Jacks or Better
Jacks or Better is the classic video poker game, paying out from a pair of jacks upward. The 'full-pay' 9/6 version returns about 99.54% with optimal strategy, making it a benchmark for video-poker value.
| Pays From | Pair of jacks |
|---|---|
| Full Pay | 9/6 (full house 9, flush 6) |
| Full Pay Rtp | ~99.54% with optimal play |
| Watch For | 8/5 and worse paytables |
The 9/6 benchmark
Jacks or Better pays nothing below a pair of jacks, then scales up to the royal flush. The key number is the full house and flush payout: a ‘9/6’ machine pays 9-for-1 on a full house and 6-for-1 on a flush and returns about 99.54% with perfect strategy. Lower-paying versions (9/5, 8/5) drop the RTP by one to two percent or more, so the paytable is the first thing to check.
Frequently asked questions
What RTP does Jacks or Better have?
The full-pay 9/6 version returns about 99.54% with optimal strategy. Worse paytables (9/5, 8/5) return noticeably less.
What does 9/6 mean?
The payout per coin for a full house (9) and a flush (6). Higher numbers mean higher RTP.
Sources
- Video-poker paytable analysis
- Standard RTP references