Free Jacks or Better

Jacks or Better is one of the most popular video poker games you can find at an online casino. In fact, it’s so popular that most online casinos offer several Jacks or Better variations for you to play. Some are multi-hand games. Others are single-hand games. 

But, is Jacks or Better the video poker title for you? After all, there are dozens of video poker games for you to choose from.

Today, we’ll answer your question by taking an in-depth look at Jacks or Better. We’ll examine the rules behind the game, some strategies you can use to win, and even look at the payouts for different hands.

Then, hopefully by the end of our guide, you’ll know whether or not Jacks or Better is for you. Are you ready? Let’s get started!

What is Jacks or Better

Jacks or Better is the original and most popular video poker game that you’ll find at any online casino. The premise of the game is pretty simple. You play against the house and if you have at least a pair of Jacks or better, you win. (1)

Ever since Jacks or Better was introduced, the game has exploded in popularity, so much so that films have been made on the concept. (2)

The game is started whenever you’re dealt five cards. You can then choose to hold certain cards and replace others based on the value of each card. You’ll then make a second bet and receive new cards to replace the ones discarded.

If you receive at least a pair of Jacks, you’ll then be paid out.

Jacks or Better Hands

Jacks or Better has a multitude of hands that you can hit to make money. However, there won’t be as many hands as your typical poker game since you need a pair of jacks or better to win.

For reference, the lowest-paying hand is a pair of jacks. Whenever you hit this hand, you’ll be paid out what you bet. On the other hand, the highest-paying hand is a royal flush. If you hit this, you’ll be paid out 250X your ante.

For more information on the different Jacks or Better hands and their respective payouts, be sure to take a look at our paytable below:

Jacks or Better Strategy

Jacks or Better has some of the more technical strategies you’ll need to incorporate in order to win. For instance, you should know which cards to hold, when you should re-deal, and when you should bet. All these tips will help you become a better Jacks or Better player.

How to Win at Jacks or Better

As we’ve mentioned before, the best way to win is by hitting a pair of jacks or better. Anything lower than this will result in a loss of money. Unlike other casino games, you’re not directly playing against the house.

You aren’t trying to create a better hand like in blackjack. Rather, you’re indirectly playing against the house by reaching the threshold for the best minimum hand. In order to win, you’ll need to incorporate some of the following strategies. 

The Most Common Reason to Hold

You should generally hold if you have at least a face card in the mix or have gotten at least one pair off of the first draw. An example of this would be if you got a pair of queens. Rather than cashing out, it’s worth it to draw again.

With a pair held and the other three cards being re-drawn, the chances of you hitting a three of a kind or much higher. As such, you have a better probability of increasing your payout on that hand. 

When to Re-Draw

Seeing as you should hold whenever you get a face card or a pair equal to or higher than jacks, you should re-draw whenever you have nothing on the board. When we say nothing, we mean that you can’t set up anything with the cards you have.

If you don’t have four cards to a flush or a set of sequential numbers setting up a straight, then it’s a good idea to re-draw and start again. 

When to Hold for Flush

You should hold for a flush whenever you draw at least three cards of the same suit on your first deal. If you want to play tight, only redraw whenever you have four cards of the same suit. However, it’s still possible to hit a flush with three cards of the same suit. The odds are just a little lower.

When to Hold for a Straight

Like the flush, you should only hold for a straight whenever you are dealt three or four cards in the first draw. However, we highly recommend only holding whenever you have four cards to a straight. The reason for this is that straights have less outs.

For flush draws, if you have four cards to a flush, you have eight outs. If you have three cards to a flush, you have nine outs.

If you have four cards in sequential order to a straight, you then have eight outs. For example, if you have a 4, 5, 6, and 7 on the board, you can then draw a 3 or an 8 to complete the straight. 

If you only have three cards on the board to make a straight, the odds of you hitting the hand drastically decrease. As such, we only recommend holding for a straight whenever you have four cards in sequential order.

Play Jacks or Better on a Mobile Device

Jacks or Better is the original and most popular video poker game there is. As such, you can expect to find the title on most online casinos you play at. Since Jacks or Better wasn’t designed by a specific slot provider, each online casino will have its own unique design. However, the rules will stay the same.

If you want to play Jacks or Better on a mobile device, this is also pretty easy. All you need to do is find which online casinos are compatible with your phone or tablet. Then, simply boot up your favorite mobile browser, log into that casino, find their Jacks or Better offerings, and start playing. 

Some online casinos might offer an app, but this is a little more complicated. For one, most casino sites tend to stick with mobile browsers because HTML5 technology is easier to maintain and update.

With apps, you need more resources and money to maintain the games offered. Furthermore, because most online casinos have upwards of 250 games to choose from, any apps required will require tons of bandwidth to stay updated.

Regulations are also another thing you have to deal with. For Google Play, their platform has just begun to allow real money casino apps. Meanwhile, Apple’s app store only allows real money casino apps in certain countries. 

Nevertheless, because mobile casino gaming has exploded in popularity, almost every top online casino has made sure their games are mobile-compatible one way or another. 

Therefore, you can play Jacks or Better as long as you have some type of internet connection and a mobile device. 

Related Video Poker Games

Jacks or Better isn’t the only video poker game that you can play. Most online casinos will offer 20-30 different titles that you can check out. Here are some of our favorite related video poker games that you can play today.

Deuces Wild

Deuces Wild has the same gameplay as Jacks or Better, with the exception that the 10 card acts as a wild.

Tens or Better

Tens or Better is like Jacks or Better, only the starting hand is a pair of tens instead of a pair of jacks. 

Pick-em Poker

In Pick-em poker, you try to create the best five-hand combination possible while the dealer gives you two cards at a time.

Bonus Poker

Bonus Poker is a slight variation of Jacks or Better, with Bonus Poker offering higher payouts for four-of-a-kind. 

So, where does Jacks or Better stand compared to other video poker games? Overall, we think that Jacks or Better is a pretty entertaining poker game that you can play to pass the time. Do we think it’s better than other classic games like Texas Hold ‘Em and Blackjack? Not really, but it’s still a great time nevertheless.

Jacks or Better has straightforward gameplay that is easy to follow. With so many different combinations that pay you money, you’re constantly thinking about how you can form a great hand when you play. 

There could be more to the game, such as wilds and mini bonuses. However, this is only a minor issue and we still enjoyed the gameplay for the most part.

Payouts were iffy. If you managed to hit a hand like a flush or full house, you would be paid well. However, lower-paying symbols only helped you break even. 

Therefore, if you’re going to play Jacks or Better, you’ll need a solid strategy. Otherwise, you’ll be hard-pressed to win any significant form of money.

After taking a look at Jacks or Better’s gameplay and their payouts, we’re giving the video poker title a 4/5. Even if the game has alright payouts, you’ll enjoy every minute when you play Jacks or Better.

Jacks or Better FAQs

What is the RTP of Jacks or Better?

Your typical 9/6 Jacks or Better game will have an RTP of 99.54%

Is Jacks or Better profitable?

Yes, Jacks or Better is profitable if you have a very solid strategy. This will help you ensure maximum payouts.

How do you play Jacks or Better?

Yes, you can play You play Jacks or Better by trying to make the best five-hand combination possible with two draws.

Is Ace high or low in Jacks or Better?

Ace is neither a high or low card. Rather, it holds the same value as a pair of jacks, meaning that you’ll make money if you get a pair of aces.