9 6 Jacks Or Better Strategy
Jacks or Better Strategy Card. Once you’ve mastered playing Jacks or Better using those strategy tips, give our big strategy card a try. Start at the top and move down. When you get to your hand, stop. This is a solid Jacks or Better Strategy: Royal flush; Straight flush; Four of a kind; Four cards to a royal flush; Full house; Flush; Three of a kind; Straight. Full Pay (9/6) Jacks or Better - 99.54%. Full pay Jacks or Better is the best pay table you can find, and it pays out a maximum of 99.54% if you are using perfect strategy and making the right moves every time.
- The best odds when you play Jacks or better Are best on a 9 / 6 machine, it simply pays out more money to go with this machine. Jacks or Better Paytables Paytables can vary a small amount when playing Jacks or Better at different casinos, generally speaking though, the following is fairly standard.
- Expert Jacks or Better Strategy. Here is how you should use the chart below: Start at the top of the chart and work down. When you see a hand that matches up with yours, follow that strategy. Example: Imagine you have Qs-Js-Ts-3s-Jh. In this case, you'd match up with a few rows on the table below. Your hand would qualify for a high pair of.
Jacks or Better Pay Tables
Here are many of the common pay tables available on Jacks or Better machines. The best pay table available in many online and land based casinos is the 9 / 6. It’s called a 9 / 6 because the full house pays nine and the flush pays six. If a 9 / 6 machine isn’t available where you pay we don’t recommend playing Jacks or Better.
The way you use the table below is match it with the column under one coin on the machine you’re looking at. The only exception is the royal flush. The machine won’t show 800 in the first column under royal flush, but the 800 represents the bonus for betting max coins. The royal flush should show 4,000 in the five coin column, or five times 800.
Game | 9 / 6 | 9 / 5 | 8 / 6 | 8 / 5 | 7 / 5 | 6 / 5 |
Royal Flush | 800 | 800 | 800 | 800 | 800 | 800 |
Straight Flush | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Four of a Kind | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
Full House | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
Flush | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Straight | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Three of a Kind | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Two Pair | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Pair Jacks or Better | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
House Edge | .46% | 1.55% | 1.61% | 2.70% | 3.85% | 5.00% |
Notice how a simple change in the pay table changes the house edge. The casinos try to take advantage of players who don’t know about pay tables and players who think one number change doesn’t change the house edge much.
Jacks or Better Strategy Chart
Here’s a jacks or better strategy chart you can use any time you play. The correct way to use this chart is to start at the top and go down until you find a hand that matches yours. Then hold the listed hand and discard everything else.
Rule # 1 – Always bet five coins per hand.
- Royal flush
- Straight flush
- Four of a kind
- Four to a royal flush
- Full house
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a kind
- Four to a straight flush
- Two pair
- Pair of jacks or better
- Three to a royal flush
- Four to a flush
- Pair of 10’s or lower
- Four to an open end straight
- Three to a straight flush with at least as many cards jack and higher than gaps
- Four cards jack and higher
- Two suited cards jack and higher
- Four to an inside straight, with three cards jack or higher
- Three to a straight flush with two gaps and one card jack or higher or with one gap and no high cards
- K Q J suited
- Q J suited
- J T suited
- K Q or K J unsuited
- Q T suited
- A K or A Q or A J unsuited
- K T suited
- One card jack or higher
- Three to a straight flush with two gaps
- Draw five new cards
It might seem like the strategy chart has a great deal you need to remember. But you don’t have to memorize it. You can use t when you play Jacks or Better online or print out a copy and take it with you to the casino.
You’re going to find that once you start using your strategy chart that you’re quickly going to memorize the most common plays. If you want to start memorizing the most common plays before you get started here’s how to do it.
The best way to learn our Jacks or Better Strategy is to use it as you play. We recommend practicing at Bovada Casino. Bovada Casino offers Jacks or Better for single hand play as well as three hand, ten hand, and fifty-two hand play. Plus, you can play with practice money before you try it for real. Also, Bovada Casino is open to all USA players. Practice Jacks or Better at Bovada Casino now! |
On this page I've devised what I believe to be the perfect strategy for playing Jacks or Better video poker. By using the charts on this page you can achieve a payout percentage of 99.54% at full pay video poker, which is the highest mathematical return I've been able to achieve. Please keep in mind that this strategy was created for full pay Jacks or Better games. Here is an example of a full pay Jacks or Better pay table:
Hand: | Payout: |
Royal Flush | 800 |
Straight Flush | 50 |
Four of a Kind | 25 |
Full House | 9 |
Flush | 6 |
Straight | 4 |
Three of a Kind | 3 |
Two Pair | 2 |
Pair (Jacks or Better) | 1 |
The pay table above assumes you're betting five coins per hand. If you bet less than five coins per hand the royal flush will pay out less, and your return will go down. Also, if you're playing one of the other Jacks or Better pay tables this strategy will still be good, but not perfect.
Beginner Jacks or Better Strategy
If you want to play with decent strategy and increase your odds without following the full chart below, you should follow the rules listed here. We've identified the most troublesome hands for new players, and advised the correct move for each hand. To use this strategy, play your normal game and make the easy decisions, and if you come upon a tough decision refer to the rules below.
Here is how you should use the chart below:
- Find your trouble hand on the chart.
- Follow the chart's recommendation.
Example: Imagine you have Kc-Qc-Jc-Tc-9c. In this case you have a straight flush, but you also have a royal flush draw. By looking at the chart below, you'll see that a straight flush is better than a royal flush draw, so make sure to keep the straight flush and take your payout.
- Royal Flush Draw vs. Pat Straight Flush » Keep the Straight Flush
- Royal Flush Draw vs. Pat Flush » Keep the Royal Flush Draw
- Pat Straight vs. Four to a Straight Flush » Keep the Straight
- Open Four to a Straight Flush vs. Two Pair » Keep the Four to a Straight Flush
- Inside Four to a Straight Flush vs. Two Pair » Keep the Two Pair
- Four to a Straight Flush vs. High Pair » Keep the Four to a Straight Flush
- High Pair (Jacks or Better) vs. Four to a Flush » Keep the High Pair
- Four to a Flush vs. Four to a Straight » Keep the Four to a Flush
- High Pair (Jacks or Better) vs. Open Four to Straight » Keep the High Pair
- Low Pair (Twos - Tens) vs. Open Four to a Straight » Keep the Low Pair
- Inside Straight Draw vs. Discard All » Keep the Straight Draw
Expert Jacks or Better Strategy
Here is how you should use the chart below:
- Start at the top of the chart and work down.
- When you see a hand that matches up with yours, follow that strategy.
Example: Imagine you have Qs-Js-Ts-3s-Jh. In this case, you'd match up with a few rows on the table below. Your hand would qualify for a high pair of Jacks, a Q-J-T suited with one penalty (the other Jack is a penalty card), and four to a flush. However, on the table you'll notice that Q-J-T suited with one penalty is higher than a four flush or a pair, so you should keep the Q-J-T suited and ditch the four flush and pair.
Jacks or Better Full Strategy Chart
Here are the ranks for every possible Jacks or Better hand you can hold before the draw. Remember, find the highest match on the list for your hand and hold those cards. The middle column shows the expected return for the specific hand. In the example column, h = Hearts, s = Spades, c = Clubs, d = Diamonds, T = Ten, s = Suited.
Hand | Expected Return | Example |
Pat Royal Flush | 800.0000 | Th-Jh-Qh-Kh-Ah |
Pat Straight Flush | 50.0000 | 6h-7h-8h-9h-Th |
Pat Four of a Kind | 25.0000 | 6c-6s-6d-6h-9s |
Royal Flush Draw | 18.4255 | Th-Jh-Qh-Kh-4h |
Pat Full House | 9.0000 | Ac-Ad-As-Js-Jc |
Pat Flush | 6.0000 | Ac-Jc-6c-5c-4c |
Three of a Kind | 4.3080 | 8c-8s-8d-9h-3d |
Pat Straight | 4.0000 | 4c-5s-6h-7h-8h |
Open Straight Flush Draw | 3.4809 | 4c-5c-6c-7c-Th |
Two Pair | 2.5957 | 3c-3s-4d-4h-Ac |
Inside Straight Flush Draw | 2.2766 | Qs-Js-9s-8s-4c |
High Pair (Jacks or Better) | 1.5405 | Ac-Ad-Js-8c-5h |
K-Q-J suited (w/ no penalty*) | 1.5328 | Kh-Qh-Jh-4c-3c |
Q-J-T suited (w/ no penalty*) | 1.5291 | Qh-Jh-Th-4d-3d |
Q-J-T suited (w/ one Straight penalty*) | 1.5116 | Qh-Jh-Th-Kc-2c |
K-Q-J suited (w/ one Straight penalty*) | 1.5032 | Kh-Qh-Jh-Tc-4c |
K-Q-J suited (w/ one Flush penalty*) | 1.4829 | Kh-Qh-Jh-Js-3s |
Q-J-T suited (w/ one Flush penalty*) | 1.4792 | Qh-Jh-Th-Jc-4s |
Q-J-T suited (w/ any two penalties*) | 1.4496 | Qs-Js-Ts-Kh-Jc |
K-Q-J suited (w/ any two penalties*) | 1.4385 | Kh-Qh-Jh-Jc-Ts |
A-K-Qs, A-K-Js, A-Q-Js (w/ no penalty*) | 1.4366 | Ac-Kc-Jc-2h-3h |
K-Q-T suited, K-J-T suited (w/ no penalty*) | 1.4329 | Kh-Qh-Th-4c-3c |
A-K-Qs, A-K-Js, A-Q-Js (w/ one Straight penalty*) | 1.4191 | Ac-Kc-Qc-Jh-2h |
K-Q-Ts, K-J-Ts (w/ one Straight penalty*) | 1.4154 | Kh-Qh-Th-Jc-2c |
A-K-Qs, A-K-Js, A-Q-Js (w/ one Flush penalty*) | 1.3867 | Ac-Kc-Qc-5c-4s |
K-Q-Ts, K-J-Ts (w/ one Flush penalty*) | 1.3830 | Kc-Qc-Tc-4c-2h |
A-K-Qs, A-K-Js, A-Q-Js (w/ two penalties*) | 1.3691 | Ac-Kc-Qc-Ts-4c |
K-Q-T suited, K-J-T suited (w/ two penalties*) | 1.3654 | Kh-Qh-Th-Jc-Qc |
A-K-Ts, A-Q-Ts, A-J-Ts (w/ no penalty*) | 1.3367 | Ac-Kc-Tc-6h-2h |
A-K-Ts, A-Q-Ts, A-J-Ts (w/ one St. penalty*) | 1.3080 | Ac-Kc-Tc-Jh-2s |
A-K-Ts, A-Q-Ts, A-J-Ts (w/ one Flush penalty*) | 1.2868 | Ac-Kc-Tc-4c-2s |
Four to a Flush, Two High Cards | 1.2766 | Ac-Jc-4c-3c-2h |
A-K-Ts, A-Q-Ts, A-J-Ts (w/ two penalties*) | 1.2692 | Ac-Kc-Tc-Jh-2c |
Four to a Flush, One High Card | 1.2127 | Jc-7c-4c-2c-8s |
Four to a Flush, No High Cards | 1.1489 | 9c-7c-4c-2c-8s |
Open Four to a Straight (Three High Cards) | 0.8723 | Kc-Qh-Js-Ts-3h |
Pair of Twos through Tens | 0.8237 | 5c-5h-Js-8d-2h |
Open Four to a Straight (Two High Cards) | 0.7979 | Qh-Js-Ts-9c-3h |
Open Four to a Straight (One High Card) | 0.7447 | Js-Ts-9c-8h-3h |
Q-J-9 suited | 0.7280 | Qc-Jc-9c-4h-3h |
J-T-9 suited | 0.7216 | Jc-Tc-9c-4h-3h |
Open Four to a Straight (No High Cards) | 0.6809 | Ts-9c-8h-7c-3h |
Q-J-8 suited | 0.6348 | Qc-Jc-8c-6h-4h |
Three to a Straight Flush, Open, No High Cards | 0.6300 | 4c-5c-6c-Th-9h |
K-Q-9 suited, K-J-9 suited | 0.6253 | Kc-Qc-9c-4h-2h |
Q-J suited (w/ no penalty*) | 0.6245 | Qc-Jc-4h-8s-2h |
Q-T-9 suited, J-T-8 suited, J-9-8 suited | 0.6189 | Jc-9c-8c-4h-3h |
Q-J suited (w/ one penalty*) | 0.6079 | Qc-Jc-4c-8s-2h |
K-Q suited, K-J suited (w/ no penalty*) | 0.6063 | Kc-Qc-8s-4h-2s |
Q-J suited (w/ two penalties*) | 0.6000 | Qs-Js-Th-6c-4s |
A-K-Q-J | 0.5938 | Ac-Ks-Jh-Ts-3s |
Q-J suited (w/ three penalties*) | 0.5902 | Qs-Js-Tc-8c-2s |
K-Qs, K-Js (w/ one Flush penalty*) | 0.5896 | Ks-Qs-8s-6h-2h |
K-Qs, K-Js (w/ one or two Straight penalties*) | 0.5888 | Ks-Qs-Jc-9c-2h |
A-Ks, A-Qs, A-Js (w/ no penalty*) | 0.5880 | Ac-Kc-6s-9d-2h |
K-Qs, K-Js (w/ 1 St. penalty + 1 Flush penalty*) | 0.5847 | Ks-Qs-Tc-6s-4d |
A-Ks, A-Qs, A-Js (w/ one Straight penalty*) | 0.5794 | As-Ks-Tc-2h-6h |
K-Qs, K-Js (w/ three penalties*) | 0.5721 | Ks-Qs-Th-Td-2s |
A-Ks, A-Qs, A-Js (w/ one or two penalties*) | 0.5714 | Ac-Kc-5c-2h-3h |
3 to a St. Flush, 2 Gaps, 1 High Card | 0.5375 | 8h-Th-Qh-9c-2s |
Four to a Straight, Inside, Three High Cards | 0.5319 | Qc-Js-Ts-8d-2h |
3 to a St. Flush, 1 Gap, 0 Hi Cards | 0.5301 | 4h-5h-7h-9c-Tc |
3 to a St. Flush, 2 Gaps, 1 Hi Card, 1 St. Penalty* | 0.5227 | Jc-9c-7c-8s-2s |
J-T suited (w/ no penalty*) | 0.5153 | Jc-Tc-6s-4d-2d |
K-Q-J | 0.5153 | Kh-Qs-Jc-4c-2h |
Q-J | 0.5038 | Qc-Jh-7d-5c-2h |
J-T suited (w/ one Flush penalty*) | 0.4987 | Js-Ts-6s-4c-2h |
K-Q, K-J (w/ no Straight penalty*) | 0.4940 | Ks-Qc-8h-5h-3d |
J-T suited (w/ one or two Straight penalties*) | 0.4929 | Js-Ts-8c-7c-2h |
K-Q, K-J (w/ one or more Straight penalties*) | 0.4901 | Kc-Qs-9d-5h-2c |
Q-T suited (w/ no Flush penalties*) | 0.4873 | Qc-Tc-7s-5h-2s |
J-Ts (w/ 1 Straight penalty + 1 Flush penalty*) | 0.4841 | Js-Ts-8c-2s-5h |
J-T suited (w/ three penalties*) | 0.4790 | Js-Ts-7c-Ad-2s |
AK, AQ, AJ | 0.4783 | Ac-Ks-8s-7c-2h |
Jack (w/ no flush penalty*) | 0.4769 | Jd-9s-7c-4h-2h |
K-T suited (w/ no flush penalty*) | 0.4715 | Kc-Tc-7s-5d-2d |
Q-T suited (w/ one flush penalty*) | 0.4698 | Qc-Tc-7c-5h-2h |
Queen | 0.4680 | Qc-9d-7d-4s-2s |
King (w/ no flush penalty*) | 0.4663 | Kc-9h-8d-4s-2s |
Jack (w/ one or more Flush penalties*) | 0.4650 | Jd-8d-5d-3s-2s |
Ace (w/ no flush penalty*) | 0.4635 | Ad-Tc-7s-4s-2h |
K-Ts (w/ one Flush penalty*) | 0.4622 | Kc-Tc-8c-5h-2s |
King (w/ one or more Flush penalties*) | 0.4619 | Kh-Ts-8d-5h-2c |
Ace (w/ one or more flush penalties*) | 0.4579 | Ah-Th-7s-5c-2d |
3 to a St. Flush, 2 Gaps, No Hi Cards | 0.4376 | 5h-7h-9h-2d-3d |
Everything Else » Draw Five New Cards | 0.3598 | 10s-8c-6d-4s-2h |
Jacks Or Better Strategy Card
*Penalty cards are any cards which you plan to discard that hurt your chances of completing a draw. For example, if you have 7c-9c-Jc-8s-5h and plan to keep the 7c-9c-Jc, the 8s that you're discarding actually hurts you because there is one less card in the deck that completes your straight. However, it still makes sense to discard the 8s because you have better expected return going for the straight flush than to draw to the inside straight.
9 6 Jacks Or Better Strategy
Straight (St.) penalty cards mean cards that interfere w/ a hand's possibility of making a straight. Flush penalty cards mean cards that interfere w/ a hand's possibility of making a flush. High Pair (HP) penalty cards mean cards that interfere w/ a hand's possibility of making a high pair (a pair Jacks or better).