Video Poker Strategy Charts

13 August 2022

By Jerry Stickman

Video poker players who want to obtain the best edge possible will practice the game at home on their computer or smartphone. This helps to train them to select the best possible hold for every hand.

With practice many players play as high as 99 percent or more of their practice hands correctly. There are some hands, however, that are close calls and the player will sometimes make the incorrect choice. In those cases, the training program or app will warn the player.

Once in the casino, what is a player to do when faced with a close-call hand? A smartphone certainly cannot be used at the video poker machine. Using devices to assist in gambling is highly illegal.

Referencing a strategy chart, however, is not illegal.

In fact, some casino gift shops actually sell video poker strategy charts. The problem is, casino gift shops sell only a few different strategy charts. Each different pay table for each different game usually requires a different strategy. Sometimes the differences are subtle, other times they are major. It is nearly impossible for a casino to carry every possible strategy chart, even if they wanted to do it.

Fortunately, most video poker training programs have a feature allowing strategy charts to be generated and printed.

Once you determine which games and pay tables you want to play (and that they are available at the casino), you can generate those charts and bring them with you to the casino.

A word to the wise.

While strategy charts are not illegal (meaning you cannot be arrested), it is wise to use them sparingly. A player checking a piece of paper during every video poker hand becomes very noticeable. You could be asked to stop using it or even asked to refrain from playing video poker at that casino.

If you need to reference the strategy chart more than once every 20 to 30 hands, you should probably practice some more at home.

It is also probably wise to keep the strategy chart out of sight when not in use. There is no reason to unnecessarily invite any heat.

Just as a point of reference, I have been using strategy charts for the last 20 years or so and have never had a problem with them. I do not reference them very often at all. The more you play, the less you need them.

Using a video poker strategy chart in a casino is a good way to make certain you are playing the proper strategy – as long as you don’t overuse them.

As always, may all your wins be swift and large, and your losses be slow and small.

Jerry “Stickman”

Jerry “Stickman” is an expert in craps, blackjack and video poker and advantage slot machine play. He is a regular contributor to top gaming magazines. He authored the video poker section of Everything Casino Poker: Get the Edge at Video Poker, Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, and Pai Gow Poker! You can contact Jerry “Stickman” at stickmanjerryg@gmail.com