Read the pay table first
The name 9/6 refers to the payouts for a full house (9 for 1) and a flush (6 for 1) per coin. Everything else on the table is usually the same, so those two numbers tell you which version you are playing.
| Pay table | Full house | Flush | RTP with perfect play |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/6 | 9 | 6 | 99.54% |
| 8/5 | 8 | 5 | 97.30% |
| 7/5 | 7 | 5 | 96.15% |
The hold order
Deal five cards, hold what ranks highest on this list and draw the rest. It is a simplified version of perfect 9/6 strategy and gives up very little.
- Royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind: hold.
- Four to a royal flush: hold, even if it breaks a made flush or straight.
- Full house, flush, straight, three of a kind: hold.
- Four to a straight flush.
- Two pair.
- A high pair (jacks or better).
- Three to a royal flush.
- Four to a flush.
- A low pair (twos to tens).
- Otherwise, hold your jacks-or-better cards and draw.
Bankroll and bonuses
- Video poker swings more than its RTP suggests, because much of the return sits in the rare royal flush. Budget for several hundred hands.
- Many casinos count video poker at a reduced rate towards bonus wagering. Check before you claim.
- Practise in demo mode first where it is offered. Our guide to choosing a game compares video poker with other games.