Jacks or Better is the most popular form of video pokeravailable to gamblers today. The concept is simple enough, butbeing a winner takes a smart strategy and the optimization ofyour opportunities. By the time you are done with this article,you will have a solid foundation for winning at Jacks or Bettervideo poker.

The most important thing is that, when possible, play themaximum of five credits on every hand. The reason for this is,obviously, to maximize your payout. Sure, you can play onecredit per hand, but if you should happen to hit a royal flush(which is the ultimate payout) in that situation, you willreceive 250 credits. Make no mistake, a 250 credit win is nice.However, hitting that same royal flush when playing five creditsper hand, however, will result in a win of 4,000 credits. Ifyour bankroll can handle it, play the maximum number of creditson each hand.

Outside of that, here are the ten guidelines that you need whenyou are playing Jacks or Better video poker.

1) Whenever you hold four cards to a royal flush, discard thefifth card, even if that card gives you a flush or a pair.Again, your ultimate goal is to hit a royal flush.

2) Keep a jacks or better pair and any higher hand such as athree of a kind or straight over three to a royal flush. Playthe three to a royal over any lesser hand such as a low pair orfour-flush.

3) With two cards to a royal, keep four-straights, four-flushes,and high pairs or better instead. If you do not have any ofthose hands, go for the royal flush.

4) Never break up a straight or a flush, unless a one-card drawgives you a chance for the royal flush.

5) Keep Jacks or better over a four-straight or a four-flush.

6) Never break up a four of a kind, full house, three of a kind,or two pair hands. In the case of the three of a kind or twopair hand, discard the worthless cards on the draw.

7) The Jacks or better pair is always kept, except when you havefour cards to the royal, or four to the straight flush.

8) Keep low pairs over the four-straight, but discard them infavor of the four-flushes and three or four to a royal flush.

9) When dealt unmade hands, which is a pre-draw hand with nocombination of cards that will pay off, save the following (inorder):

• Four to a royal flush or straight flush
• Three to a royal flush
• Four-flushes
• Four-straights
• Three to a straight flush
• Two cards to a royal
• Two cards Jack or higher
• One card Jack or higher

10) If you do not have any of the hands listed above, and nocards Jack or higher, discard your entire hand and take yourchances with five new cards.

There you have it, folks! If you follow these relatively simplyguidelines, you will greatly increase your chances of being aprofitable Jacks or Better player. Now, go out and hit thatroyal flush!

About the author:Want to crush the casinos? Desire to make your bank account solarge that Donald Trump will ask to borrow meal money? Then armyourself with the knowledge available at Way of the Gambler,the biggest storehouse of gambling guides available. And, asalways, gamble responsibly.

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