Jacks or better video poker

Jacks or better video poker online slot

Poker has a huge number of different game variants, but when it comes to video poker, Jacks or Better is definitely the most popular version. The reason is that this type of video poker comes closest to the classic Draw Poker, from which this great game actually started.

Video poker and slots are similar in many ways. And while the gameplay between them is radically different, you’ll often see them on nearly identical machines in brick-and-mortar casinos. It’s the same online.

You will notice that this game has the same interface and buttons as the EGT slot games. This is no coincidence, after all, this version is also the work of the same company, and the game itself has very similar actions for you to perform.

You’ll still be able to choose from five different bet sizes, set the value of credits, keep track of possible winnings from the progressive jackpot and use the doubling option in the same way as in slot games.

What is the difference between video poker and slot games?

The main difference between slot games and video poker is that here the final result of each round depends much more on your decisions and actions.

While slot games are largely based on luck, to play video poker successfully you will need to know the rules, hand strength and successful strategies to turn the odds in your favor. Luck still plays a major role, but it is much smaller compared to any slot machine.

In this review, we will focus more on how to play Jacks or Better Poker successfully. We won’t talk so much about the quality of the game itself, since there really isn’t much to say about it.

Ultimately, the game is simply 5 cards that you decide whether to keep or discard. Then you get new cards. If you make a successful hand, you win the corresponding prize.

All winning hands and prizes will be clearly displayed above the cards themselves and you will see them at all times.

Jacks or Better Poker is one of the easiest poker variants because here you only play against the computer instead of another player. Also, this game is perfect for learning poker hand strength.

Graphics and Gameplay

There really isn’t much to say about Jacks or Better Poker’s graphics. You just have one screen with 5 cards and a table above them to tell you what wins are possible and how they are made.

At the bottom of the screen are the bet buttons of different sizes. Next to them are your current balance and last win. On the left side of the screen are the sound and game speed settings. The full screen play button is also there.

To the right, where the window for your last win is, the double option button will appear. And at the top of the game window you will see the amounts that are constantly accumulating for the progressive jackpot that you can win while playing this great game.

We will talk in detail about the doubling option and the progressive jackpot further down.

The only graphical elements in the game are the dealing of the cards and the animation that shows you which cards you have decided to keep.

Cards are held by simply clicking on them. When you get strong cards, sometimes they will automatically be held. If you decide to throw them, just tap on them and the “held” sign will go away.

The game itself proceeds as follows:

You choose the size of your bet and press the corresponding button. You will immediately receive five cards. Then, using your knowledge of the game, you just have to decide which cards to keep.

When you are done, you press the bet button again. You will get new cards to replace the ones you didn’t keep. Then, the strength of the hand you’re dealt will determine whether you win, and if so, by exactly how much.

If you are winning, you will see a red mark on the table above the cards, which clearly shows the strength and profit of your hand.

Let’s now look at hand strength in Jacks or Better Poker.

Jacks or Better – Power of Hands

The most important thing to know about Jacks or Better Poker is hand strength. In fact, Jacks or Better stands for “Jacks or Better”, which as the name suggests means that only the Jacks or a higher card will bring you winnings for a pair.

This does not mean that the jack cards will not bring you profits. Simply for them, you will need a hand stronger than a pair. Here is the strength of all the hands in the game, in ascending order:

Jacks or Better – a pair with Jacks, Queens, Jacks or Aces.
Two Pair – Two pairs (for example, fours and queens – 4, 4, Q, Q)
Three of a Kind – Three cards of the same kind (for example, three eights – 8, 8, 8)
Straight – Five cards in a row (eg 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Flush – Five cards of the same suit
Full House – Three of a kind + pair (eg 8, 8, 8, 4, 4)
Four of a Kind – Four cards of a kind (eg 9, 9, 9, 9)
Straight Flush – A combination of a straight and a flush, i.e. consecutive cards of the same suit.
Royal Flush – The strongest hand in poker, which is very rare. It is done only and only with Ten, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of the same suit.

Strategies for a successful game

Now that you know the strength of the hands, it’s time to look at some basic strategies so that you can play successfully and win at Jacks or Better Poker. We’ll start with the bets.

If you noticed, the odds of all winnings are the same, no matter the size of the bet. With only one exception. On the highest possible bet, a Royal Flush will pay you 800 to 1, while on other bets, the payout is “only” 250 to 1.

For this reason, it is good to always play with the highest possible bet. As long as you can afford it, of course.

It may seem insignificant, but if you play long enough, you’ll probably collect a Royal Flush at some point. And getting a profit of 800-to-1 versus 250-to-1 is sure to have a positive impact on your balance sheet in the long run.

Basic actions relative to the initial hand you are dealt

These strategies are quite simple and easy, making this game accessible even to complete beginners. They are based on mathematical probabilities and in the long run, they will bring you success. Here’s who they are:

Always fold the fifth card when you have collected four for a Royal Flush. Even if you lose a pair or a simple flush, it’s mathematically worth trying to form a Royal Flush.
When you have only three cards from a Royal Flush, combined with a Three of a Kind, a Flush, a High Pair, or a Straight, those hands take priority over the Royal Flush. Play for a Royal Flush only if the other two hands are weaker.
If you have two cards left to a Royal Flush, don’t play for it. Instead, hold high pairs, straights, or four cards from a regular flush.
Don’t bust ready flushes and straights unless you only have one card left to form a Royal Flush.
Always hold the high pair when the choice is between it and a four-card flush or straight.
Never break a Full House, Three of a Kind, Four of a Kind, or Two Pairs!
Hold the high pair unless you have a 4 card Straight Flush.
Hold a low pair instead of three cards to a Straight Flush or four to a Straight.
If your hand doesn’t fall into any of these scenarios, the best course of action is probably to simply fold your entire hand and draw a whole new one.

Bonuses

Although it’s not exactly a slot game, effectively being part of the EGT chain, Jacks or Better Poker will feature bonuses that are mostly inherent to slot games.

These are the doubling option and the progressive jackpot that we alluded to above. Let’s look at them individually so you know how to get the most out of them.

Option to Double

If you have played any slot game, you probably know that after every winning spin below a certain value, this option pops up on the screen in the form of a button labeled “double”, “x2”, or “gamble”.

Here it is exactly the same, with the difference that here instead of a spin, you have a final hand.

There are two hands in this video poker game. The first is to start the game, where you choose which cards to keep. Then, the second cards are dealt in place of the ones you threw down. It’s just a matter of determining whether you’re winning or not.

At this point, if you won a straight flush or royal flush, the double button will appear on the right side of the screen.

Once you press it, you’ll play the familiar all-or-nothing mini-game where you have to guess the color of the face-up card.

Just like the picture above, you will see the card in question and two red and black buttons next to it. When you press one of the two buttons, the card is turned over and if you guessed, your winnings from the hand are doubled.

You can then bet it again for another double. In fact, you have the possibility of five doubles in a row. Which if you manage to do, will turn a seemingly small profit into a much larger amount.

But the catch is that with just one wrong answer, you’ll lose the winnings from the hand and all doubles after it.

Note that after successfully doubling you will remain on the same screen. If you don’t want to risk your newly doubled winnings, you just need to press the next bet button and you’ll exit this screen collecting your winnings.

Progressive Jackpot

Surprisingly or not, while you’re playing Jacks or Better Poker for real money, you’ll have a chance to win EGT’s progressive jackpot, which is basically only reserved for the company’s slot games. But since video poker is partly a type of slot game, it is also involved in accumulating and winning these additional prizes.

The jackpot is divided into four levels and is won randomly, after which a special mini-game determines the winning level.

Basically, the size of the bet you play with matters. While any real money bet can be profitable, the bigger the bet, the better the chance.

However, this should not make you play with more money than you can afford!

It’s just nice to know, mostly because of the features of this game where it’s nice to play with the maximum bet because of the nicer payouts for forming a Royal Flush.

You’ve probably already noticed the four constantly changing numbers at the top of the game window. As you can see, there are four levels and they are borrowed from the suits in the playing cards – Spade, Caro, Cup and Spade.

Traditionally, spades pay the least and spades the most. By the most, understand any sums from BGN 100,000 to over BGN 1,000,000. It depends on when the jackpot was last hit and accordingly how much it accumulated.

When you win the jackpot, you will receive congratulations and be transferred to a special screen where you will determine your exact winnings with a mini-game.

The minigame in question is very easy. In front of you will be 12 face-down cards, which you will open one by one until you get three of the same suit. When it does, you’ll win the amount the suit in question corresponds to.

Conclusion

Jacks or Better Poker is the easiest poker variant to play. It is ideal for players who want to smoothly enter the world of this great game, rather than immediately jumping into a game with other players.

However, you should know that video poker is very different from traditional poker with other players. The only similarities are the strength of the hands and the number of community cards.

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