How to Play Jacks or Better Power Video Poker

Written by

Nicola Davidson on 11/21/2012

Jacks or Better is the classic version of video poker. Toss the Power Poker label on the end, and you’ve got extreme Jacks or Better, allowing true video poker lovers to play anywhere from 4 to 100 hands per game. Playing at a Microgaming casinos also gives players the chance to make a double-or-nothing bet on a simple high-low game anytime the player wins a hand. The Double feature is optional, of course.

The pay table for Jacks or Better Power Poker is exactly the same as the traditional single-hand version, except that players can be paid multiple times for each winning hand. The rewards can be phenomenal, but don’t forget you are also paying for each hand, anywhere from 1 to 5 coins per hand. To play 100 hands at $0.25 a piece multiplies up to $25 per game. Betting the max 5 coins at $0.25 a piece jumps even further to $125 per game.

This guide depicts the gameplay and pay table of Jacks or Better Power Poker as found in Microgaming online casinos. Playing in any other live or online casino may result in a different pay table.

Let’s take a look at the basic screen options of 4-Handed Jacks or Better Power Poker. To play this game with more than 4 (up to 100) hands, simply multiply the digits below accordingly.

• Optional Coin Sizes: $.25, $0.50, $1, $2, $5
• Coins per Play: 4 to 20
• Min / Max Bet: $1 / $100
• Max Payout: 4000 Coins
• Lowest Winning Hand: Pair of Jacks or Better

How to Play Jacks or Better Power Poker

First things first, set your coin size by using the plus (+) and minus (-) buttons on the screen. Next, click the Bet One button once for each coin you wish to insert, 1 to 5 (per hand). Finally, click the Deal button. If you click Bet Max, the max 5 coins are played per hand and the deal begins automatically.

You see four hands on the screen. The bottom hand depicts all 5 cards to either keep or discard.  Clicking on any card will change it to/from HELD. Put a HELD sign on all cards you wish to keep, then click the Deal button.

All HELD cards remain, and are visible in all four poker hands. All other cards are replaced with new ones. You will notice that each hand may contain different or similar replacement cards. This is because each hand is dealt from a separate 52-card deck, producing 4 variable hands. Any hand that ranks high enough for a payout will win the amount that corresponds on the pay table. Any hand that does not win will lose its bet.

If you’ve won any amount on any of the four hands, you are offered the chance to make a double-or-nothing bet with your winnings. If you wish to do so, click the Double button and a new 5-card high-low game will appear. If you don’t want to risk your winnings, simply click Collect and they are credited to your account.

Jacks or Better Power Poker Double Feature

The Double feature is a fast game of high-low where the player receives 5 cards. Only the first card is visible to start. You can choose any one of the remaining cards. If your chosen card is higher than the first card, you win double your original winnings. If not, the original winnings are lost and the screen returns to Jacks or Better Power Poker.

Any time a player wins the Double feature, they can choose to try and double their winnings again, or click Collect to keep the winnings and return to Jacks or Better Power Poker.

Jacks or Better Power Poker Pay Table