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GAME GUIDE
Video poker guide
How to compare video poker games, rules, limits and responsible-play choices.
Rules first. This guide is editorial and not betting advice - confirm the game and limits on the operator you choose.
LEARN THE GAME
Video poker
Video poker is the closest thing to a fair slot, because skill is real and the paytable tells you the edge. The catch is that most machines are short-pay.
The paytable is everything
Jacks or Better "9/6" (9 coins for a full house, 6 for a flush) returns about 99.5% with perfect play. "8/5" or "6/5" versions quietly drop that by whole points. The name of the game is the paytable.Skill is real
Unlike slots, every decision affects the return. A strategy chart is free and turns random holds into near-optimal play. Using it is the entire game.Pick your variant
Jacks or Better is the baseline; Deuces Wild, Double Bonus and others add twists and different optimal strategies. Learn one well before sampling others.Why Canadians should care
Among casino games, full-pay video poker offers some of the lowest edges available - but only if you find the full-pay table and play it correctly. Most lobbies do not advertise which is which.CHECKLIST
What to check before you play
A short list for this game.
- Full-pay 9/6 Jacks or Better
- A strategy chart handy
- Low house edge confirmed
- Short-pay tables avoided
NEXT
Where to go next
Put the rules to work.