Joker poker strategy

Joker poker is one of the less known video poker titles out there, but it is still intriguing. How do you play it? And what is a good joker poker strategy to adopt? We will reveal this and much more in our Joker poker machine guide.

What is joker poker?

Joker poker is more formally known as Jokers wild, and essentially it is a halfway house between Jacks or Better and Deuces Wild.

In fact, there are three different versions of Joker Poker. One of those will involve the lowest payout being a two pair, while the other is a low pair version.

In one game, you will need a minimum of a pair of kings, while the other game will require you to get a minimum of aces.

The kings or better version is often considered the better joker poker option, and in the following section on this page, we will run through the rules of Joker Poker and how to play it.

How to play joker poker

If you aren’t used to playing Joker Poker, we ought to run a few basics, so you know what to expect when you play such games at online casinos.

To start, you need to be aware of the terminology and what each card represents. The joker is a wild card, while a sequential royal flush is a royal flush displayed in order – 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace. The full pay 7/5 is a joker pay table that pays 7 coins for a full house and 5 coins for a flush.

Some online casinos will have special features, such as a double segment, so players can double their winnings. Anyway, the cards in this 53-card deck will be shuffled and then pinned face down on the board.

The aim will be to find the joker, although the return on the game is around 98% which is much lower than other video poker games.

Joker poker strategy

If you want to maximise your return in games, then you should adhere to the following strategy pointers when playing joker poker.

Always keep a royal flush

While at some casinos, you might be tempted in a game to discard the rest of your cards, your chances of success diminish if you get rid of a hand that contains a potential royal flush. So, you should always stand on a royal flush or a straight flush, especially when casinos offer so much for certain hands.

Draw to a royal flush

As mentioned, you wouldn’t want to pass up on a royal flush at the pay table. So, when you land four cards from the deck, try and get as close to a royal flush as possible, and you will get a decent return.

Don’t forget about the open flush straight draw

While the royal flush holds a lot of power in Joker poker, if you fall short in your objectives in the game, then try and get an open straight flush. This will provide good payouts at the pay table.

Exceptions in joker poker

There are some exceptions in joker poker, and if you are familiar with Jacks or Better, then you won’t find it too difficult to readjust and tweak your strategy when you play.

The basic order of operations in a game is as follows for this video poker title:

• Four to a royal
• Four to a straight flush
• High pair
• Three to a royal
• Four to a flush
• Low pair
• Four to a straight

There won’t be many changes that you will need to make in terms of hand priorities, and they will be very similar to what you are likely to encounter in standard games like Jacks or Better.

Therefore, adding a single wild card to the deck doesn’t affect things much for a different set of high cards.

Joker Poker hands

Joker poker will mirror the kinds of hands you will see in other poker games, and this has been reflected in the following chart.

It is worth noting that you won’t get your money back on a King or an Ace pair, and the payout will be much lower than on Jack royals and straight flushes.

Joker poker pay table

Let’s now take a closer look at the payout for Joker poker, more specifically, the pay for joker’s wild kings or better. Our handy chart will illustrate this.

As you will see, there are higher paying versions of Joker poker, but you can increase your chances of success at pay tables with expert video poker strategy for example.

Joker poker odds

Joker poker of course can be fun, but what are the odds like? We have assessed these in our chart.

However, if you can produce the perfect play and manage to do so using an optimal strategy, then the return for this game will exceed 100%. This may be an unusual situation, but in terms of the house edge, you will have a 0.64% advantage over the house which is very handy at pay tables.

A pair of kings or aces pays out at EVENS, and the above calculations can be achieved by adding the possible scenarios up.

Joker Poker tips

Now, we have divulged more on the Joker poker game, here are some useful tips to ensure a more regular payout.

Don’t deviate away from basic poker strategy

It’s always good to keep to a winning formula. If there is a particular strategy that has worked for you when you have played, stick to it. The maths won’t lie regardless of how strong you feel your hunches are, so always refer back to it.

Never discard a wild card

A wild card could lead to a full house or better still a royal, and any player with a modicum of sense will know the rules when they reach the table. You are more likely to find success when you have played a hand with cards that have a wild in them.

Take your time with the cards

It can be easy to show a king or kings too quickly, and there may be a sense of urgency to reveal pairs. Instead, assess what is going on board, see what pairs are revealed by your opponent, and take it from there. Playing too quickly is something that can also be a common mistake for many players if they aren’t used to the two pair version.

Joker poker common mistakes

When you start to play Joker poker, you may make a few fumbles along the way, especially if you are used to other versions of variations of poker. We have outlined some of the most common pitfalls of joker poker, and what you can do to avoid them.

1. Playing low payout games – Video poker has many variations, but there are some players that sway towards the low payout games. However, compared to high payout games, you won’t make nearly half what you should. To get the most out of your Joker poker experience, go for the games where you have a chance of making more money.
2. Staking too much – If you want to stand a chance of making more money from Joker poker games, then don’t play too much or put in too much into the pot in a bid to get a full house or two pairs. If you can bet sensibly, then the two pairs or full house are more likely to fall into your lap.
3. Not applying the correct strategy – To find some fluency or form playing Joker poker, you need to understand how to apply your strategy correctly. Some players can be quite reluctant as strategies can be quite wide ranging, but it is good to meet somewhere in the middle. If gaining an ace or kings is your objective, you won’t get an ace or kings if you continue to play the same way.
4. Not following the rules – You should know the aims of the game, especially if you want to collect cards that are of the same suit. Similar to the above point, if you don’t understand the nature of the suit, for example, with an ace, it can be quite easy to get lost.

Conclusion

Joker poker will be a real test of skill and more pertinently, strategy. As one of the most widely played video poker games, it has gained a lot of traction over the past few years, and it is enjoyed by many keen casino players. In this guide, we have tried to draw your attention to the payouts, as well as give you some tips to improve your game. If you want to try out a quality Joker poker machine, then head over to EnergyCasino, which will be well stocked with the latest titles to keep you entertained.