The Universal Language of Video Poker: Decoding the Pay Table

Video poker doesn’t hide its math. It prints it right on the screen. That chart of payouts — the one most players barely glance at — is the machine’s DNA. It determines your expected return, your volatility, and whether the game is worth a single coin of your bankroll. Every decision you make sits on top of that structure, which is why any serious video poker pay table analysis always starts here.

A “Full Pay” machine is the gold standard. It’s the mathematically best version of a given video poker variant — the one with the highest possible RTP. Casinos don’t offer them often, and when they do, they’re usually tucked away where the casual crowd won’t stumble across them. But if you want to chase the highest RTP video poker games, you learn to identify them instantly.

Whether you’re sitting at Jacks or Better or Deuces Wild, everything begins here. Misread the pay table and the rest of your strategy collapses before the first hand.

The Benchmark of Skill: 9/6 Jacks or Better Strategy

If video poker had a “fundamentals” course, this would be it. Jacks or Better is the cleanest, most stripped-down format in the genre. No wild cards, no exotic payouts — just disciplined card evaluation. Your goal is straightforward: build a hand of Jacks or better and avoid leaking value along the way. Every serious player starts here before branching into the more volatile games.

The 9/6 Gold Standard

When people talk about a “Jacks or Better full pay” machine, they’re talking about 9/6 JoB. The numbers refer to the two key payouts: 9 coins for a Full House and 6 for a Flush. Hit those numbers and you’re looking at a theoretical RTP of 99.54% with flawless play — one of the strongest edges you’ll find outside professional-level Deuces Wild.

Core Strategy: Defensive Precision

Jacks or Better isn’t a game you beat by forcing hero plays. The strategy centers on minimizing losses and preserving your bankroll while nudging your way toward premium hands. A surprising number of decisions revolve around choosing between a low pair and high cards — and yes, it is often better to hold a high card than a low pair, depending on the draw potential. This is the heart of optimal strategy for Jacks or Better.

Variance and Bankroll Preservation

One of the biggest advantages of JoB is its smooth variance curve. Unlike wilder formats, wins and losses here come in smaller, steadier waves. This low-variance nature makes it ideal for players who want long, stable sessions and a buffer against brutal downswings. If you’re building disciplined habits, this is where you start.

The Power of the Wild Card: Deuces Wild Optimal Strategy

Deuces Wild looks familiar until the first 2 hits your hand. Then everything shifts. All four of the 2s act as wild cards — flexible, unpredictable, and capable of turning trash into monsters. The hand rankings change. The decisions change. The patterns you memorized in Jacks or Better become almost irrelevant. This is why Deuces Wild optimal strategy is considered its own discipline entirely.

The “Not So Ugly Ducks” Gold Standard

The legendary NSUD pay table — short for Not So Ugly Deuces Wild — is one of the only video poker machines in existence with a positive expected return. Played perfectly, NSUD reaches an astonishing 100.76% RTP. It’s rare, it’s demanding, and it punishes every mistake, but the math doesn’t lie: this is a positive expectation video poker game.

Core Strategy: Aggression Over Safety

Unlike Jacks or Better, where the approach is defensive, Deuces Wild is an aggressive hunt for premium hands. The deuces dominate your decisions. With one deuce, you aim for Wild Royals and Five of a Kind. With two or more, the game tilts completely — you chase powerful, high-paying hands even if it means breaking a made pair or straight. And if you’re wondering how many deuces should you hold, the answer is simple: all of them. Always.

Even stranger for beginners: sometimes the correct strategy for Deuces Wild with no deuces means discarding strong-looking hands like a pair of Jacks. The absence of deuces pushes you toward straights, flushes, and higher — the pay table demands it. This is where casual players bleed value without realizing it.

Variance: Wild Rewards, Brutal Downswings

Deuces Wild carries enormous variance. The game leans heavily on rare, explosive payouts — Wild Royals, Five of a Kind, and the coveted natural Royal. When the deck is cold, it freezes. Long losing streaks aren’t a fluke; they’re baked into the math. But when the deuces cooperate, the machine swings upward with incredible force. Understanding this variance curve is essential for anyone trying to master Deuces Wild pay table analysis.

Head-to-Head: A Strategic Breakdown

When you put the two games side-by-side, the contrast becomes crystal clear. This is where disciplined players start to see which variant fits their temperament — steady fundamentals or volatile aggression. Here’s a direct comparison for anyone analyzing Jacks or Better vs Deuces Wild from a mathematical perspective.

A clear contrast in RTP, volatility, and mindset — this is why understanding video poker variance is essential before choosing your machine.

Choose Your Machine: Where to Play Optimal Video Poker

Finding the right machine matters just as much as knowing the strategy inside out. You can memorize every chart on the planet, but if the pay table is weak, the math will never break your way. Plenty of online casinos offer video poker — but only a handful provide the high-return, near Full Pay formats that a precision gambler should even consider.

Look for machines built by established providers like IGT Game King. These are the workhorses of the video poker world: consistent, transparent, and usually modeled on classic pay tables. Before you play a single coin, open the pay table and check the numbers. If it’s not close to a proper 9/6 JoB or NSUD structure, keep moving.

True 9/6 Jacks or Better and NSUD Deuces Wild can be rare online because of regional restrictions, but casinos with robust Game King selections often offer close variants — 9/5 JoB, strong Deuces Wild versions, or similar near–full pay options. If you’re targeting best online video poker or chasing high payout video poker opportunities, these are your hunting grounds.

The Precision Gambler’s Choice: Which Game Fits Your Temperament?

Some players thrive on simplicity and rhythm; others gravitate toward complexity and volatility. Neither mindset is inherently better — but each aligns with a different game.

Closing Thoughts

Jacks or Better remains the benchmark — low variance, clean structure, and a focus on disciplined fundamentals. Deuces Wild, especially in its NSUD form, offers a higher ceiling but demands sharper instincts and a thicker bankroll. They are cousins in name only.

The “best” game isn’t the one with the flashiest theoretical return. It’s the one you can play with flawless, machine-like precision — hand after hand, hour after hour. That’s the real edge. That’s the Precision Gambler mindset.