw it out..

[@alanela6761]

@@EfficientRVer quite true. I must have been thinking of odds of drawing to a straight flush for some reason... i was probably not in the correct mindset after being told to consider actually tossing a made straight flush away

[@johnruuu]

All of those options sound/seem like sound advice. However, there are many options in game play and outlined in this video but she present edNO statistical backing/analysis as to truly justify many of the moves. And, therefore, that does bother me some.

[@nmonster]

But Mr. Play says to *never* hold 4 to an inside straight in Jacks or Better.

[@TheJackpotGents]

Sometimes you do hold four to an inside straight, but only when dealing with all high cards, such as 10,J,K,A, or, even 9, J,Q,K if they are all unsuited.

[@nmonster]

@@TheJackpotGents I'll try it!

[@thelastpitboss]

This would have been a better video if you had included some statistics.

[@ericinla65]

I'VE BEEN ASKED to stop playing Video Poker at the Paris in Las Vegas. Was up over 10k in 6 hours.

[@steeloned]

Me too

[@timhinchcliffe5372]

Plenty of casinos in that part of the world.

[@cliffsharp914]

Can someone give an example of the following hand - 3 to a straight flush, spread 5, with one high card? Thank you.

[@TheJackpotGents]

What do you mean spread 5, 2 gaps in the middle?

[@cliffsharp914]

Jacks or better optimal has an exception listed to play that hand instead of 4 to an inside straight with 3 high cards if there is no straight penalty card. I just wanted an example of a hand that describes my original post.

[@TheBrettMizer]

There is an app that can tell you what hand to hold I do not know if the casino would like you using it you would just have to use your phone discreetly

[@DrSchor]

why not just print it out on an index card, if you want to be discrete

[@TheBrettMizer]

@@DrSchor I have no idea what you're using your phone for

[@countalucard4226]

I play online and I always have doubts about the honesty. Sometimes I get 4 of a kind like crazy but it is always never the bonus hands. That’s why I question honesty.

[@DrSchor]

i am questioning why you are questioning. of course online is not honest. every one knows they dont play fair.

[@countalucard4226]

@@DrSchor Wish I would’ve caught on sooner. I mean to get 4 of a kind many times and it’s almost never the bonus Aces, twos, threes, or fours, is very sketchy.

[@bobhoward6676]

$1 or more coin value she may be right, but playing 25cent coins always play for the big win. your not risking much for big rewards.

[@AndyGamingGreatJob]

lost me at going for a 2 outter to get paid less money than you would for an 8 outter

[@ericmesi1764]

The way I play is know you are playing against a computer, not playing real cards. Also say you have gambled a lot in a casino. I have seen poker hands handed to me, casino wants to make it look good, because if you keep playing you will put it all back. Years back a $100 bill was a big thing, I would put a $100 bill make them think I am going to play big, then wins happen out of the gate. These machines are networked, can either be programmed or the casino can make them hit. I won slot tournaments, I took the win and left used it for a down payment on a house. My slot host was mad would not give me a thing, he said you just left with the money? Like what is wrong with you?

[@lisamaitland157]

I have 3 IGT 1987 poker machines and 2 1998 versions.. There are no settings in the Rom that allow me to make the machine harder. Only Approval By Gaming and the board. Will you be allowed to swap out the rom for a new one or change the game as a casino. Poker machines have a rule set in by law, that it is a 52 card deck and nothing can pre-set that up. Slot machines are different and do not have this regulation at all. The slot machine has a certain amount of spins, before % hits on spin say #3 or 5. This setting is also protected by gaming, and you can not change it unless you get a board hearing by gaming to allow them to change the % or change the spin amount. The only setting on a IGT 1998+ model, is to allow the machine to shuffle during dead periods. You might have seen machines like this? Where the face Card on the display rotates it's Jack/Queen/King back and forth. This is the deck shuffling before you even add 5 coins. we called this the Crack addict poker shuffler, because it does it over and over. Now the new versions, that have like movie sponsors or progressive jackpots run different. Movie sponsored games are set by law to take a % to cover the Copy rights cost.{this can be anywhere around 2% to 9%.} these machines are rip offs, and the State jackpot machines.. Progressive machines by law have a fix take percent which is normally around 1% to 3%. 1% is a slow jackpot pool, while 3% is faster. This allows the % take to cover the extra Jackpots. A 5 card draw machine is the only legit machine by law, unless tampered with. {which means with in 2 weeks they will be caught by Gaming visits} 52 card deck machines don't need to cheat, the odds are placed before you in your coin amount to win. To have this changed by law you need gaming to approve it, not the casino. 4 of a kind machines lower the pay outs for everything else except for the full house. {45 coin to 50 coin}. this is to cover the extra coin payout. you must get 2 pair or better to stay alive, this is how they take you. It's the pay outs that make it hard for you.. Jacks or better machine has the highest payouts for under 4 of a kind. It's this machine you will last the longest on, and have a much better time with your money. If you get lucky and find one of these baby's at the Bar, then free drinks plus a good time a wait you :). Remember Jacks or better, has no % setting at all, unless your playing a progressive version connected to a pool Jackpot. The only thing i can do in the settings is to bring back the last 20 hands, and reset after jackpot payout. I assumed this was allowed in, because people would make claims they had 4 Aces lol and did not get paid. I can also set tournament play. This only places the machine on a certain free play amount i allow it to be at { 1000 coins to 8000 coins} Your slot machines have this same setup for play also. I can only do this on my new machines. my 1987 versions only have recall for last hands played and reset. When i worked for Jackie Gaughan casinos, it was gaming that only changed the payouts. The casino makes more money this way. Your Flush is no longer giving you 30 its down to 25, and your fullhouse is no longer 45 it's 40 and 35 on 4-of a kind machines.

[@dilippatel3268]

im confused

[@sunnymagnuson1809]

I always hold small cards 99% of the time

[@chrisbyers6084]

One of the Vid Poker addicts I worked with at casino said this. Small your bet when deal is trending number cards. Bigger your bet when deal is giving more face cards.

[@bernandoturner4840]

What this Lady saying is Common Sense..😅

[@chriscurren6384]

I play the slots but i find video poker too boring.

[@cajunphilippine]

she is bank

[@Frank50505]

No!

[@sunnymagnuson1809]

I play pretty much the opposite of what she says and win all the time

[@TheJackpotGents]

Boy, that's a bad idea.

[@davec2107]

You must be rich?

[@thomasallen6980]

What is 8-5. Did not know what the heck she was talking about so I went to find someone who did not "talk shop". She was not much to look ether. i will find the old guy, at least he knows how to give instructions. Advanced players dotn come to begginers video's that is just stupid.

[@bradpogue3685]

The first tip lost me. With 7 7 held you have two outs, the other two 7's. With the open ended straight draw you have 8 outs to make the straight. the 3 3 3 3 & 8 8 8 8. 30% chance to hit the straight 10% chance to hit trips which also pays less. I guess you could hit 2 pair with the 7 7 but it also pays less. Someone explain this to me, Am I missing something?

[@TheJackpotGents]

You have to account for the payoffs that you could win. By holding the pair, you could get a full house, or four-of-a-kind. So, in the long run, you will get a better average return by keeping the low pair.

[@bradpogue3685]

@@TheJackpotGents Far more chance to hit the straight. Again, 10% chance to hit trips. Very long odds on hitting a boat, 4 of a kind is about 99% chance you will not hit it. I am just trying to understand the logic and I'm sure heads-up odds are a little different than at a table, but its still card odds.

[@TheJackpotGents]

Linda's advice was mathematically correct. You should play the hand in the manner which will give you the highest expected value (EV). There are 32 ways to play any five-card video poker hand. In order to calculate the EV you need to first calculate the probability of any hand being turned into a winner. Them, you need to multiply that number by the payoff amount on the pay table. Then, you add up all of those expected payoffs to come up with the total EV. Whichever hand has the highest EV is the way to play the hand. For the hand consisting of 4-5-6-7-7, the EV for keeping 4-5-6-7 is 3.4043, but the EV for keeping 7-7- is higher at 4.1184. Therefore, it is mathematically correct to keep the pair of 7s rather than the four-card open straight.

[@bradpogue3685]

@@TheJackpotGents Thank you for responding. Where can I find the formula, you mention? Also. I play against other players, so any information would help me. Does your formula figure the other hands you could make with the original 5 cards?

[@arvia1984]

Brad, combinatorics can be used to calculate these EVs, but they are also readily available with a Google search. Video poker is a game that has been "solved" in the sense that there is always a mathematically optimal play in the long run. Note, short term, some of these plays will lose money, such as throwing away a made hand to go for a Royal. But the 1 out of 47 times you get the royal, it pays 4000 coins, which makes up for it. In order to calculate EV in a general sense, it's the sum of each of the products of probability and payout. You get the probability by dividing the number of combinations for that specific event by the total number of combinations.

[@sirhoopalot1]

She tells you what you should do but doesn't tell you WHY you should do it? Is it because of the math? Who knows.

[@pinfeetshmo]

sorry LINDA only about half of your HANDS advise is correct i feel...2 EACH HIS OWN I GUESS..!!!!

[@TheJackpotGents]

Linda's answers are all mathematically correct.

[@pokr122]

You’re very close to understanding how wrong you are. Try to get there.

[@georgespalding7640]

I can tell what your grade in high school math was just by your comment.

[@ItsTimeMichael]

RIP...April 15th 2022

[@MrThrock09]

This makes me laugh, you should always hold a pair of sevens but you should never hold a pair of tens terrible advice if any of your gonna tell me that it’s scientific. I’m gonna tell you that you don’t understand random number generators.

[@TheJackpotGents]

The advice in the video is mathematically correct.

[@MunkeyParts]

my game is pretty solid at this point. I just need to find a machine that'll cooperate. Still searching for that Royal Flush

[@TheJackpotGents]

You should get a royal flush, on average, about once every 40,000 hands.