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Ethan Clive Nov 06, 2025

Last Updated: 11 November 2025

Jacks or Better Strategy: Charts, Paytables & Hand Rankings

Jacks or Better is the most popular video poker game and the one from which most other video poker games are derived. Mastering the Jacks or Better strategy will allow you to adapt to any video poker game out there quickly. This guide will teach you the optimal Jacks or Better strategy, which hands to ... Jacks or Better Strategy: Charts, Paytables & Hand Rankings

Strategy

Jacks or Better is the most popular video poker game and the one from which most other video poker games are derived. Mastering the Jacks or Better strategy will allow you to adapt to any video poker game out there quickly. This guide will teach you the optimal Jacks or Better strategy, which hands to hold or break, and how to get the highest payout possible on the 9/6 payout machines with a 99.54% RTP.

What is Jacks or Better?

Jacks or Better video poker involves simple gameplay mechanics, with five cards dealt to the player, and a single drawing round. To win a hand of Jacks or Better video poker, you must make at least a pair of Jacks. Standard poker hand rankings apply, ranking hands from high-card to a royal flush. 

Choosing the right cards to hold and discard is essential to giving yourself the highest chance of winning each hand. Our detailed Jacks or Better guide explains every step of the way in the process, and shows the Jacks or Better paytable in detail.

Jacks or Better Hand Rankings that Shape Strategy

The entirety of the Jacks or Better video poker strategy revolves around hand rankings. In Jacks or Better, your goal is to make the best hand possible, and the strategy is all about which cards to hold and which to draw in different situations.

Here is a detailed look at all the possible hands you can make in Jacks or Better, with payouts (per coin):

Poker HandPayout per coin
Royal Flush800x
Straight Flush50x
Four of a Kind25x
Full House9x
Flush6x
Straight4x
Three of a Kind3x
Two Pair2x
One Pair (Jacks or Better)1x

The lowest paying hand in Jacks or Better is a pair of Jacks. It’s worth noting that higher pairs, like Queens, Kings, and Aces, still offer the same 1x payout as a pair of Jacks. If you are dealt a pair of Jacks or better, you will want to hold your pair, unless you have a chance to draw to a royal flush.

Hands like straights, flushes, and full houses pay 4x, 6x, and 9x, respectively, in Jacks or Better. A series of rules in the Jacks or Better strategy dictate when a player should draw to each of these. For example, if you hold four to an open-ended straight or a flush, with no high pairs, you should keep the four cards and look to complete the hand.

Premium hands in Jacks or Better are quads (25x), straight flush (50x), and royal flush (800x), with the latter being the game’s jackpot hand. A royal flush is so valuable in this game that strategy often indicates holding just three cards to a royal flush is one of the strongest draws you can get dealt.

Simple vs. Optimal Strategy

There are two basic strategies you can apply to Jacks or Better: the simple and the optimal strategy. The simple strategy only involves a handful of rules and allows you to capitalize on the vast majority of expected value. The optimal strategy, on the other hand, seeks to maximize expected value at every turn.

A pair of Jacks wins the hand in JoB video poker variant.

For example, if you hold J♦T♦8♦4♦2♠, the simple strategy will recommend keeping the four diamonds, while the optimal strategy suggests keeping the J♦T♦8♦. This is because the overall odds and payouts of the combined opportunities with the latter slightly outperform the former in mathematical terms. While the optimal strategy can add 0.1% to 0.2% to returns, it is much more complex, making it better suited to experienced and serious video poker players.

Simple Jacks or Better Simple Strategy Chart

The simple Jacks or Better strategy is the most convenient way to learn how to play the game. The strategy is fairly straightforward and only requires you to memorize the simple table displayed below. 

Every time you are dealt a new video poker hand, simply identify the highest-ranked option you have on this table. For example, if you have a low pair and 4 to a royal flush at the same time, you should always keep the 4 to a royal flush, as this draw ranks higher on the simple strategy table.

There is no reason to deviate from the table at any time, as following this strategy will yield you nearly the best possible results in every case.

PriorityWhat to KeepExample HandWhy It Ranks Higher
1Made hand: 4-of-a-kind, straight flush, royal flush10♣J♣Q♣K♣A♣Already top EV; never break
24 to a royal flushK♠Q♠J♠10♠3♦Massive EV from jackpot potential
33-of-a-kind, straight, flush, full house9♣9♦9♥4♠J♥Guaranteed payout, strong EV
44 to a straight flush6♣7♣8♣9♣K♦High EV chase
5Two pair8♠8♦J♣J♥3♠Keep both pairs
6High pair (J–A)K♣K♦7♣3♦10♥Guaranteed win, possible improvement
73 to a royal flushK♥Q♥J♥4♣9♣Premium 3-card draw
84 to a flush2♣5♣7♣9♣K♦Good draw odds
9Low pair (2–10)4♠4♥K♦9♣2♦More EV than open straight
104 to an outside straight6♣7♦8♠9♠2♥One-card completion on both ends
112 suited high cardsK♣Q♣4♦8♥3♠Chance for flush or high pair
123 to a straight flush5♦6♦7♦K♣9♠Worth keeping if consecutive
132 unsuited high cards (keep lowest 2 if >2)K♠Q♥J♦7♣2♠ → Q♥J♦Improve pair odds
14Suited 10/J10♦K♦7♣5♠4♥Small straight-flush chance, Keep JT suited; QT/KT suited are usually not kept over a single high card.
15One high cardA♠7♦5♣4♣2♥Basic improvement potential
16Nothing9♠7♣4♥3♣2♦Discard all five


For example, if your hand fits both “low pair” and “four to a flush,” follow whichever appears first (higher EV).

The simplified chart skips a few low-frequency edge cases used by professional players but delivers almost identical returns, making it perfect for casual or crypto casino play on CoinPoker. Next, we will look at some of these nuances in detail.

Jacks or Better Strategy Chart: 8 Rules for Perfect Play

The Jacks or Better video poker strategy is made up of a series of rules you must follow to get perfect results. Similar video poker strategy charts are available for other video poker games as well, each slightly different than the others, due to the differences in paytables and odds.

A Jack, 6, Queen, 2, and Ace are dealt in a Jacks or Better online game.

Here is a look at the nine rules to adhere to if you want to get the best results playing Jacks or Better every time.

A royal flush and a straight flush are the game’s strongest hands. If you get dealt one of these hands, you should never consider breaking them. The royal flush triggers the game’s jackpot, provided you play five coins per hand. The hand pays 250x your bet if you bet between one and four coins, but 800x if you play the max bet of five coins.

If you are dealt four cards to a royal flush, you should almost always discard the fifth card and go for the royal flush. For example, if you are dealt A♥K♥Q♥J♥T♣, you should discard your Ten and break the straight. Although you will only make the royal 1 in 47 times in these situations, the difference in the payout easily justifies going for the royal. The only hand you should not break up in this situation is a straight flush.

If you are dealt a high pair in Jacks or Better, you should almost always hold it, and discard your other cards. For example, if you have K♣K♦Q♣8♦7♥, you have a high pair and four cards to flush.

You should keep your pair, which guarantees a payout, and still has a chance to improve to a better hand, instead of drawing to a flush. The only exception is when you are dealt a high pair and four to a royal flush, such as A♦K♦K♠Q♦J♦, in which case you should discard the King and go for the royal flush. Do not break a high pair for four to a flush, straight, or straight flush – their expected value is lower than the guaranteed payout.

If you start with a low pair (22 – TT), you should always keep the pair and draw three cards. Look to improve to three of a kind or better, unless you have a strong draw to a straight flush or a royal flush. For example, if you are dealt K♠Q♣T♠2♦2♣, you should keep the 22 and discard your other cards. However, if you are dealt A♣K♣Q♣T♣T♥, you should fold the off-suit 10 and go for the royal flush.

High pairs guarantee a payout in Jacks or Better, and can improve to better hands. If you start with a high pair, always hold the pair and discard the other cards in your hand, unless you can draw to a royal flush. For example, if you are dealt K♥K♣Q♣J♥T♠, don’t try to draw to your straight, but rather keep your pair and look to improve to three of a kind or better.

If you are dealt a paying hand, like a straight or a flush, you should rarely break it. The only exception, once again, is if you have four cards to a royal flush. However, if you have a hand like Q♠J♠T♠9♠8♦, don’t try to draw to a flush or straight flush, but rather keep your straight and take the guaranteed payout.

If you are dealt three cards to a royal flush, you should prioritize this draw over other, inferior draws. For example, if you have K♠Q♠J♠7♠4♥, you should keep the three cards to the royal flush, instead of the four to a flush. The expected value of this draw is higher than that of four to a flush, making it the optimal choice.

It can be tempting to go after a straight in situations when you are dealt four cards to a straight and a low pair, neither of which is a paying hand. However, keeping the low pair offers higher EV in the long run. For example, if you have a hand like 9♦8♠7♥6♦6♠, you should keep the 66 instead of going after the straight.

How Pay Table Variations Affect Strategy

There are several variations of Jacks or Better video poker commonly found in casinos. The 9/6 paytable Jacks or Better is the best, with a full house paying 9x and a flush paying 6x, for a total RTP of 99.54%. On the other hand, some casinos have 8/5 and 7/5 paytable machines, which reduce RTP to as low as 96.15%.

You should always look to play the 9/6 machines, but if you find yourself playing the other variants, remember there are some strategic differences to keep in mind. Most importantly, pairs gain even more value, while flush draws become less appealing.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Jacks or Better

When playing Jacks or Better video poker, it’s essential to avoid common mistakes that can reduce your EV and your long-term RTP. Here are a few mistakes players often make that you should avoid making yourself:

  • Breaking Made Hands: Avoid breaking hands like straights or flushes to chase flushes or straight flushes. The only time breaking a made hand is profitable is when you have a four-card draw to a royal flush.
  • Not Betting Five Coins: Always bet five coins instead of four or fewer. Betting five coins activates the royal flush jackpot, increasing the game’s RTP. Look to reduce coin value, rather than the number of coins per hand.
  • Discarding Single High Cards: If you are dealt a disconnected hand with little potential, always keep a single high card if you have it. This increases the chances of making a pair of Jacks or better, and increases your overall RTP.

Why Maximum Bets Matter?

Betting maximum coins (five) in Jacks or Better is essential. In 9/6 Jacks or Better, a royal flush pays 250x your bet if you bet one, two, three, or four coins. If you bet five coins, however, the payout goes up to 800x. This takes the game’s RTP from a humble 97.5% to the optimal 99.54%. You should always look to bet five coins per hand to maximize the RTP. If you want to decrease your bet, look to lower the coin value, but keep betting five coins per hand every time.

How Jacks or Better Strategy Compares to Other Casino Games?

Here is how Jacks or Better strategy compares to that of some other gambling games you can play at CoinPoker.

Caribbean Stud Poker strategy is straightforward. Since the game doesn’t offer a chance to draw new cards, all you need to remember is which hands to keep and which to fold. If you find video poker strategy to be a bit too complex at times, Caribbean Stud may be a better alternative, as there are fewer rules to keep in mind.

Blackjack strategy is very similar to Jacks or Better strategy in many ways. Like in Jacks or Better, there are many different situations that can come up in Blackjack. If you enjoyed learning the optimal Jacks or Better strategy, you will probably have fun doing the same with Blackjack. Roulette strategy is a lot simpler, as your choices don’t affect the RTP, making it a better game to play if your focus is not 100%H

Practice Jacks or Better at CoinPoker

At CoinPoker, you can play 9/6 Jacks or Better video poker with the highest possible RTP. Our platform awards a good strategic approach and allows you to capitalize on your +EV plays in full. Join CoinPoker now to play Jacks or Better and test out the strategies you have just learned in a safe and relaxed online casino environment.

FAQs

What is the best strategy for Jacks or Better?

The optimal Jacks or Better strategy is made up of a series of rules, all of which you can learn in this strategy guide.

Do I always hold a pair in Jacks or Better?

You should always hold a pair of Jacks or better, unless you have a four-card royal flush draw. You should keep a low pair unless you have a three-card royal flush draw or a four-card straight flush draw. 

Should I break a flush to chase a royal in Jacks or Better?

Yes, you should break a flush if you have four cards to a royal flush, but not if you have only three cards to a royal flush.

What’s the RTP of Jacks or Better with perfect play?

The RTP of Jacks or Better with a 9/6 paytable and perfect play is 99.54%, provided you bet five coins per hand. 

Does the strategy change between 9/6 and 8/5 versions?

Yes, there are some slight strategic differences between the two versions related to flush and straight flush draws. 

Is Jacks or Better better than Deuces Wild?

RTP depends on the paytable. Full-pay Deuces Wild can exceed 100%, but many short-pay DW machines are below 9/6 JoB’s 99.54%.

Author
Ethan Clive

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