Published on by Chief Editor
Fact checked by Sadonna Price

Jacks or Better Strategy | Optimal Strategy For Video Poker

Jacks or Better is the oldest video poker game and one of the most popular variants. Players are particularly fond of the Full Pay version (the 9/6 Jacks or Better where full house pays 9 and flush 6), in which you can get returns of 99.54% — the house edge is only 0.46%

Try The Jacks or Better Strategy at a Trusted Online Casino

Sort
Filter Casinos
Mobile Friendly
Casino Games
Game Provider
Payment Method
Clear All
Active filters:
Casino Games: Video Poker
Clear all filters

Wild Casino

Accepts US players
Bonus Offer: $5,000 Welcome Bonus
More Info
Available Games
  • Slots
  • Blackjack
  • Roulette
  • Live Dealer
  • Baccarat
Payment Methods
Features
  • Great selection of slots
  • High-quality live dealer games
  • Excellent welcome bonus
  • Crypto-friendly

Ignition Casino

Accepts US players
Bonus Offer: $3,000 Welcome Bonus
More Info
Available Games
  • Slots
  • Blackjack
  • Roulette
  • Live Dealer
  • Baccarat
Payment Methods
Features
  • 300+ games
  • Crypto-friendly casino
  • Live dealer jackpot
  • Bonus galore for different verticals

Cafe Casino

Accepts US players
Bonus Offer: 350% up to $2500
More Info
Available Games
  • Slots
  • Blackjack
  • Roulette
  • Live Dealer
  • Baccarat
Payment Methods
Features
  • Accepts cryptocurrencies
  • Generous welcome bonus
  • Loyalty program
  • Kahnawake Licence
37 casinos found based on your search.
Image of Jacks or Better Strategy

However, this is only the case if you’re using the optimal strategy. But what is the optimal strategy really? Its name suggests it’s the best one to use, but how does it work, and what does it entail? Let’s see.

Understanding Poker Hand Rankings and Paytable

Every video poker game has its own paytable, while the hand rankings are pretty much the same, as they primarily come from regular poker.

To make things simpler, we’ll focus on a typical paytable for a 9/6 Jacks or Better game. It’s the highest-paying version and the one you should opt for if you want to utilize the optimal strategy to the max. 

Here’s a simple table ranking hands from best to worst:

HandExampleDescriptionTypical payout
Royal flush10♠️ J♠️ Q♠️ K♠️ A♠️A high straight in the same suit800
Straight flush2♠️ 3♠️ 4♠️ 5♠️ 6♠️Any 5-card straight of the same suit50
Four of a kind7♠️ 7♣️ 7♥️ 7♦️Four same-value cards25
Full house10♠️ 10♦️ 3♣️ 3♠️ 3♥️ Three of a kind and a pair9
Flush3♠️ 6♠️ 7♠️ J♠️ A♠️Five same-suit cards6
Straight7♠️ 8♥️ 9♣️ 10♠️ J♦️Five cards in consecutive order4
Three of a kindJ♠️ J♣️ J♦️Three same-value cards3
Two pair4♠️ 4♣️ 9♥️ 9♠️ Two sets of same-value pairs2
Jacks or betterJ♠️ J♦️A pair of jacks or better (queens, kings, or aces)1

Below is an example of how this paytable looks in a Jacks or Better game:

Image of Jacks or Better Pay Table
Image of Jacks or Better Video Poker Game

Jacks or Better Strategy Tips — Which Moves to Make

Using the optimal strategy is quite simple. Below, you will find a specific list of moves you should make. It is important to consult it with every dealt hand to see which cards to keep.

The list ranks the hands from best to worst. Make sure to read through it until you’ve found a match for your hand. Once you get to it, keep the cards described, and discard the rest. The game will draw new ones instead, and you’ll see if you’ve won. 

If you have nothing from the list, discard all the cards. 

The important thing to understand is that this strategy leads to the best possible results, but a win is not guaranteed. Here’s the list:

  1. Royal flush
  2. Straight flush
  3. Four of a kind
  4. Four cards leading to a royal flush
  5. Full house
  6. Flush
  7. Three of a kind
  8. Straight
  9. Four cards leading to a straight flush
  10. Two pairs
  11. High-card pair
  12. Three cards leading to a royal flush
  13. Four cards leading to a flush
  14. Unsuited 10, jack, queen, and king
  15. Low-card pair
  16. Four cards leading to an outside straight, of which none, one, or two are high cards
  17. Three cards leading to a straight flush, where the number of high cards is the same or higher than the number of missing cards
  18. Suited jack and queen
  1. Four cards leading to an inside straight, where all cards are high
  2. Suited king and queen or king and jack
  3. Suited ace and king, ace and queen, or ace and jack
  4. Four cards leading to an inside straight, where three cards are high
  5. Three cards leading to a straight flush, where you have one gap and no high cards, or two gaps and one high card, or a low ace, or a 2, 3, and a 4
  6. Unsuited jack, queen, and king
  7. Unsuited jack and queen
  8. Suited 10 and jack
  9. Two unsuited high cards where the king is the highest
  10. Suited 10 and queen
  11. Two unsuited high cards where the ace is the highest
  12. One jack
  13. Suited 10 and king
  14. One queen
  15. One king
  16. One ace
  17. Three cards leading to a straight flush, where you have two gaps and no high card

We have provided explanations for the terms on the list you might not understand:

  • High card — An ace, king, queen, or jack;
  • Low card — All cards with numbers; 
  • Inside straight — An incomplete straight that needs a card on one end or the other, like 5, 6, 7, 8. You only need a 4 or a 9 to complete it.
  • Outside straight — An incomplete straight that needs a card somewhere inside, like a 5, 6, 8, 9. You only need a 7 for the straight.

Here’s an example to help you comprehend how this works.

Let’s say you start a Jacks or Better game and you get the following hand — 5♠️ 9♥️ A♠️ J♠️ 6♦️. Looking at the list, the best thing you have here is A♠️ J♠️, which you’ll find under number 21. Keep these two, and you’ll have a decent chance of getting another ace or jack — maybe even something better. 

Let’s look at a different hand — 10♥️ 7♠️ 9♠️ 10♦️ 8♣️. The two 10s are the best combination here, as that’s a low pair you can find under number 15 in our list. A low pair is a good hand since it has a potential to turn into three of a kind or better.

Hands You Never Play

There are a few hands that might seem to deserve a place on our list, but they should actually be avoided. Here’s what you should do in case you get them:

  1. If you get four cards leading to an inside straight where none are high, discard all cards.

  2. If you get four cards leading to an inside straight where one is high, keep the high card only.

  3. If you get four cards leading to an inside straight where two are high, keep the high cards only.

  4. If you get a suited ace and 10, only keep the ace.

  5. If you get three unsuited high cards where the ace is the highest, only keep the other two cards.

Low- and High-Pair Strategy

Image of low and High Card Strategy

It can be confusing for players to know when to keep a high pair and when to keep a low one. This depends on the situation. 

Namely, when it comes to low card pairs, it’s usually good to keep all of them. However, there are a few instances when you should do the opposite. Here’s what you need to do when you have other combinations with a low pair:

  • Keep the low pair if you get four cards leading to a straight.
  • Keep the low pair if you get two cards leading to a royal flush. 
  • Keep the low pair in case you have three cards leading to a straight flush.
  • Discard the low pair in case you have four cards leading to a flush.
  • Discard the low pair in case you have three cards leading to a royal flush. 

On the other hand, you should always keep a high pair when you get it because this is a win in Jacks or Better. 

Still, there is one exception to the rule — when you get four cards leading to a royal flush. You might end up not winning a royal flush, but the opportunity to score the highest-paying hand in video poker is just too good to pass for a sure high-pair win that pays only double. 

Conclusion

The optimal strategy for Jacks or Better is the only strategy a video poker player should use, as it pays the most and is simple to grasp. With the help of this guide, you are bound to win more than you usually do.

FAQ

Is ace a high card in Jacks or Better? Yes, the ace is a high card in Jacks or Better. Even though it has a different value in some video poker games, it’s the same as king, queen, or jack in this variant.
Should I keep a low pair in Jacks or Better? Low pairs are always helpful if you have nothing better to keep. They are certainly better than a single high card. Naturally, you may win more hands if you keep a jack or a better card, but payouts will be low. On the other hand, the average payouts may be higher when you hold low pairs, even though you won’t win as often.
What is a 9/6 Jacks or Better video poker game? 9/6 or Full Pay denotes a Jacks or Better video poker title where the payout for a full house is 9, while a flush pays 6 times your stake. This is often considered the best paytable in video poker as it pays the most, hence the Full Pay name. You can find a 9/6 Jacks or Better game by checking its paytable. If there’s a 9 next to full house and a 6 next to flush, that’s the game to play!

About the Author

Author Hi all! My name is Jayson Peter, and I am the Chief Editor here at Casino USA. I have always been a huge fan of casinos, but I noticed that there are not a lot of websites out there that discuss the gambling industry in enough detail, so that’s how the idea for CasinoUSA.com was born. With my extensive knowledge of the industry and the help of my team, I am ready to give you an insight into the exciting world of casino gambling in the United States.