The 5 Best Video Poker Variants

The best video poker variants in existence today create a nice variety for players who enjoy being on the physical casino floor or the ones who prefer online gambling sites. Video poker has been around for roughly 50 years, and different variations kept popping up one after another.

Today, there are dozens of video poker variations to keep the game trendy. Some of them have higher payouts, and others offer curious perks that add more thrill to the game. Thanks to technological advancement, you can enjoy exciting and rewarding video poker variations at several online casinos, even when you’re on the go. We’ll list five of the best ones in this article.

Classic Video Poker | The Basics

Classic video poker is a legend that players across the globe still find interesting. Jacks or Better, often referred to as draw poker, is the basis that all variations were built upon. The name of the game suggests the lowest winning hand: a pair of Jacks. A single card deck and a bet are all it takes to play the game. Once you place a bet, you are dealt five cards. You can discard or keep them, depending on what you need for a winning hand.

You can adjust the bet and denomination, but you’re advised to start low if you don’t have a lot of experience with video poker. The payout depends on the hand you have. For example, your lowest winning hand follows a 1:1 ratio, while a straight hand’s payout is 4:1.

Choosing a Video Poker Variation | The Important Tips

The available video poker variants do not comprise an endless variety, but we know that choosing the best ones can be much harder than anticipated. The key thing to consider is the number of differences in the rules you’ll encounter. You need to read the terms and conditions of every casino, including the specific rules of the game you intend to play.

Every video poker variation requires a certain strategy if you want to make the most of it. Not being prepared would equal losing any competitive advantage you might have, which is the last thing you’d want.

Even if you pick a suitable strategy to use that’s compliant with your preferred video poker variant, you still must assess the situation carefully. If you’re a newbie, then you’d always be better off playing the basic video poker variants. Advanced players have the freedom to opt for some of the modern and more complicated options.

Checking for all the player feedback and guides like the one you’re reading now is essential. Such priceless information would give you a first-hand opinion about a video poker variant and whether it’s worth it or not. These recommendations can save you a lot of time and resources by helping you avoid low-paying games.

The 5 Best Video Poker Variations | Our Top 5 Picks

The 5 best video poker variants you’ll find below are not ranked. We chose them because they’re equally entertaining to play, but they all have differences that make each of them stand out.

It’s up to you to choose the best poker variation. It can be a simple or a more complicated one. Except for the handful of video poker options listed below, you’re likely to discover dozens more, which means that you can enjoy a different version of video poker each time you hit a casino, whether it’s an online gambling site or a brick-and-mortar venue.

When you choose a particular video poker variant, make sure to compare the differences in pay tables. The return can be way off compared to the one you anticipated, so read the fine print before you place your bet.

Jacks or Better

Jacks or Better is the basic version of video poker, as mentioned above. This means that it’s also the simplest of them all, making it the perfect starting point for newbie players. The 0/6 Jacks or Better offers an average RTP of 99.5%. However, keep in mind that not all Jacks or Better games have such high paybacks.

A pair of Jacks (or better) is the lowest hand you need to win. The payout is even (1:1 to your bet). Most single-hand Jacks or Better games offer an additional opportunity for bigger payouts: bonus games. If you opt for this feature, you enter a bonus game when you have a winning hand. As a result, you’ll get five cards, the first of which is dealt face-up. You need to choose one of the remaining four and hope that its value would be higher than the face-up one.

Deuces Wild

You can never go wrong with Deuces Wild. This video poker variant is among the most popular ones, especially when it comes to physical casinos, but many online gambling sites feature it as well. It uses a single 52-card deck, similar to Jacks or Better. The additional part is related to all twos (the Deuces). They represent wild cards, allowing you to use them as an addition to create a winning hand: you simply replace one of the cards you have with a Deuce, if that’s going to result in a winning combination, of course.

The lowest winning hand is the Three of a Kind (1:1 payout). If you score Four Deuces, you’d be lucky enough to have a winning combination that’s second only to a Royal Flush.

The returns Deuces Wild offers are relatively low because of the increased odds of getting a winning hand thanks to the wild cards rule. The average return exceeds 100%, meaning that you would have the edge and not the house. This is also the reason why betting is safer when playing this video poker variant.

Bonus Poker

Here’s another version based on Jacks or Better. It offers great payouts if you score higher-paying hands, such as four Aces. The lowest-winning hand is a pair of Jacks, of course, followed by the rest of the classic video poker winning hands. An exception is the Four of a Kind hand, where the aforementioned four Aces will bring you 80x your bet.

The 8/5 version of Bonus Poker is the one to go for, as it pays the most. It has an RTP of nearly 99.2%. If you are a rookie player, you’d need a strategy to make the most of the game. The 7/5 version has a lower payout (98%), and this is why the 8/5 one is better.

There’s a version of Bonus Poker that has a higher average payout (99.7%), but the Four of a Kind hand will not have the same payout. The Double Bonus Poker variant offers higher winnings and a return rate of above 100%, making it a preferred option.

Tens or Better

The single deck card used for Tens or Better and the winning order that’s identical to Jacks or Better makes this variant a simple and suitable choice for newbies. The name suggests the main difference of this version: the lowest paying hand is a pair of tens. The other significant difference is that payouts are lower but more frequent.

Despite the lower average payout, the game is still rewarding: its average RTP is approximately 99.13%. It’s a good return to enjoy, although this particular variant can surprise you with a higher-than-average house edge.

Joker Poker

Joker Poker is a highly entertaining video poker variant, and it’s a good choice for both advanced players and beginners. The game’s main difference is easy to guess when you take its name into account. The Joker is added to a standard 52-card deck. The additional card serves as a wild.

One of the other differences that makes Joker Poker stand out is the lowest winning hand combination. You need at least a pair of Kings or Aces to win. Still, the Wild card can be used to form a Five of a Kind. The game’s higher-than-average odds make it popular among a wide circle of players.

Keep in mind that Joker Poker comes in three different versions, and only the highest-paying one offers an RTP of above 100%.

The Conclusion

In the last couple of decades, tens of video poker versions have emerged, shaping a diversity that players around the world enjoy. If you love video poker in its classic variant, then you’ll probably like a lot of its alternatives.

We didn’t list progressive jackpots as a separate variation, but it’s worth mentioning. Instead of a fixed payout, your winning hand lands you a rising jackpot. The progression of the said jackpot results in more money amassed. The percentages and rates related to this game may vary depending on the casino you choose. The same goes for different versions of Joker Poker – there are seemingly insignificant differences sometimes, but they can matter a lot.

If you used to stick to classic video poker, you should experiment with different variants. You’re likely to rediscover your passion for the game. The modern reincarnations offer a variety of additions and interesting rules, making the game more exciting than ever. Before you try some of the best video poker variants, make sure you read the specific rules first.