Optimal hold/discard strategy for every major variant. Multi-hand notes show what changes at 10, 50, and 100 hands. Ordered by popularity.
The optimal hold decision for any given dealt hand is identical whether you're playing 1 hand or 100 hands. What changes in multi-hand is variance per session — and therefore the bankroll you need to weather the swings and reach the expected return.
The most popular video poker variant and the best starting point. Full 23-rank strategy chart with multi-hand variance notes for 5, 10, and 50+ hands.
All four 2s are wild. Strategy is completely different from JoB — two separate tables (with deuces / without). The #1 choice for advantage multi-hand players.
Bonus payouts for four-of-a-kind change draw strategy significantly. Four Aces pays 800 total coins. Playing for quads means breaking hands you'd keep in JoB.
The ideal stepping stone between JoB and Double Bonus. Bonus quad payouts without extreme variance — Two Pair still pays 2x. One of the best multi-hand games for bankroll sustainability.
One wild Joker in a 53-card deck. Minimum qualifying hand is Kings or Better. Two strategy tables required: with Joker and without. Another positive-EV game for serious players.
Bonus payouts for four Aces (80×) AND four face cards — J, Q, K (40×). More frequent bonus events than Double Bonus. Popular at online casinos. Two Pair pays 2x.
The highest-variance common variant. Four Aces with kicker pays 400× per coin (2,000 total). Kicker strategy creates unique hold decisions. Only for well-bankrolled players at multi-hand.
| Game | RTP | Variance | Two Pair | Multi-Hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacks or Better 9/6 | 99.54% | Low | 2× | ★★★★★ |
| Deuces Wild Full Pay | 100.76% | Medium | N/A (pairs don't pay) | ★★★★ |
| Double Bonus 10/7 | 100.17% | High | 1× | ★★★ |
| Bonus Poker 8/5 | 99.17% | Low-Med | 2× | ★★★★ |
| Joker Poker KoB | 100.65% | High | 1× | ★★★ |
| Aces and Faces | 99.26% | Low-Med | 2× | ★★★★ |
| Double Double Bonus 9/6 | 98.98% | Extreme | 1× | ★★ |
Universal principles that apply across all variants before diving into game-specific charts.
The royal flush pays 800-for-1 on max coins (4,000 coins for 5 played) vs 250-for-1 on fewer coins. This single rule raises the expected return by ~1.5%. Never play fewer than 5 coins.
The mathematically optimal hold decision for a dealt hand is the same at 1 hand or 100 hands. You're maximizing expected value per hand. The number of simultaneous hands scales results but doesn't change the decision.
Holding an extra unrelated card alongside a pair, three of a kind, or four of a kind is always wrong in standard games. The draw opportunity is more valuable than any kicker. Exception: Double Double Bonus kicker plays when you hold four Aces or four 2/3/4s.
A 4-card royal flush draw outranks almost everything except a pat straight flush or better. The 800-for-1 royal jackpot is what makes video poker return approach 100% — never sacrifice a 4-card royal draw.
Going from 1-hand to 10-hand play roughly triples the required bankroll per dollar of exposure. Going to 100-hand play requires ~10x the bankroll. Use our variance calculator to model your specific situation.
Our variance calculator supports all variants — enter your game, bet size, and hand count to see risk of ruin and expected session results.