Jacks or Better is one of the most popular versions of video poker. While you will find Jacks or Better games in brick-and-mortar casinos the world over, it is also widely available at the top poker sites.
But how does it work? To help you get started, we will explain how to play Jacks or Better in detail below, covering the basic concept, the rules, and the winning hands.
What is Jacks or Better?
Jacks or Better is a video poker game that revolves around building the best five-card hand possible, and the minimum winning hand is a pair of Jacks. At the start of the game, you will receive five random cards. You must then choose which cards you want to hold before moving onto the final round.
While it is simple in concept, Jacks or Better can become difficult when trying to determine the best cards to hold. You have no idea which other cards will be dealt in to replace any that you choose not to hold. Those replacements will mean the difference between a winning hand and a losing one.
Here are the best online poker sites in the UK.
Jacks or Better Gameplay and Rules
Jacks or Better video poker games generally follow this structure:
- Play begins with the betting stage. You must decide how much you want to wager on the game. Betting limits vary significantly from one site to another.
- Press ‘deal’ to reveal the five cards. These may already be on the table face down while you make your bet, or they might only be dealt after you push the ‘deal’ button.
- Look at your five random cards and consider how helpful they could be in forming a winning hand. Each card will show a ‘hold’ button (or similar). Press this to keep any valuable cards.
- Press ‘draw’ to replace any non-held cards. The new cards will be dealt, presenting you with your new hand.
- Any payouts are awarded if the final hand matches one of the winning combinations on the game’s paytable. If you already know how to play online poker in other forms, including live and virtual games, you should have a strong grasp of the various winning combinations possible.
- Press ‘deal’ to start a new game.
Jacks or Better Poker Hand Rankings
Jacks or Better Poker Hand Rankings
Jacks or Better games at the top poker sites use the traditional poker hand ranking system. The payouts awarded for each hand differ from site to site.
Here are the winning card combinations available, from lowest to highest:
- Jacks or Better — A hand containing two Jacks. This is typically the easiest hand to achieve.
- Two Pair — Two sets of cards with the same values. For example, a winning Two Pair hand might contain a 9H (hearts), 9D (diamonds), 7C (clubs), 7S (spades), with a non-matching fifth card.
- Three of a Kind — Thee cards of the same value, such as a 6C, 6D, and 6S (with 2 other cards).
- Straight — A set of five cards, possibly with mixed suits, that create a run of consecutive numbers. For example, this might be a 5C, 6S, 7D, 8H, and 9S.
- Flush — Five cards from an identical suit, regardless of their numbers (e.g. five hearts).
- Full House — A hand containing a Pair and Three of a Kind.
- Four of a Kind — Four cards that share the same value, such as four 7 cards, with an unmatching fifth.
- Straight Flush — Five cards with consecutive numbers and the same suit, such as 4H, 5H, 6H, 7H, and 8H.
- Royal Flush — This is the ultimate hand in Jacks or Better video poker. This must contain a 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace.
Always read the paytable before you start playing a new game to check the different prizes available.
Find the Top Poker Sites in the UK
Jacks or Better can be a great entry point for anyone who wants to try video poker. Even if you are unsure how to play online poker, Jacks or Better is generally easy to learn.
However, always check the rules carefully each time you explore a new Jacks or Better game to make sure you understand the specifics, as there could be slight variations between titles.
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