There is a better way to play and win video poker. And it’s not by playing multiple hands or placing maximum bets. What you need is a video poker strategy chart, a visual gameplay aid that helps you identify which cards to hold or discard for a profitable hand.
In this casino guide, we provide you with video poker strategy charts, explaining how to read them and make optimal gameplay moves to get the best return on every hand in the game, based on each variant’s odds and payouts.
Video Poker Strategy Charts | Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild & More
A video poker strategy chart is a gaming tool designed to help players make informed strategic decisions. It provides you with data-driven tips on when to hold or play your hand. You can get a printable video poker strategy chart online in variant-specific formats, including:
Video Poker Strategy Charts & Guides
These charts serve as a video poker cheat sheet ranking all possible hand combinations in order of strength and expected value (EV). Using it, you can reduce the house edge to below 1% in games like full-pay Jacks or Better, or in Deuces Wild gameplay. And the RTP can increase by 2-5%.
How To Read a Video Poker Strategy Chart
Utilizing a video poker strategy chart isn’t technical. Whether it is Jacks or Better or Deuces Wild video poker strategy chart, start by scanning the chart from top to bottom to match your hand with the applicable row.
Jacks or Better Strategy Chart – Top Priority Hands
Use this quick-reference chart for 9/6 Jacks or Better. Start at the top and hold the first hand that matches your cards, then discard the rest.
Tip: If more than one line fits your hand, always follow the one that appears higher in the list.
Additionally, always keep the cards that form the highest-ranking hand. For example, if your hand qualifies for both “Four to a Flush” and “High Pair,” you choose whichever appears higher on the chart. Check out the video poker strategy guide for more tips.
Interpreting a Video Poker Strategy Chart
The standard poker hand rankings are used in video poker. Each line in a video poker chart represents a specific hand, such as a Royal Flush or a Straight, along with its corresponding expected value.
The higher a hand appears on the video poker basic strategy chart, the stronger its expected payout.
Example
You’re dealt J♠ J♥ 10♠ 9♠ 8♠ in Jacks or Better. Check if your hand matches:
What to do: Following Jacks or Better rules, hold J♠ 10♠ 9♠ 8♠. Discard J♥
The video poker strategy chart for Jacks or Better helps you avoid the mistake of keeping the pair of Jacks, which has a lower EV than the Four to a Flush. This is also an Aces and Faces strategy.
More Hand Evaluation Examples – Jacks or Better
Once you understand how to scan the chart from top to bottom, the next step is learning how to apply it in real gameplay situations — especially when your hand appears to qualify for more than one line on the chart. The examples below show how the priority order resolves common decision conflicts in both Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild, helping you identify which cards to hold for the highest expected value.
Example 2 – Two Suited High Cards vs Three to a Straight Flush
Hand: K♠ Q♠ J♠ 7♦ 2♥ (9/6 Jacks or Better)
This hand appears to qualify for two different lines in the strategy chart:
This hand does not match any of them.
This matches the line “Three to a Straight Flush.”
This matches the line “Two Suited High Cards.”
“Two Suited High Cards” appears above “Three to a Straight Flush” in the simplified list, so you follow the higher line.
Even though three to a Straight Flush looks strong, optimal strategy prefers keeping the two suited high cards here.
Example 3 – High Pair vs Four to a Straight
Hand: Q♣ Q♥ J♦ 10♠ 9♠ (9/6 Jacks or Better)
This hand can be played as a high pair or a four-card straight draw. The chart helps you decide.
This hand is not a made straight (it’s Q-J-10-9, missing the 8 or K).
You have a high pair: Q♣ Q♥. This matches the “High Pair (Jacks or Better)” line.
This matches the “Four to an Outside Straight” line.
In the simplified strategy list, “High Pair (Jacks or Better)” appears above “Four to an Outside Straight.”
The high pair has a higher expected value than chasing this particular straight draw.
Deuces Wild Strategy Chart – Top Priority Hands
In Deuces Wild, all 2s are wild. Always keep your deuces first, then use this priority list from top to bottom to decide which cards to hold.
Remember: deuces can transform weak-looking hands into premium draws. Always check where your hand appears in the Deuces Wild chart before drawing.
Hand Evaluation Example – Deuces Wild
In Deuces Wild, multiple lines on the chart often apply at once because 2s are wild. This example shows how the priority list resolves those conflicts.
Example 4 – Three Deuces vs Straight Flush Potential
Hand: 2♠ 2♥ 2♦ K♠ Q♠ (Deuces Wild)
You have three deuces (2♠ 2♥ 2♦), which is already a very strong starting point.
The Deuces Wild chart starts with: Natural Royal (no deuces), Four Deuces, Wild Royal, Five of a Kind, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, then “Three Deuces.”
With 2♠ 2♥ 2♦ K♠ Q♠, you do not yet have a Wild Royal or Straight Flush.
Your strongest qualifying line on the chart is “Three Deuces.”
You might be tempted to chase a specific wild combination like a Wild Royal or Straight Flush by discarding one or more deuces, but those lines are below “Three Deuces” for this hand.
The chart tells you that locking in three deuces gives a higher long-term return than chasing a specific suited combination here.
In Deuces Wild, always start by checking how many 2s you have, then use the chart from the very top. Deuces push many borderline decisions down the list.
Comparing Video Poker Strategy Charts Across Variants
There are varying video poker strategy charts because of the differences in hand values, wild cards, and payout structures of different variants.
The table below compares some game strategy charts, highlighting key features of their video poker paytables and returns.
Double Double Bonus is a great video poker game. Check out our Double Double Bonus Poker tips.
How Pay Tables Change Video Poker Strategy
Video poker strategy charts aren’t universal because every pay table pays your winning hands slightly differently. Those payout changes affect the expected value (EV) of each play, which is why a hand that’s “correct” on one machine may not be optimal on another.
The key idea is simple: when the casino adjusts the pay table, it changes the long-term return (RTP) and reshuffles which borderline hands are worth chasing. That is why serious players always match the correct strategy chart to the exact pay table they are playing.
Flush = 6 coins
Flush = 5 coins
Dropping full houses from 9 to 8 coins and flushes from 6 to 5 coins may look like a small tweak, but it has two big consequences:
- Lower RTP: The long-term return drops by over 2%, which is a major difference for regular players.
- Shifted priorities: Hands that rely heavily on full houses and flushes become slightly less valuable compared to straights, high pairs, and certain draws.
Strategy charts are built to reflect those changes. For example, in a 9/6 Jacks or Better chart, borderline hands that can improve to full houses or flushes are often worth chasing because those payouts are strong. On an 8/5 pay table, some of those same borderline draws may fall below safer options like holding a high pair.
This is why it’s important to:
- Check the video poker pay table on the machine before you play.
- Use the strategy chart that matches that specific pay table and variant (9/6 vs 8/5, full-pay vs short-pay, etc.).
- Avoid using a generic chart for “any” Jacks or Better or Deuces Wild game, as it may not reflect the actual payouts you are getting.
When you pair the correct pay table with the correct strategy chart, you get the full benefit of optimal play – the highest possible RTP for that exact game. That is the edge that separates casual play from truly smart video poker sessions.
Benefits and Limitations of Using Video Poker Strategy Charts
Strategy charts are one of the most powerful tools in video poker because they help you make mathematically optimal hold–discard decisions. When used correctly, they reduce the house edge, stabilize your results, and give you the best possible return for each version of the game.
However, even the best strategy chart has natural limitations — especially when real-world variance and machine differences come into play.
In practice, strategy charts are most effective when they are paired with the correct pay table, used consistently, and applied with discipline over many hands. They don’t eliminate risk — but they give you the strongest mathematical edge available to the player.
Choosing the Right Video Poker Game for Strategy Chart Play
Not all video poker games play the same way — some reward disciplined strategy play with high RTP and stable variance, while others offer bigger jackpots but require more advanced decision-making. Choosing the right variant is just as important as using the correct strategy chart.
Best for: Beginners and consistent EV-focused players
RTP with optimal strategy: ~99.54%
Why choose it: Low volatility, clear hand structure, and one of the easiest charts to memorize.
Best for: Experienced strategy users
RTP with optimal strategy: can exceed 100% on select full-pay versions
Why choose it: Rewarding returns but requires stronger chart discipline due to wild cards.
Best for: Players who want moderate volatility
Why choose it: Bonus payouts on four-of-a-kind increase variance, but charts remain beginner-friendly.
Best for: Advanced players comfortable with risk
Why choose it: Big jackpot-style wins, but steep variance and more complex strategy decisions.
As a general rule:
- Higher RTP games reward players who follow the chart closely.
- High-volatility games offer bigger payouts — but require stronger bankroll management.
- Wild-card games shift the strategy priority order more frequently.
Before choosing a variant, ask yourself whether you prefer:
- steady, predictable sessions (Jacks or Better)
- technical strategy depth with strong long-term returns (Deuces Wild)
- or high-risk, high-reward play (Double Double Bonus)
The best approach is to pick a game whose volatility matches your comfort level — then use the correct, variant-specific strategy chart to maximize your expected return.
To help you choose the right version, review our video poker pay tables and match your game to the exact strategy chart provided on this page.
Optimize, Optimize, Optimize!
If you want to improve your chances of winning in video poker, optimize your gameplay by using the video poker strategy chart. All you need to do for a better return is to adjust your strategy based on pay tables and game variants, and watch the odds favor you.
FAQs
What is a video poker strategy chart?
A video poker strategy chart is a mathematically derived visual guide showing which cards to hold or discard to get the best return on every hand in the game.
Why do different variants, such as Jacks or Better or Deuces Wild, have different charts?
Video poker games have different charts because their pay tables and hand values differ.
How does the pay table affect the strategy chart?
Variation in pay tables changes the expected value of each hand and the cards worthy to hold or discard for optimal play.
Are strategy charts valid for multi-hand video poker?
Yes, but with greater variance in outcomes.
Can I use a standard chart for any pay table?
No, each pay table has unique payouts that require a dedicated chart.
What is the return (RTP) when using an optimal strategy chart?
RTP varies by game and pay table, but it is around 99.5% for full-pay Jacks or Better and slightly lower for other variants.
What mistakes do people make when using charts?
Common errors include using the wrong chart version, skipping the order hierarchy, or ignoring pay table differences.
Where can I download printable strategy charts?
You can download free, printable strategy charts for Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Double Double Bonus, and Triple Double Bonus in the ‘Video Poker Strategy Charts – Free Downloads’ section near the top of this page.
How often should I update strategy charts based on new variants or rules?
Review and update charts whenever new pay tables, rule adjustments, or software versions are released, like once a year.