This is one of the most popular variations of video poker available today. Played on a PC console, the rules are based on five-card poker. Jacks or Better Video Poker is offered as maximum payback percentage game or a full pay game. A full pay game typically offers players a maximum payback gain. The other option is an 8/5 or even a 7/5 paytable.
For calculating payback percentage, a player has to express the overall desired value of a wager in terms of a percentage. In full pay games, the payback percentage is slotted to more than a 100. The Jacks or Better Video Poker full pay game operates on a 99.54% maximum payback percentage, while the non-full pay version has a lower payout of 97.3%. These games are also known as 9/6 Jacks or Better.
Players are dealt 5 cards and get to choose which three to keep while the other two are discarded. New cards are provided in place of the discards. Winnings are determined as per the paytable. There is an even money payout on a hand that has 2 or more Jacks. Some games also offer a progressive jackpot and this can perhaps raise positive expectation for a player. This is especially relevant in an 8/5 or 7/5 game.
