Variations of Video Poker

We discuss popular video poker variations, such as Jacks or Better.

Video poker is perfect for anyone looking to add a bit of variety to their online gaming because of the sheer number of variations in game play and design. Originally developed for the computer, poker's transition from the casino floor to the Internet was without obstacles except one: competition. Here are the six video poker variations most commonly found in online casinos:

Jacks or Better

Maximum payout with optimal strategy: Up to: 95.54%

Jacks or better is the most common of all video poker variations probably because it's one of the easiest to understand. The rule specific to this variation is that payouts start when the player makes a pair of any card better than jacks or jacks itself. So, if you have a pair of tens, you won't qualify for a payout, but if you have a pair of jacks or anything above that, you win.

Deuces Wild

Maximum payout with optimal strategy: Up to: 100.76%

The Deuces Wild variation gives some of the best odds any players can hope to find at a casino. “Deuce” is another term for two and “wild” means the card can adopt the value of any other card in the deck (on most machines and online casinos, the best possible hand is automatically picked for you). With an extended hand rank hierarchy that differentiates between hands made naturally (without using a wild card) and hands that aren't, this is certainly one of the most fun variations to play.

Double Bonus/Double Double Bonus

Maximum payout with optimal strategy: Up to: 100.16%

Double bonus and double double bonus are standard video poker variations that offer added bonuses when you reveal four of a kind twos, threes, fours and aces. In double bonus, four of a kind twos, threes and fours will result in a bonus of 200 coins; in double double bonus, you'll receive 400 coins when playing the maximum coin bet. Better still, four of a kind aces will result in a 400 coin bonus in double bonus and an 800 coin bonus in double double bonus (maximum coin bet). In addition to these bonuses, double double bonus will usually be 9/6, 10/6 or 10/7 games, making them very attractive.

Aces and Faces

Aces and faces is a simple, easy-to-play variation of video poker. Wild cards are not used here, but multi-hand and power versions sometimes are. The main difference of this variation is in the payouts, where (as the name suggests) aces and face cards are significant. Revealing four aces or four face cards (jack, queen, king) in a combination will result in a higher payout. Aces and faces is a straightforward video poker variation suitable for anyone looking for a simple game.

Joker Poker

Joker poker is played with a 53-card deck. The extra card is, of course, a joker. The joker is wild in joker poker, so it can substitute for any other card to create a winning hand. When the joker us used as a substitute in a winning hand, it also increases the payout. Joker poker is an uncomplicated game that manages to maintain an average payout ratio of around 99% while offering entertaining game-play.

Tens or Better

Tens or better is very similar to jacks or better, and just as simple. There are no wild cards, and the main difference from standard poker is that a payout is awarded for a pair of tens or better. This obviously creates more opportunities for a winning hand. Tens or better is an excellent game to learn as an introduction to poker since it allows you to learn the basics of five-card draw poker.

Out of the most popular variations, Casino Edge recommends Jacks or Better for players new to video poker. It's certainly the best version to learn from and will generally give the house an edge of less than a few percent on a typical pay table. However, for the experienced video poker player, Casino Edge would recommend deuces wild, which, with a good pay table, will give the house less than a one percent edge.

Due to the format of the game, video poker can be easily configured to create a new variation. Online gambling software developers are gradually introducing more and more variations to create even greater challenges for players. The variables tend to be the multiple hand options, extra payouts, wild cards and gamble options, and have been combined in every way imaginable. Below is a list of 50 more video poker variations that can be found in some of the most popular online casinos. If you find one that's not on the list let us know and we'll credit you!