Of all the different video poker variants, none is quite as old and as popular as Jacks or Better, a game that’s often advised for newer players to try before most of the others. Its low variance and simple rules make it the perfect choice for beginners, especially for those that are already familiar with five card draw poker, which is the kind most often found on most video poker machines.

While Jacks or Better, like other kinds of poker, is a game of chance, many experts believe that it’s possible to better the odds by following a sound strategy, but it’s important to keep in mind that even the best strategies don’t always promise a win. Jacks or Better is a brilliant game to play; it’s extremely easy to find both online and at any local casino venues.

The Rules of Jacks or Better

As mentioned earlier, anyone that has played five card draw poker will be familiar with the rules for Jacks or Better, as they are almost identical. Another aspect to remember is that this game does not feature either bluffing or raising, meaning that the players are not really playing against one another. An average round will start by each player taking out an initial bet, and the idea of playing and winning is to end the round with a hand containing a pair of jacks or better.

These are the basic rules for video poker machines:

• The player will need to choose the amount of money that they would like to wager. This can depend entirely on the rates set by the casino that’s offering the game, but for the most part, Jacks or Better wagers tend to be around $1.
• The player is then automatically dealt a total of 5 cards that will make up their hand. It’s from these 5 cards that the player will use to discard and replace with new ones, exactly the same as five card draw.
• Using the given hand, along with the replacement cards, the player has to try their best to end the round with a hand that gives them a winning chance. Once the final hand has been chosen, the computer will then decide whether the hand was good enough for the bet to be won.
• Having a better hand means winning more, which means that it’s vital for the player to take the time and learn the card ranking. This ranking is a list that usually comes as part of the rules for most games, and can give an idea of what kind of hands are worth striving for.

Some Tips For Jacks or Better

These helpful hints can make each game a little bit easier:

• Do research on a solid, well known strategy, as it drastically improve the chances of winning
• Devote more time to one, specific machine, as this also increases the chances of getting a good hand
• Follow a budget as much as possible is a good idea, and to make sure to only spend money that’s can be afforded in the long term