The phrase video poker paytable looks simple, but learning to read and interpret it is the single biggest skill change that separates casual players from consistent winners. In this article I’ll walk you through how paytables work, why they matter to expected return (RTP) and variance, and how to use them—step by step—to choose the best machines and make smarter decisions at the video poker screen. I’ll also share real-life observations from floors I’ve played on and explain the math in plain English so you can apply it immediately.
What a paytable actually tells you
At its core, a video poker paytable lists the payout for every possible winning hand, usually scaled to the size of your bet. Unlike slot machines where symbols and paylines can hide expected value, video poker displays every payout. That transparency is what makes it possible to calculate return and to play with an optimal strategy.
Typical entries you’ll see include: Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, and Jacks or Better (or another qualifying low pair). Two important patterns to notice:
- Which hands are rewarded the most relative to others (for example, a high Four-of-a-Kind payout can dramatically change optimal strategy).
- Whether a special bonus is applied for maximum coin bets (most common: a higher Royal Flush payout when betting the max).
Common paytable examples and what they mean
One of the most referenced paytables is the full-pay Jacks or Better, often abbreviated by players as “9/6” because it pays 9 for a Full House and 6 for a Flush (on a 1-coin base those are 9x and 6x). The typical 1-coin payouts for full-pay Jacks or Better look like this:
- Royal Flush: 250 (or 800 when betting max coins)
- Straight Flush: 50
- Four of a Kind: 25
- Full House: 9
- Flush: 6
- Straight: 4
- Three of a Kind: 3
- Two Pair: 2
- Jacks or Better (pair): 1
That distribution creates a theoretical return near the high 99% range when played with perfect strategy. By contrast, a downgraded machine that pays 8 for a Full House and 5 for a Flush (8/5) drops the RTP significantly—often by several percentage points—so the small differences in paytable numbers matter a lot over thousands of hands.
How to read a paytable to determine RTP and variance
RTP (return to player) is calculated by combining the value of each payout with its probability of occurring under optimal decisions. You don’t need to compute everything from scratch—most serious players refer to published RTP values for standard paytables—but knowing the mechanics matters:
- Higher payouts for common mid-tier hands (Full House, Flush) generally boost overall RTP and lower variance slightly.
- Big payouts concentrated in rare hands (e.g., massive Royal bonus without improving other payouts) increase variance; you’ll see longer losing streaks but larger occasional wins.
- Progressive Royal jackpots can push RTP above 100% at certain levels, but they require intense bankroll discipline and specific strategy adjustments.
For example, full-pay Jacks or Better often returns close to 99.5% with optimal play. A Flawsome-pay table might return much less. The takeaway: choose machines with better paytables and play the strategy that the paytable demands.
Strategy changes driven by paytable differences
Strategy in video poker is paytable-dependent. When a paytable boosts a particular hand’s payout, your optimal decision tree shifts to value that hand more strongly. A few practical examples:
- If Four of a Kind payout is unusually high, you might prioritize holding three of a kind over a 4-card straight or flush draw more than you otherwise would.
- If Full House and Flush payouts are cut, you may need to be more conservative about breaking a made pair to chase a 4-card straight or flush.
- Progressives: when the Royal flush jackpot increases, 4-card Royal strategies become stronger—hold three to a Royal more often, break lower pairs for higher Royal potential.
Because these shifts can be subtle, many winning players carry a small cheat sheet for the common paytables they encounter, or they use phone apps and training software that show exact play recommendations for a given paytable.
Practical steps to choose the best machine using its paytable
Here’s a step-by-step approach you can apply the next time you sit down at a terminal:
- Read the paytable thoroughly before you bet—notice the values for Full House, Flush, and the Royal bonus on max coins.
- Compare the paytable to known benchmarks (e.g., full-pay Jacks or Better is often called 9/6). If it’s worse than the benchmark, move on.
- Decide your coin strategy: many games offer a large premium for max coins on the Royal; if you can’t afford max coins you may be giving up a portion of the theoretical RTP.
- Adopt the strategy that matches the paytable rather than a generic one-size-fits-all approach.
It’s worth mentioning that machines on different floors or in different casinos can offer small paytable variations; sometimes a seemingly small change is how casinos protect edges. I remember a session where switching to a slightly better paytable changed a 30-minute dicey run into a calm winning hour—small edges matter.
Examples: how paytables affect expected value
Let’s look at two short illustrative scenarios in a Jacks or Better environment:
Scenario A: Full-pay Jacks or Better (9/6). You are dealt a 4-card royal (A-K-Q-J of same suit) plus a low card. The expected value of holding the 4-card royal is high because the Royal payout is huge and probabilities of completing it (plus other resulting hands) justify breaking a made pair in many cases. Under full-pay rules you should often keep the 4-card royal.
Scenario B: Same hand on a machine with a downgraded Royal bonus and lower Four of a Kind payout. The math changes: the same hold may no longer be optimal because the Royal’s relative reward is smaller and the discarded pair’s expected value might now exceed the draw value.
These are simplified descriptions, but they demonstrate why reading the paytable first is essential. If you’re not sure, use a reputable training tool and plug the exact paytable into it to get precise play advice.
Bankroll and variance management tied to paytables
Paytables determine variance. Machines with large payoffs concentrated in rare hands require deeper bankrolls to withstand long losing stretches. If you prefer lower variance—more frequent but smaller wins—choose paytables that reward mid-range hands more generously.
General rules I follow and recommend:
- If playing a high-variance progressive or a game where Royal and quads dominate the return, increase your stop-loss and session bankroll.
- For lower bankrolled sessions, select lower-variance paytables and smaller coin denominations if available.
- Always consider session length: better paytables improve long-run expected return, but short sessions can still be governed by variance.
Tools and training to master paytable-based play
There are several reliable ways to learn optimal play for specific paytables: computer training software, mobile apps tailored to video poker, and published strategy charts. Use these tools to practice decisions on thousands of hands until the right play becomes instinctive. This reduces mistakes and preserves the edge that a good paytable gives you.
Also, don’t underestimate reading the small print on the machine. Side-pay tables (bonus payouts for specific quads or sequences) can alter strategy drastically. I once passed up a tempting low-denomination machine only to discover the paytable awarded large bonuses for certain quad combinations—if I’d known that beforehand, the strategic choices would have been different.
When to walk away: warning signs in a paytable
Some paytables are intentionally obfuscated or offer tiny returns disguised by flashy themes. If you see any of the following, be conservative:
- Paytables that reduce Full House/Flush payouts below common benchmarks without explanation.
- Machines that force you to bet max to access reasonable Royal payouts when the math still leaves you far below break-even.
- Excessive side bonuses that sound generous but devalue regular-hand payouts—these usually increase house edge.
Conclusion: make paytables your primary decision tool
Mastering the video poker paytable is the single most effective way to improve results. It’s the objective map of a machine’s rewards—learn to read it, compare it to standard benchmarks, and adapt your strategy accordingly. Combine that knowledge with training tools and disciplined bankroll management, and you turn transparency into advantage.
If you’re ready to put this into practice, start by examining a machine’s paytable before you bet a single coin. Make a habit of checking the numbers—over time, the difference between a smart paytable choice and a careless one will show up clearly in your results.
