How to Read a Video Poker Pay Table

Video poker is a game of skill and strategy, and your first step to playing smarter is understanding the game's blueprint: the pay table. The pay table is your most crucial tool, revealing exactly how much each winning hand pays out. For beginners, it might look like a jumble of numbers, but once you know what to look for, it becomes clear.

This guide will walk you through reading a video poker pay table, helping you understand coins, return-to-player (RTP) percentages, bonus variants, and common pitfalls like incomplete screenshots.

Understanding the Basics of a Pay Table

Every video poker machine has a pay table displayed prominently, usually above the cards on the screen. It lists all possible winning hands, from a pair of Jacks (or better) up to a Royal Flush, and the corresponding payout for each.

The table is typically structured with hands listed on the left and columns representing the number of coins played (usually 1 to 5) across the top.

Step 1: Identify the Game Variant

Before you even look at numbers, confirm the video poker game you're playing. Is it Jacks or Better? Deuces Wild? Bonus Poker? Each variant has different rules and, consequently, different pay tables. The name of the game is usually displayed at the top of the machine or within the pay table itself.

Step 2: Understand Coins and Payouts

The most important aspect of a pay table is understanding how payouts change based on the number of coins you bet.

• Number of Coins: Most video poker machines allow you to bet 1 to 5 coins per hand.
• Payout Structure: For most hands, the payout scales linearly with the number of coins. For example, if a Straight pays 4 for 1 coin, it will pay 8 for 2 coins, 12 for 3 coins, and 16 for 4 coins.

However, there's a critical exception: the Royal Flush.

Step 3: The Royal Flush Bonus for Max Bet

This is perhaps the most vital piece of information on any video poker pay table. When you play the maximum number of coins (usually 5), the payout for a Royal Flush dramatically increases, often by a factor of two or more compared to playing 4 coins.

Ignoring this bonus is a common beginner mistake that significantly reduces your potential long-term returns. Always aim to play the maximum coins if you can afford it. If your bankroll doesn't allow for max coin play, consider lowering the denomination of the machine (e.g., play quarters instead of dollars) so you can still bet 5 coins per hand.

Let's look at a simplified example for Jacks or Better:

Hand	1 Coin	2 Coins	3 Coins	4 Coins	5 Coins
Royal Flush	250	500	750	1000	4000
Straight Flush	50	100	150	200	250
4 of a Kind	25	50	75	100	125
Full House	9	18	27	36	45
Flush	6	12	18	24	30
Straight	4	8	12	16	20
3 of a Kind	3	6	9	12	15
Two Pair	2	4	6	8	10
Jacks or Better	1	2	3	4	5

Notice how the Royal Flush payout jumps from 1000 for 4 coins to 4000 for 5 coins. This is the bonus we're talking about!

Step 4: Decoding Full-Pay Labels and RTP

Experienced players often refer to "full-pay" machines. This term signifies a specific pay table configuration that offers the highest theoretical return-to-player (RTP) for a particular game variant.

For Jacks or Better, a common full-pay table is "9/6 Jacks or Better." This means a Full House pays 9 coins for 1 coin bet, and a Flush pays 6 coins for 1 coin bet. This configuration offers an RTP of 99.54% with perfect strategy.

• Return-to-Player (RTP): This percentage indicates the theoretical amount of money a player can expect to get back over an extended period. A higher RTP is always better. While the RTP isn't explicitly written on the machine, you can often deduce it by recognizing full-pay configurations.

Step 5: Recognizing Bonus Variants

Some video poker games are "bonus variants." These versions offer enhanced payouts for specific four-of-a-kind hands. For example, in Bonus Poker, four Aces might pay significantly more than four Kings. Always check these special payouts within the 4 of a Kind row. These bonuses are designed to add excitement and can influence your strategy.

Step 6: Jackpot Lines and Progressive Machines

While most video poker machines have fixed pay tables, some offer progressive jackpots. On these machines, you'll see a separate "jackpot line" or a meter that displays a growing jackpot value, usually tied to hitting a Royal Flush with a max bet. The standard pay table will still show a base payout for the Royal Flush, but the progressive amount will be added to it if you hit the jackpot.

Step 7: Why Screenshots Can Be Incomplete

When researching video poker online, you might find screenshots of pay tables. Be wary of incomplete images. A full pay table will always show payouts for all hands across all coin bets (1 to 5). If a screenshot only shows a portion, you might be missing crucial information, especially the critical 5-coin Royal Flush payout. Always seek out complete information to make informed decisions.

By taking a few moments to properly read and understand the pay table before you play, you'll equip yourself with the knowledge needed to make better strategic decisions and maximize your enjoyment and potential returns at the video poker machine.