There are a total of 2,598,960 totally different hands which can be dealt
to you in Video Poker. When reviewing the math we find that a player, after
drawing additional cards, will get a royal flush once in about 40,000 hands
and a straight flush in about 9,000 hands. That results in about a 63% chance
of getting at least one royal flush and about a 27% chance of getting two
in the same 40,000 hands.
It typically takes about 80 hours of play to reach those 40,000 hands, which
could range from 2 weeks or 2 months depending on how often and how long
you play each session. Video poker machines are identified by name and payout
schedule. For example, you might see a Jacks or Better 9/6 machine sitting
beside a Jacks or Better 8/5 machine.
Regardless of the payout schedule, all video poker machines play the
same way, but one will pay more for the same hand than the other machine.
You can tell the difference by looking at the payout schedule on the front
of the machine. You always want to play the video poker machines with
the highest payout schedule.
What exactly is the real difference between a 9/6 versus an 8/5 machine.
A 9/6 machine, with maximum coins played and with perfect strategy, will
return 99.5%. Under the same conditions an 8/5 will return only 97.3%.
Over the long run, that small 2.2% will have an effect on your overall
win-rate. The chart below shows the differences between other various
types of machines.
Note: these percentages assume a royal flush is hit one time during
the period of play.
How often a specific hand appears will vary depending on the type of
machine you are playing as well. Deuces Wild will be different from Jokers
Wild, which will also be different from Jacks or Better. Listed in the
chart below is a 9/6 Jacks or Better machine to give you an idea of the
payout, along with the frequency of receiving specific hands.
Note: the above figures are based on playing the maximum five
coins.
Odds between different machines
Machine Type
Payout
10/7 (double bonus )
100.2%
9/7
100.7%
9/6
99.5%
8/5
97/3%
7/5
96/3%
6/5
95.2%
Note: these percentages assume a royal flush is hit one time during
the period of play.
How often a specific hand appears will vary depending on the type of
machine you are playing. Deuces Wild will be different from Joker Wild,
which will also be different from Jacks or Better. Listed in the chart
below is a 9/6 Jacks or Better machine to give you an idea of the payout,
along with the frequency of receiving specific hands.
Frequency of hands (9/6 Jacks or Better machine)
Machine Type
Payout
Frequency
Royal Flush
4000
1 in 40,390
Straight Flush
250
1 in 9,148
Four of a kind
125
1 in 423
Full House
45
1 in 86
Flush
30
1 in 90
Straight
20
1 in 89
Three of a kind
15
1 in 13
Two pair
10
1 in 7
Jacks or Better
5
1 in 4
Note: the above figures are based on playing the maximum five coins.