If you walk through any casino, past the flashing modern video slots, you will inevitably find rows of old, blocky Video Poker machines.

Playing Video Poker strictly on gut feeling or intuition is a guaranteed way to destroy this massive mathematical advantage and lose your bankroll.

Finding the Full Pay Machines

The most common and foundational variation is "Jacks or Better," where the lowest paying winning hand is exactly a pair of Jacks.

If played perfectly, a 9/6 machine returns a staggering 99.54%, meaning the casino's mathematical edge is a microscopic, nearly invisible 0.46%.

• Progressive Video Poker machines often feature weaker base paytables to compensate
• Online casinos usually offer the absolute best, highly favorable Video Poker paytables
• Never play a machine where a Flush pays only 5 coins if better options exist

Chasing the Royal Flush Premium

However, the payout for the absolute rarest hand, the Royal Flush, is heavily, disproportionately weighted toward the massive 5-coin maximum bet.

Because the mathematical RTP calculation assumes you will eventually hit a Royal Flush, failing to bet max coins completely destroys your long-term advantage.

Memorizing the Basic Strategy Chart

Once you find a 9/6 machine and bet max coins, the final step is flawlessly executing the mathematical basic strategy for every single hand.

You can legally print a strategy card from the internet and hold it right in front of the machine while you play in the casino.

Study the strategy charts relentlessly, and you will transform from a casual gambler into a formidable, highly profitable casino advantage player.