Video poker, solved with exact math

Every hand has 32 possible holds and one mathematically correct answer. Free trainer, calculator and playable games — powered by an engine verified against 12 published canon values.

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Video poker is the rare casino game where perfect decisions are computable. 9/6 Jacks or Better returns 99.5439% with optimal play — and every hold has one mathematically correct answer. This site computes it, live and free. Try the trainer →
99.5439%9/6 Jacks or Better, optimal play — engine-verified
1 in 40390.5hands per royal flush (computed, not quoted)
18paytables with exact returns in the analyzer
80+strategy pages, every EV from one validated engine

Play & train

♠TrainerEvery decision graded against the exact EV of all 32 holds — accuracy, streaks, cost of mistakes. ♥Free video pokerInstant play, real paytables up to 100.76%, optional best-play hints. No download. ♦Hand calculatorPick any 5 cards — see the exact EV of every possible hold, live. ♣Paytable analyzer18 paytables with computed returns and the hourly cost of a downgrade.

Games, each with a playable trainer

Jacks or BetterThe foundation game. 9/6 returns 99.5439% — start here. Deuces WildAll 2s wild. Full-pay returns 100.76% — a player-edge game. Double Double BonusKicker economics: four aces + kicker pays 400. Bonus PokerJoB with sweetened quads — 8/5 returns 99.166%. Double BonusThe 100.17% grind — hard strategy, real edge. Joker Poker53-card deck, one wild joker. Full pay: 100.65%. Ultimate XWin multipliers 2x–12x — the state-dependent variant.

The math, open

Every hand probability — dealt vs optimal-play, exact. · Royal flush odds & the drought table. · All 64 hold-vs-hold conflicts ranked by frequency — the boring ones cost you most. · Methodology: 12 canonical validations, listed openly.

Famous dilemmas, computed

Four to a flush vs low pair · Low pair vs 4 to an outside straight · High pair vs 3 to a royal · Four to a flush vs single high card · High pair vs pair with kicker · Discard all vs a lone low card

Start smart

New to the game? How to play in 10 minutes, then the three rules that carry 95% of the value. Playing in the US? See which sweeps casinos actually carry video poker.