Video poker sits at the crossroads of slot-machine simplicity and poker's strategic depth. Among the popular cabinets and online variants, game king video poker has earned a reputation for offering a wide selection of pay tables, multi-hand play, and a pure skill element that rewards study and practice. In this article I’ll walk you through how the machine works, why skill matters, and practical ways to improve your results — drawing on my experience teaching new players and testing strategy against real pay tables.
What makes game king video poker different
At its core, video poker is a single-player game based on five-card poker. You’re dealt five cards, choose which to hold, and the machine replaces the others. The outcome is determined by standard poker hand rankings and a pay table that assigns a credit value to each winning hand.
Game King models — both physical cabinets and their digital equivalents — stand out for three reasons:
- Variety of variants: Jacks or Better, Double Double Bonus, Deuces Wild, Joker’s Wild, and many hybrid pay table options.
- Multi-hand play: Game King often offers multi-hand modes (e.g., 10-line, 50-line) where a single deal replicates across several hands, changing volatility and strategy nuances.
- Pay table variability: Small changes in payout for specific hands can drastically change the theoretical return-to-player (RTP), so knowing exact tables is essential.
How to read a pay table and why it matters
Think of the pay table as the game's DNA. Two machines labeled “Jacks or Better” can have very different returns if one pays 9-for-1 on a full house while the other pays 8-for-1. A small percentage shift in a rare high-paying hand can change long-term expectation by a noticeable margin.
Key pay table items to check:
- Royal flush payout (usually expressed relative to max bet — many machines pay a huge bonus only with a max credit wager)
- Full house and flush payouts (big determinants of RTP in many variants)
- Special bonuses for quads or specific quad-combinations (important in bonus games)
Before you play a new machine, screenshot or memorize the pay table. Use a strategy chart tailored to that table; generic advice can be suboptimal or costly.
Basic strategy principles (and an analogy)
Here’s a simple way I explain strategy to newcomers: playing video poker is like navigating with a map and occasional weather reports. The pay table is the map; the cards are the weather. You use known routes (strategy rules) that get you to your destination (best expected return) more often than taking scenic gambles.
Core rules for most full-pay Jacks or Better style games:
- Always play for a royal when you have four to a royal, unless holding a made hand of higher expected value on that pay table.
- Keep any made paying hand (pair of jacks or better, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, royal) unless four to a royal or another clearly superior hold exists.
- When no made hand, hold high cards (J, Q, K, A) or four to an open-ended straight/flush depending on specific table payouts.
These rules simplify decisions but are not exhaustive. For machines with wild cards (Deuces Wild) or extra bonuses, the hierarchy of holds changes dramatically.
Practical tips to improve your edge
Video poker is unique among casino games because you can get close to the theoretical RTP with optimal play. Here are actionable moves I use and teach:
- Learn one variant well first. Jacks or Better (full-pay 9/6) is the classic training ground. Once you can play that optimally, branch to Deuces or Bonus Poker.
- Use trainer apps or software. Play thousands of hands in low-stakes practice to internalize the hold hierarchy without risking money.
- Stick to machines with favorable pay tables. If the royal payout or full house payout is downgraded, move on.
- Play max coins when chasing bombs like royals if the pay table gives a disproportionately larger jackpot on max bets. Always check if max-bet bonuses apply.
- Manage bankroll to withstand variance. Even optimal play experiences long losing stretches; a proper bankroll reduces tilt and bad decision-making.
Bankroll sizing and variance explained
Expect volatility. Multi-hand modes increase both entertainment and variance. For example, playing 10 hands per deal multiplies the size of swings: a royal hit on one hand is amplified across lines. If your bankroll is small, prefer single-hand play or smaller denominations.
Rule of thumb I recommend to students: for single-hand optimal play on a 9/6 Jacks or Better at low denomination, keep at least 100–200 average bets as your session bankroll. For multi-hand or bonus games with larger variance, increase that by 3–5x. These numbers aren’t guarantees but help you ride out the natural ups and downs.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Over the years I’ve watched players make the same errors:
- Chasing wins with emotional play — a single loss doesn't change the machine’s expectation.
- Playing poor pay tables because the machine’s lights or progressive looks tempting.
- Failing to bet max coins when the pay table requires it for the royal bonus, thereby losing expected value.
Catch yourself early: if you feel the urge to deviate from basic strategy because of a “feeling,” step away for a short break and review the pay table and your goals for the session.
Where to practice and play safely
Practicing online is convenient and often free. If you prefer the arcade/land-based route, many casinos have Game King cabinets placed near other video machines. For a reliable starting point online, consider sites that replicate the Game King experience with accurate pay tables and practice modes. One reputable entry point is game king video poker, which provides both demo play and real-money options depending on your region and local laws.
Legal and responsible play
Before depositing real money, check local regulations and the operator’s licensing. Responsible play is critical: set session time and money limits, use self-exclusion tools if needed, and treat video poker as a long-term exercise in skill rather than a guaranteed profit machine.
Advanced strategy topics
Once comfortable with the basics, study these advanced areas:
- Expected value calculations for marginal holds (e.g., whether to keep a high pair or draw to a four-card flush)
- Effect of pay table shifts on optimal decision trees — small payout changes can invert a hold ranking
- Multi-hand strategy differences: when playing multiple hands, the value of preserving draws versus made hands can shift because multiple lines increase the chance of hitting bonuses across lines
Tools like combinator calculators and strategy analyzers help quantify these nuances. I used such tools to refine my approach to Double Double Bonus, where specific four-of-a-kind combinations receive outsized payouts and change the optimal holds.
Final thoughts — treat it like a craft
Video poker, and game king video poker specifically, rewards curiosity and discipline. Treat learning as an iterative craft: study pay tables, practice thousands of hands, track results, and adjust. The math won’t change, but your comfort with decision-making will. I still recall the first time a student’s consistent play turned long-term losing sessions into small, steady wins — that shift in mindset (from chasing luck to practicing skill) is the real game-changer.
If you want, I can create a customized practice plan based on which Game King variant you prefer, including a targeted bankroll recommendation and a list of pay tables to seek out or avoid. Or I can walk you through reading a specific pay table and building its optimal strategy chart step-by-step.
Ready to start? Try a few hands in demo mode, bookmark the best pay tables, and keep a short notes file of tricky decisions — over time you’ll see the decisions that consistently move the needle.
For a reliable place to compare machines and practice, check game king video poker and explore demo settings before wagering real money.
