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The very first Video Poker game was a behemoth – a large cube with a tiny computer screen and a little plastic chair attached. That first video poker game was called Jacks or Better, and though the game style itself has improved dramatically over the years the format of Jacks or Better remains one of the most popular video poker variations.

How to Play Jacks or Better

Since Jacks or Better was the basis for all video poker games to come, once you learn how to play one of these games you can play pretty much all of them. The foundation of Jacks or Better video poker is Five Card Draw. Once you make your wager and press play, five cards are dealt face up to your game screen, just as you would receive your hand in regular draw poker. Next you will click the cards to select the ones you want to hold, then press the play/draw button again to get your replacement cards. The resulting five cards are your final hand. Because the game is so simple, an experienced online video poker player can complete over a hundred hands an hour.

How to Win Jacks or Better

The key to winning Jacks or Better video poker is in the game’s name. Video poker players don’t compete against each other – they compete against the odds. To win the game, you must compile a hand that meets the minimum requirements of the paytable. In Jacks or Better, that minimum hand is a pair of jacks or better. Of course, always getting a high pair won’t get you very far since the minimum hand only earns you your money back. The secret to coming out ahead in video poker is making the smartest gamble when you keep and replace cards. You want to aim for the highest probable combination.

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