Video Poker Glossary

A pay table displays the payout amounts for each possible poker hand in a video poker machine. Different machines offer varying pay tables for identical hands—understanding these differences is crucial for identifying games with superior return percentages. A full-pay Jacks or Better machine, for example, pays 9 coins for a full house and 6 coins for a flush on a 5-coin bet, while short-pay versions may offer less favorable returns.

The RTP percentage represents the theoretical average amount a player can expect to receive back from their total wagers over an extended period. Full-pay Jacks or Better typically offers an RTP of approximately 99.5%, while other variations range from 98% to 100.76%. Selecting games with higher RTPs directly impacts your long-term profitability and is fundamental to optimal play strategy.

Video poker hand rankings follow standard poker hierarchy: Royal Flush (highest payout), Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, Jacks or Better (in most games), and No Pair (lowest). Understanding these rankings and their relative values in your specific pay table is essential for making correct hold/discard decisions during optimal play.

The hold/discard decision involves selecting which cards to keep from your initial five-card hand and which to replace. Optimal play strategy charts provide mathematically correct decisions for every possible hand configuration based on expected value calculations. Following these charts maximizes your chances of forming high-value hands and achieving the game's theoretical RTP.

Expected value is the average amount you can expect to win or lose on each decision. In video poker, every hold/discard choice has an associated EV calculated from the probabilities of completing various hands multiplied by their pay table values. Optimal strategy always selects the option with the highest positive expected value, minimizing the house edge and maximizing profitability.

The house edge represents the mathematical advantage the casino maintains over players, expressed as a percentage. Full-pay video poker games can feature house edges as low as 0.5% with perfect strategy, while poor pay tables may have edges exceeding 5%. Understanding and minimizing the house edge through game selection and optimal play is critical for long-term success.

Variance measures the fluctuation in results around the expected value, while volatility describes how dramatic those swings are. Video poker typically exhibits moderate variance compared to slots. Understanding variance helps players prepare mentally and financially for normal short-term losing streaks while maintaining discipline with bankroll management strategies.

Strategy charts are comprehensive guides listing the mathematically optimal hold/discard decision for every possible initial hand in a specific video poker game. Charts are organized by hand category (pairs, high cards, straight possibilities, etc.) and must be game-specific, as different pay tables produce different optimal plays. Consistent chart adherence is essential for achieving the theoretical RTP.

Full-pay machines offer the highest payouts for premium hands according to standard pay tables, while short-pay machines reduce returns on certain hands to increase the house edge. A single-coin difference in a full house or flush payout can reduce RTP by 0.5% or more. Game selection between full-pay and short-pay machines is one of the most impactful decisions in video poker optimization.

Bankroll management is the practice of maintaining sufficient funds to weather normal variance and losing streaks without depleting your capital. Professional video poker players typically maintain bankrolls of 250-300 times their average bet size. Proper bankroll management allows you to play optimally without emotional decision-making during downswings.

Video poker typically allows bets of 1-5 coins per hand, with maximum bets offering significantly higher payouts for premium hands, especially the Royal Flush. The Royal Flush bonus structure creates proportionally higher returns when betting maximum coins. Optimal strategy considers the impact of bet size on overall expected value and game variance.