If you walk through any casino, past the flashing modern video slots, you will inevitably find rows of old, blocky Video Poker machines.

Because you can see the cards and know a standard 52-card deck is being used, you can mathematically calculate the exact probability of every draw.

Understanding the Paytable: Jacks or Better

The paytable dictates exactly how much each specific poker hand pays out, and it is the sole factor determining the machine’s overall house edge.

If played perfectly, a 9/6 machine returns a staggering 99.54%, meaning the casino’s mathematical edge is a microscopic, nearly invisible 0.46%.

• Casinos often hide 8/5 machines right next to the generous 9/6 machines
• The paytable is the only information you need to calculate the exact RTP of the game
• Jacks or Better provides the foundational strategy for almost all other game variations

Chasing the Royal Flush Premium

Almost every machine accepts between 1 and 5 coins per hand, and the payouts for most hands scale linearly based on your bet.

But if you bet the maximum 5 coins, the Royal Flush payout jumps exponentially to an incredible 4,000 coins (800 to 1).

Memorizing the Basic Strategy Chart

Professional players memorize complex, rigid strategy charts that rank every possible starting hand from best to worst.

You can legally print a strategy card from the internet and hold it right in front of the machine while you play in the casino.

Study the strategy charts relentlessly, and you will transform from a casual gambler into a formidable, highly profitable casino advantage player.