The main opponent in video poker is not other players - it is the machine itself. This will affect how you play - you cannot bluff a machine.

Play only machines that offer full payback. If the machine payback is not posted then look at the chart on the machine and choose a machine that has the highest payouts for a full house and a flush. This is the benchmark for video poker payouts. For example on a jacks or better machine:

Take note as well of the the maximum number of coins also shown (normally five coins). It's best if you always play the maximum number of coins in order to be eligible for the bonus payout for a royal flush if you're lucky enough to hit one.

Don't forget that in video poker you are playing a machine. The machine is programmed to only payoff when a player holds one of the posted hands. Don't draw to an inside straight (where you have four cards and need one in the middle to fill a straight). This is a well-understood practice of both normal and online poker. On the other hand if you have an open straight (you have four consecutive cards and only need one at either end to fill a straight) then take your chances and hopefully you'll be successful!

Jacks or better

Jacks Or Better strategy can get a little complicated:

Keep any hand that already pays. Possible exceptions, by potential value, are:

• Hold four card Royal Flushes to make Straights or Flushes.
• Four card straight flushes, inside or outside.
• High card Pairs rank here.
• Three card Royal Flushes.
• Four card Flushes.
• Low Pairs rank here, trying to build Three Of A Kind.
• Four card Flushes.
• Four card Straights. Hold inside Straights only if you've got three or more high cards (J, Q, K, A).

If you've got nothing worth money, here's a general strategy, in order of preference:

• Keep any two suited high cards. Discard unsuited high cards.
• Four mixed-suit high cards:
  • keep any three suited, toss the unsuited.
  • otherwise, keep them all.
• Three unsuited high cards:
  • keep all three of K-Q-J.
  • with A-K-J or A-Q-J, discard the A.
• Keep any two unsuited high cards.
• Keep any single high card.

Tens or better

Same strategy as Jacks Or Better where 10 is now a high card.

Deuces wild

General strategy includes, best options first:

• Hold any 5 Of A Kind or Royal Flush.
• Else, if you've got four 2's: keep 'em!.
• Else, if you've got three 2's:
  • hold any made 5 Of A Kind or Royal Flush
  • otherwise, keep the 2's and discard the rest.
• Else, if you've got two 2's:
  • hold any made Straight, Five Of A Kind or Royal Flush.
  • hold any 4 of a Kind.
  • hold any 4 of a Royal Flush.
  • otherwise, keep the 2's and discard the rest.
• Else, if you've got a single 2, keep any made hand EXCEPT:
  • hold four card Royal Flushes over made Straights, Flushes and
• Straight Flushes.
• keep four card Straight Flushes of all types.
• hold three card Royal Flushes .
• pairs: with two pair, keep one, but not both.
• hold four card Flushes.
• hold four card Straights.
• hold three card Straight Flushes, including gaps.
• hold four card inside Straights.
• hang on to two card Q or J high Straight Flushes .
• discard two card Royal Flushes.
• if you've come this low in the list, discard everything and try again.

Jokers wild

Remember that only K and A are high cards: this is a Kings or Better game.

General strategy:

• Keep a Joker if you get it. You'll only see in once in ten hands, on average.
• Don't keep an inside Straight.
• Straight Flushes are a good payer and they occur considerably more frequently than in a game like Jacks or Better

All American

Straights and Flushes pay well here so it tips the usual strategy in their favor:

• Prefer inside Straights over one or two high cards.
• Prefer 4 card outside Straights and 4 card flushes over pairs, even high ones.
• Hold any three cards to a Flush.