Video Poker Glossary

Understanding video poker terminology is crucial for developing optimal play strategies and making informed decisions. This glossary covers the most important concepts you'll encounter when learning about video poker odds, pay tables, and return percentages.

Pay Table

A pay table displays the payout amounts for each possible poker hand in a video poker machine. Pay tables vary significantly between machines and are the primary determinant of the game's return percentage. A "full-pay" machine offers the highest payouts for premium hands like royal flushes and straight flushes, while "short-pay" machines reduce these payouts to increase the house edge. The pay table is typically displayed on the screen and should be your first consideration when selecting a machine.

Return to Player (RTP) Percentage

The RTP percentage, also known as payback percentage, represents the average percentage of all wagered money that a video poker machine returns to players over an extended period. For example, a machine with 99.5% RTP will theoretically return $99.50 for every $100 wagered. It's important to understand that this is a mathematical average calculated over thousands of hands, not a guarantee for individual sessions. Different video poker variants offer different RTPs, typically ranging from 95% to 99.5% on full-pay machines.

Hold or Hold'em Strategy

This refers to the decision of which cards to keep and which to discard on the draw. Optimal hold strategy is based on mathematical analysis of expected value and probabilities. Rather than following intuition or poker tradition, optimal video poker play uses strategy charts that rank hand combinations by their expected value. These charts account for the specific pay table being used.

Royal Flush

The highest-ranking hand in video poker, consisting of Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 of the same suit. Royal flushes pay the bonus jackpot amount, which is typically 800 coins for a five-coin bet on Jacks or Better, though this varies by machine and pay table.

Straight Flush

Five cards of the same suit in sequential rank, such as 9-8-7-6-5 of hearts. Straight flushes are the second-highest paying hand after the royal flush, typically paying 50 coins for a one-coin bet.

Four of a Kind

Four cards of the same rank, such as four Kings. The payout depends on the rank of the four cards in some video poker variants. Aces or Kings of a kind pay more than lower-ranked quads.

Full House

A combination of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank, such as three 7s and two Aces. Full house payouts on full-pay machines typically range from 8 to 9 coins for a one-coin bet.

Flush

Five cards of the same suit, not in sequential order. Flush payouts typically range from 5 to 6 coins for a one-coin bet on most video poker machines.

Straight

Five cards in sequential rank of mixed suits, such as 5-6-7-8-9. Standard payouts for straights are 4 coins for a one-coin bet.

Three of a Kind

Three cards of the same rank, such as three Queens. This hand typically pays 3 coins for a one-coin bet.

Two Pair

Two separate pairs, such as two Kings and two 5s. Two pair typically pays 2 coins for a one-coin bet.

Pair of Jacks or Better

In Jacks or Better video poker, a minimum qualifying pair must be Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces to win. Lower pairs do not pay anything. This is the defining characteristic of the Jacks or Better variant.

Expected Value (EV)

The mathematical average return for a particular decision or play. Optimal video poker strategy is built on selecting holds that maximize expected value. For example, if holding three cards to a royal flush has an expected value of 0.45 coins and holding two cards has an expected value of 0.30 coins, the three-card hold is the optimal play.

Volatility

A measure of how much a game's returns fluctuate. Video poker games with high volatility feature larger swings between wins and losses, with bigger jackpots but less frequent payouts. Low volatility games produce steadier, more consistent results.

Bankroll

The total amount of money a player allocates for video poker play. Proper bankroll management is essential for withstanding variance and playing through downswings without running out of funds.

Variance

A statistical measure of how much actual results deviate from expected values. High variance in video poker means results over short periods can differ significantly from long-term RTP predictions. Understanding variance helps players set realistic expectations.

Bonus Poker

A variant of video poker that pays higher amounts for certain four-of-a-kind combinations while reducing other payouts. For example, four Aces might pay 400 coins instead of the standard payout amount.

Draw or Drawing Hand

A hand that is not yet complete and requires additional cards to make a winning combination. Strategy often involves decisions about whether to draw to specific hands based on their expected value.

Kicker

An unmatched card held with a pair or other hand. When multiple hands of the same rank are possible, the kicker determines priority. For example, a pair of Kings with an Ace kicker is stronger than a pair of Kings with a lower card, though in most video poker games, all pairs pay the same amount.

House Edge

The mathematical advantage the casino holds over players. On a 99.5% RTP machine, the house edge is 0.5%. Lower house edges indicate better value for players. Understanding house edge helps players compare different games and machines.