Video Poker Paytables Explained

Why Paytables Matter

The defining principle.

In video poker, the paytable is effectively the game because casinos can't change how cards are dealt but only what each hand pays creating mathematical transparency. ReadyBetGo uses Jacks or Better to show the classic shorthand where 9/6 (full house pays 9, flush pays 6) returns about 99.5% with optimal strategy, while 8/5 drops to 97.3%, and 6/5 drops to 95% demonstrating dramatic value differences.

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They also highlight a key mechanic in video poker paytables where the 5th credit often gives a disproportionate boost by quadrupling the royal flush payout (like 250 to 4,000 on the example table), which changes the economics of max-bet play creating strong incentive for maximum coin betting. This royal flush bonus structure appears across most variants making max-bet standard practice.

The 9/6 Standard

Jacks or Better benchmark.

The 9/6 designation in video poker paytables refers to specific payout lines creating industry-standard shorthand. The "9" represents full house payout (9:1 per coin) while "6" represents flush payout (6:1 per coin). These two hands occur frequently enough to significantly impact overall RTP making them primary value indicators.

Common Jacks or Better paytables:

• 9/6: 99.54% RTP (full pay, best available)
• 9/5: 98.45% RTP (reduced flush)
• 8/6: 98.39% RTP (reduced full house)
• 8/5: 97.30% RTP (both reduced)
• 6/5: 95.00% RTP (significantly weakened)

This paytable spectrum in video poker paytables shows how seemingly small changes create substantial RTP differences ranging from near-100% to mediocre 95% creating critical consumer knowledge.

Quick Spot-Check Method

Rapid evaluation technique.

Quick "spot-check" method for video poker paytables: compare full house and flush first (like 9/6 vs 8/5), then scan any "sneaky" reductions like two-pair payouts in bonus-style games detecting weakened versions. This two-step process takes seconds enabling rapid machine assessment before committing money.

Evaluation checklist:

1. Verify full house payout (9 optimal, 8 acceptable, 6-7 weak)
2. Check flush payout (6 optimal, 5 acceptable, 4 weak)
3. Confirm royal flush max-bet bonus (800:1 standard)
4. Review four-of-a-kind structure (bonus games)
5. Check minimum qualifying hand (Jacks, Tens, etc.)

This systematic approach to video poker paytables prevents playing weakened versions unknowingly protecting bankrolls through informed selection.

Royal Flush Bonus Structure

The fifth coin premium.

Most video poker paytables include disproportionate royal flush bonuses at maximum bet creating mathematical incentive for max-coin play. Typical structure pays 250:1 per coin for 1-4 coins but jumps to 800:1 per coin at 5 coins (4,000 total) representing approximately 1-2% RTP difference.

Max bet impact:

• 1 coin royal: 250 total (250:1 per coin)
• 2 coin royal: 500 total (250:1 per coin)
• 3 coin royal: 750 total (250:1 per coin)
• 4 coin royal: 1,000 total (250:1 per coin)
• 5 coin royal: 4,000 total (800:1 per coin)

This structure in video poker paytables makes less-than-max betting suboptimal reducing overall RTP significantly justifying maximum coin play when bankroll permits.

Volatility Through Paytables

Understanding swing patterns.

How to explain volatility simply in video poker paytables: if a paytable boosts rare hands (royals, quads) but trims common hands, wins tend to come less often but can be larger when they hit creating variance spectrum. Bonus-heavy paytables concentrate value in four-of-a-kind hands creating streakier sessions. Wild card games emphasize premium wild combinations amplifying variance further.

Volatility indicators:

• High quad bonuses: Increased variance
• Reduced common hand payouts: More dead sessions
• Wild card premiums: Extreme swings
• Balanced paytables: Moderate variance

Understanding these patterns in video poker paytables helps match games to risk tolerance and bankroll size creating appropriate selections.

Variant-Specific Structures

Family differences.

Different video poker families feature distinct paytable structures in video poker paytables creating variant-specific evaluation criteria. Jacks or Better uses 9/6 framework. Bonus Poker adds tiered quad bonuses (80/40/25). Double Double Bonus emphasizes specific quad combinations with kickers. Deuces Wild includes wild royal and four deuces premiums.

Each family requires separate paytable knowledge preventing false assumptions based on different variant experience creating need for variant-specific learning.

Common Paytable Traps

Deceptive reductions.

Sneaky reductions:

• Two pair dropped from 2:1 to 1:1
• Flush reduced from 6:1 to 5:1
• Full house reduced from 9:1 to 8:1 or lower
• Four of a kind standard rate reduced
• Straight flush reduced from 50:1

These subtle changes in video poker paytables significantly impact RTP while remaining invisible to casual observation creating need for systematic evaluation protecting against deceptive weakened versions.

Online Versus Land-Based

Platform paytable differences.

Online video poker paytables often offer better versions than land-based equivalents due to lower overhead costs enabling operators to provide 9/6 or 8/5 Jacks or Better and strong Bonus Poker variants. Land-based casinos increasingly deploy 6/5 and weaker paytables particularly in high-traffic tourist areas exploiting player ignorance.

This platform difference in video poker paytables makes online play often superior value proposition for informed players seeking optimal returns creating strategic platform selection.

Paytable and Strategy Link

Optimization requirement.

Different video poker paytables require different optimal strategies creating interdependency. 9/6 Jacks or Better strategy differs from 8/5 strategy through modified two-pair holding decisions. Bonus Poker strategy accounts for enhanced quad values. Deuces Wild strategy reflects wild card mechanics completely.

Using wrong strategy for specific paytable in video poker paytables reduces achieved RTP below theoretical maximum creating value loss through strategy-paytable mismatch requiring variant-specific study.

Published RTP Verification

Confirming advertised returns.

Reputable sources publish theoretical RTP for various video poker paytables enabling verification: Wizard of Odds, Video Poker Strategy Master, and gambling math sites provide comprehensive tables. These resources confirm claimed returns helping identify legitimate strong versions versus deceptive marketing.

Cross-referencing available paytables against published standards in video poker paytables protects against operators inflating RTP claims or advertising optimal returns requiring perfect play most players can't achieve.

Progressive Jackpot Impact

Meter contribution consideration.

Some video poker paytables include progressive royal flush jackpots adding meter contribution to base RTP. As progressive grows, effective RTP increases potentially reaching positive expectation at specific meter levels creating advantage-play opportunities for informed players monitoring jackpot sizes.

However, progressive contribution in video poker paytables requires evaluating total return including meter growth not just advertised base RTP creating complex value assessment demanding mathematical literacy.

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FAQ: Video Poker Paytables Explained

What are video poker paytables?

Video poker paytables show exact payouts for each hand type determining game value. The paytable is the game as casinos only change payouts not card dealing.

What does 9/6 mean in video poker?

9/6 in video poker paytables refers to full house (9:1) and flush (6:1) payouts. This "full pay" Jacks or Better returns 99.54% with optimal strategy.

How do paytables affect video poker odds?

Video poker paytables directly determine RTP where 9/6 returns 99.54% while 8/5 returns 97.30% and 6/5 returns 95.00% creating dramatic value differences.

Should you always bet max coins?

Yes typically. Video poker paytables offer disproportionate royal flush bonuses at max bet (800:1 versus 250:1) improving RTP approximately 1-2 percentage points.

Can you compare paytables quickly?

Yes. Video poker paytables spot-check: verify full house and flush payouts first, then check royal flush bonus, review four-of-a-kind structure taking seconds.

Do online video poker paytables differ?

Yes often better. Online video poker paytables frequently offer 9/6 or 8/5 versions versus land-based 6/5 due to lower overhead enabling better player value.