Video Poker Game Rules

Video Poker is played against the machine where the objective of the game is to obtain a five-card poker hand that contains at least a pair of Jacks or better or a better hand depending on the variation. The player places a bet and the video poker machine gives the player five cards. The player then chooses the cards to hold and the cards to discard. The machine replaces the discarded cards with new cards, leaving the player with the final hand. According to the rank of the hand the player wins or loses the hand. In Video Poker the ranking of the hand is the same as in table poker.

Royal Flush - A, K, Q, J, and the 10 of the same suit.
Straight Flush – Five consecutive cards of the same suit, for instance 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of clubs.
Four of a Kind – A hand with four cards of the same value, such as four Kings.
Full House - Three cards of the same value, and two cards of another value, like three deuces and two Aces.
Flush – Any five cards of the same suit, in no particular order.
Straight – Any five consecutive cards, such as 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, but not of the same suit.
Three of a Kind - Three cards of the same value, three Aces for instance.
Two Pair – A hand containing two pairs, such as two Jacks and two Nines.
One Pair – Any pair better than a pair of Jacks.

Basic Strategy

Hold any four cards to a straight flush.
Hold any three cards to a royal flush.
Hold any four cards to a flush.
Hold any low pair.
Hold any four consecutive cards to a straight.
Hold any two high cards of the same suit.
Hold any three cards to a straight flush.
Hold K, Q, and J of different suits.
Hold any two high cards of different suits.
Hold J, Q or K with a Ten of the same suit.
Hold any single high card.
If none of the above combination is dealt the player should draw five new cards.