Video poker pundits and experts alike are nearly unanimous in preaching that the five-credit maximum should always be bet. This is because the maximum bet alters the payout for a royal flush from 250-for-1 to over three times that amount – 800-for-1.
That works out to 4,000-for-5 rather than 1,250-for-5 if the same pay rate was followed. Is playing maximum credits always the best route? This article explores the topic.
If this article interests you, keep reading. Alternatively, explore other topics like how to win at slots, roulette numbers, and blackjack strategy.
Contents
- The value of playing the five-credit maximum bet
- Maximum credits may not be five
- Playing maximum credits may not always be best
- Summary
The value of playing the five-credit maximum bet
The maximum video poker bet of five credits usually changes the pay rate for a royal flush to 800-for-1 from 250-for-1. This can make a huge difference. On a dollar game in a casino, 250-for-1 means a five-credit royal flush pays $1,250. A nice win to be sure, but not a great win. A great win is $4,000 for a royal flush on a dollar game with a five credit bet.
Here are some statistics about the royal flush in various video poker casino games. Depending on pay tables, the “Occurs Every” and “Return %” will vary slightly. The statistics are also based on “expert” or “perfect” play, meaning the strategy that focuses on getting the highest average return from each dealt hand.
| Royal Flush: | 800-for-1 / 4,000-for-5 | 250-for-1 / 1,250-for-5 | ||
| Game | Occurs Every | Return % | Occurs Every | Return % |
| Jack or Better | 40,390 | 1.96% | 51,480 | 0.49% |
| Bonus Poker | 40,230 | 1.99% | 50,090 | 0.50% |
| Double Bonus Poker | 48,040 | 1.67% | 57,460 | 0.44% |
| Double Double Bonus | 40,800 | 1.96% | 52,070 | 0.48% |
| Triple Bonus Poker | 49,830 | 1.61% | 59,480 | 0.42% |
| Triple Double Bonus | 45,360 | 1.76% | 52,590 | 0.48% |
| Double Aces/Faces | 48,640 | 1.64% | 57,660 | 0.43% |
| Deuces Wild | 45,280 | 1.77% | 47,390 | 0.53% |
As the table clearly shows, royal flushes rarely occur, but they contribute a hefty amount (close to 1/50th) to the overall return when they pay 800-for-1 (4,000-for-5). However, when the pay rate is 250-for-1, the percentage of overall return is cut to only about one-half of one percent. This is substantial reduction.
On most video poker games, the royal flush occurs roughly once in every 40,000 to 50,000 hands. This means that during the 40,000 to 50,000 hands where a royal flush does not appear, the five credits per hand player performs at about 2% below the overall return of the game. If the overall return of a game is 99%, the return during the “no royal” phase will average about 97%.
This is not an insignificant amount. It is also why experts say to always bet five credits when playing video poker – the royal flush wipes out the two percent deficit.
Maximum credits may not be five
The number of credits that trigger the “royal flush bonus,” especially on low-denomination games or at casinos that are not in major gaming destinations may not be five.
It could require 10, 20, or possibly more. Some of these games will show the 4,000 credits in the pay table, but it will take 10 credits to get those 4,000 credits. This makes the actual rate of pay for these games 400-for-1 not 800-for-1. Beware of this slightly deceptive practice.
Playing maximum credits may not always be best
Let’s see how the 800-for-1 differs from the 250-for-1 performance in two very important benchmarks – return and variance. Return is the amount of money played through the game that is returned to the player.
Variance is an indication of how severely bankrolls vary or fluctuate. Low variance games have fewer high-paying winners but also have less severe losing streaks.
Please note that the numbers in following table are for specific pay tables which could be different than those in your favorite casino. The differences they show between the two royal flush pays is indicative, however.
| Royal Flush: | 800-for-1 / 4,000-for-5 | 250-for-1 / 1,250-for-5 | ||
| Game | Occurs Every | Return % | Occurs Every | Return % |
| Jack or Better | 99.54% | 19.51 | 98.37 | 4.92 |
| Bonus Poker | 99.16% | 20.90 | 97.93 | 6.27 |
| Double Bonus Poker | 99.10% | 25.54 | 98.04 | 16.32 |
| Double Double Bonus | 98.98% | 41.98 | 97.83 | 27.50 |
| Triple Bonus Poker | 98.51% | 45.03 | 97.43 | 33.25 |
| Triple Double Bonus | 99.57% | 98.28 | 98.48 | 85.30 |
| Double Aces/Faces | 99.23% | 28.54 | 98.17 | 16.45 |
| Deuces Wild | 100.76% | 25.83 | 99.57 | 13.04 |
First a general statement: it is always better to play the five-credit maximum – if you can afford it. If you cannot afford to play $5 per hand on a dollar machine, but can afford to play $1.25 on a quarter machine, play the quarter machine. You get the maximum possible return form your investment.
Playing lower denomination games could mean playing with an inferior return. As an example, you may be able to find a full-pay (9/6) Jacks or Better game at a dollar but the quarter jacks or better game pays only 8/5. The return from the 8/5 quarter game with five credits ($1.25) is 97.29% with a variance of 19.32.
The return from the 9/6 game playing one credit ($1) is 98.37 with a variance of 4.92. Playing a one credit dollar 9/6 Jacks or Better game returns about one percent more than the five-credit quarter game. As a bonus, the variance is extremely low. From an overall play standpoint, the one-credit dollar game is the way to go.
One downside is learning the slightly different strategy for playing the 8/5 game. Another is a royal flush on the dollar game only gets you 1,250 credits. But wait. That is $1,250! A royal flush on a five-credit quarter game pays only $1,000. Sounds like a win to me.
Summary
Experts universally state that video poker should always be played with five credits to get the “royal flush bonus” of 800-for-1 instead of 250-for-1 when betting fewer than five credits.
Under certain conditions, there are valid reasons to ignore this advice – and come out ahead in the long run. Nothing, apparently, is absolute – other than casinos having the edge.
