Jacks or Better - Strategy & Winning Tips

It is not surprising that Poker has ended up with a continuously growing list of variations today due to its popularity that has already encompassed the whole globe. Although the variations are numerous, there are some which stood out and remained classics for players to play. Jacks or Better Poker is a part of these variations that have become more popular than its peers. It is also only logical that you may have already heard of it before, because being the first variant of video poker, its mechanics and the way to play it is basically the closest to the original of the game.

Why is Jacks or Better Popular?

There are many reasons for Jacks or Better for being a popular choice but, the most evident one is the fact that comes from its title. With just a hand that contains a jack or even a better card like King or Queen, you could already get the lowest amount of payout in the game. Of course, your prize would increase as you make better hands or combinations of cards within the game.

Before you proceed playing this game though, it is important to know its rules first, the hands you could play, some basic poker strategy, along with free bonus and other things that you could take advantage of. Canada players or not, would surely be able to get heaps of advantages from the information provided below on the exciting Jacks or Better game.

How To Play The Game

If you've played video poker before, then you ought to understand that you would have to make an 'Ante' before being dealt with your initial five-hand card. Once you pay for the hand, you will receive five cards. Now, you will have to make use of strategy to determine which to hold and which to discard. You want to have the best chances of creating a paying hand, so be sure to refer to basic strategy when making decisions.

After you choose to exchange or keep cards, new cards will replace those exchanged to reveal the final hand value. Payouts will be automatically awarded based on the pay table of the game and the amount of the wager that has been placed.

Hands or Card Combinations

High Cards or Jacks or better which refers to Jack, Queen, King and Ace, is at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to this type of game. Afterwards, there are other types of combinations that you could make in order to generate larger payouts. Knowing the ranking of hands will be the first step to using poker strategy for playing.

There's a two to a Royal Flush, Three to a Straight Flush, Four to a Straight, Four To A Flush and a Three to A Royal Flush. These combinations basically refer to having a combination of cards that are part of the combinations mentioned with them. For example, two to a royal flush includes two cards that could help a player secure or make a Royal Flush combination. This goes true for the other types aforementioned.

There's also the two pairs which refers to having two cards with the same number or symbol on them. A straight on the other hand, refers to having a card combination with consecutive number or symbols like 2 to 6 and others. Cards on this combination doesn't necessarily need to be within the same suite. There's also three of a kind which refers to combination with three same numbers, a flush with a hand of the same suit, along with a full house composting of a pair along with three of a kind. There's also the four of a kind hand, a straight flush and a royal flush. The Royal Flush has the most outstanding payout out of all the hands in this variation of the game and it involves having 5 cards that are consecutive to each other and specifically refers to 10, Jack, Queen, King and an Ace.

How To Win

It is best that you read more about diverse strategy you could employ when playing jacks or better. After equipping yourself with basic strategy, start playing the game for fun and in order to hone your skills. You could do this by taking advantage of free casino poker bonuses or codes that you can find online. This would allow you to test the waters in a site or a game, and at the same time, you'll be able to familiarize yourself with the game of Jacks or Better even more.

Winning the game is not difficult. As long as you have a hand that contains Jacks or Better or another combination listed on the pay table, you will win a payout. You can enhance your chances of winning the largest returns by using basic strategy. There are many online sites and forums that offer information on strategy that can be used when playing this version of video poker.

Jacks or Better Poker Tips

While there is no guaranteed way to win when playing Jacks or Better, you can make use of some simple tips that will increase your chances of being a winner. Before you start wagering, it may be best to play a few free hands of this game. These provide a risk-free way to master rules and learn how to employ a strategy after cards have been dealt. By using the tips we discuss below, you will be on your way to enjoying a rewarding video poker session with this top-rated poker variation.

It is recommended to always play the maximum bet when playing Jacks or Better poker for real money. This will ensure you get the highest return when you get a royal flush. Betting fewer coins will lower the payouts drastically so always bet the max. Another tip is to take your time. There is no time limit or rush when playing video poker. You can take all the time you need to make educated decisions that can yield paying hands.

Finally, make sure to learn basic strategy before playing. With video poker, you will lose 79% of the hands that are played. However, if you use strategy the hands that do win will be worth more and will help to recoup previous losses. The best way to practice poker strategy is to play supported free games. While you will not win payouts with these poker options, you can take all the time you need to master basic strategy that will improve your game.

Multihand Jacks or Better

If you have already mastered basic video poker strategy and have played Jacks or Better in the past, you may want to try out a multihand game. These games can be found at leading casino and many providers have developed video poker that features the chance to play more than one hand at a time. With multihand poker, you can find sites that offer the ability to play as many as 100 hands, drastically increasing your chances of being a winner!

This version of poker is played using the same rules as a single hand game. You will have to place a wager on all of the hands in play. So, if you are playing 5 hands of video poker and have selected a $1 wager, your total bet will be $5. Once you select a bet amount and the number of hands to play, the cards will be dealt. You will see the main poker hand presented in the middle of the screen and all other hands will be smaller. The main hand is where all of the action takes place.

After the initial five cards are dealt, you can select to hold or discard. Whatever actions are made in the main hand will be replicated in all additional hands. After receiving new cards for those discarded, all hands will be complete and any payouts will be automatically credited to the balance. You will also have the option to use the Gamble Feature, which will allow you to risk the original win amount in hopes of doubling your payouts playing a feature game.

Play with Bonuses

Video poker is a popular game for many players and with Jacks or Better being featured at almost every casino, you have many options. When choosing a site to engage in poker play, watch for those that present great bonus offers. With these, you can get free funds to use when playing Jacks or Better and will have more chances to generate payouts.

You will find different types of bonuses that can be redeemed. Some sites will welcome new members with a no deposit Jacks or Better bonus, which will be credited to the account right after registering an account. There are also standard welcome bonuses that offer a match deal on your first deposit. The best online casinos will have recurring bonuses like reload offers and cashback rewards. The money earned from these can be used to play Jacks or Better.

One thing to keep in mind when using casino bonuses is that playing video poker will not count 100% towards meeting wagering requirements. These requirements do have to be satisfied before you can cashout any bonus winnings. Many jacks or Better players will play slot games to meet wagering requirements so they can quickly clear an offer and grab another great bonus.