Jokers Wild Video Poker: Strategies to Win

Jokers Wild is another popular wild card game that adds to the excitement of video poker play.  The majority of your hands will look similar to a Jacks or Better game; however, don’tGayle Mitchell is the most recognized female expert of casino gambling and has written extensively and presented seminars about casino gambling since 1996.  She is the author of the Casino Gambling Made Easier series of books, numerous E-Books, booklets and the Slots Trilogy.  She is also the editor of five online gaming newsletters including Casino Players Ezine.  Gayle's website is www.easycasinogambling.com  fall into the trap of using the same Jacks or Better strategy play. 

On average, fewer than 10% of your initial cards dealt will contain the joker, thus your strategy will evolve around this fact.

Below is a 7/5 VP pay schedule for Jokers Wild with minimum payout for Kings or better.

The table below illustrates the payout for specific winning hands, one coin return payout and maximum coin return payout.

 

Pays – Jokers Wild 7/5	one-coin return	max. coin return
Pair--Kings or Better	returns the bet	5 coins
Two pair (2 PR)	returns the bet	5 coins
Three-of-a-kind (3/kind)	pays 2-1	10 coins
Straight (ST) (sequence, not same suit)	pays 3-1	15 coins
Flush (FL) (non-sequential, same suit)	pays 5-1	25 coins
Full house (FH) (3 of a kind and a pair)	pays 7-1	35 coins
Four-of-a-kind (quad)	pays 20-1	100 coins
Straight flush (SF) (in sequence, same suit)	pays 50-1	250 coins
Joker Royal (includes Joker)	pays 100-1	500 coins
5-of-a-kind	pays 200-1	1000 coins
Royal flush (RF, No Joker) (except with max. coins)	pays 250-1	4000 coins

Strategy:
There is also an Aces or Better version as the minimum payout. The strategies below are for Kings or Better and Aces or Better versions. I have divided the strategy notes into those hands that are dealt With Joker and Without Joker as below:

WITH JOKER           

• Hold pat hands of full house or better
• Break a paying flush for a 4-card royal or 4-card open straight flush
• Break 3/kind for any 4-card straight flush
• Break a pair of aces or kings for a 3-card or better straight flush (must be consecutive), or any 4-card flush
• If none of the above, select a middle card, (from 5-10) to keep with the joker.
• Barring a middle card, there may be times that you should hold the joker alone.
• More than 3% of the time, you won’t be able to connect with a straight, flush, straight flush or a high pair.
• However, holding the joker alone can give you four new cards and a win.

WITHOUT JOKER

• Hold two pair or better
• Break a flush for any 4-card royal draw and break a straight for any 4-card straight flush or royal draw.
• Break a pair of aces or kings for 3-card royal draw.
• Break a low pair for 4-card flush or open ended 3-card straight flush
• Break any pair for a 4-card straight flush
• Hold any 4-card straight or any 3-card straight flush, if consecutive, discarding small pair for the larger payout
• Hold A-K of same suit
• Hold suited faces K-Q, K-J, K-10, Q-J, Q-10, or J-10

Go for a straight flush whenever possible, for the larger return. With this wild-card game, straight flush and Joker Royal flush opportunities appear more often than Jacks or Better. Keep a lower pair over the possibility of pulling a joker for a four-card straight, especially an inside straight.  Although, it is suggested to hold an inside straight in wild-card games; in this case the payout for the straight has been reduced from four to three, so keep the pair only.  As with all VP games, maximum coin play for each hand is the best strategy.