Jacks or Better Video Poker Strategy

The type of video poker under the title Jacks or Better became one of the first variety of poker and dates back to the seventies of the last century. However, in spite of the big age Jacks or Better is still popular now. It is considered to be the best variant for primary study of poker upon the whole. The matter is that the game does not have complicated rules and it is better to learn it.
In the beginning the payments were made with two pairs and more therefore there the players almost could not win. This was the reason why the fans of casino games refused to play it. This made the developers introduce changes. At first the opportunity to win was considerably increased. Then the system of payment was enhanced. How the payments are made from the pair of jacks therefore the name of the game is Jacks or Better. This approach was liked by the players and this increased the popularity of video poker all over the world, including post soviet countries. When online casinos appeared, Jacks or Better was played frequently because it became much more affordable.
Gradually Jacks or Better became famous and its different variations appeared. The best versions of this type of video poker have low edge of the casino of 0.5%. There are not so many casinos with such low edge. Certainly, if you want to take advantage of it you should avoid mistakes and use the most effective strategies.
Let us regard the main principles of strategy of the game Jacks or Better. The most widespread situations will be discussed, the player has after cards are handed. We will not decipher the names of the combinations, supposing that they are known to the game lovers.

Handed cards   and Actions of the player
Royal Flush, straight Flush – leave all cards
Full House – leave four cards of the same rank and change the remaining one
4 cards on Royal Flush – leave all cards on Royal Flush, change the remaining card, even if you need to break the pair for it (ready Flush is not broken in such situation)
4 cards on Straight Flush – leave cards on Straight Flush, change the remaining one even of you need to break the pair for it (ready Flush is not broken in such situation)
Flush – leave all cards
Straight – leave all cards
Three of a Kind – leave three of a kind and change the remaining two cards
Two Pairs – leave two pairs, change the remaining card
KQJ or QJT of one suit – leave these cards, change the remaining cards in the hope to get Royal Flush or other combination
JJ or higher pair – leave only one pair and change the rest
3 cards of Royal Flush not in a row – leave these cards, change the rest, even if you going to discard the lower pair
4 cards on Flush – leave these cards, change the remaining one, even if you need to discard the lower pair
KQJT of different suit – leave these cards, change the remaining one, even if it is T
Any low pair – leave only this pair, change the remaining cards
4 cards on Straight without pair – leave these four cards and change the remaining one
3 cards of one suit without pair not in a row – leave these three cards and change the remaining ones
QJ of one suit without pair and other variants – leave QJ and change the remaining three cards
AKQJ of different suit – leave these cards, change the remaining card in the hope to get Straight or higher pair
2 cards higher than T of one suit – leave these two cards and change the remaining ones
3 cards on Straight Flush not in a row – leave these cards and change two remaining cards
JT of one suit – leave these cards and change the remaining cards
QT of one suit (if there are not other cards of this suit) – leave these cards and change the remaining cards
One of the cards J, Q, K and 4 low cards not in a row – leave just this card and change four low cards
Random low cards or with one A – change all cards without attempt to gather Flush of three cards or Straight with a gap

It is not hard to remember the table as it may seem first. It will be enough to regard every combination thoroughly beginning with maximal ones and understand in which situations it is worth gathering them. Then one should regard cases with different pairs and various cards.
Following the principles covered above you can improve the quality of your game. Luck is important in every casino game, but you should not rely only on it. This is a huge mistake that was made many beginners and lost much money because of it. Find time to study all nuances and success will surely come.