How to Play Joker Poker Video Poker

Written by

Nicola Davidson on 11/07/2012

Joker Poker is a spin-off of the classic Jacks or Better video poker game, found at most land-based and online casinos. Instead of using a standard 52-card deck, there are 53 cards, including “” you guessed it “” one joker. The joker is a wild card and can be used in place of any other card that would make the best possible winning hand.

Because of the added element of a wild card in the mix, the usual pay table is adjusted from needing a “Pair of Jacks or Better”Â? to requiring a “Pair of Kings or Better”Â? in order to instigate a payout. The rewards for other hands, including Full House, Flush and Straight, are also slightly reduced, since they are a bit easier to achieve.

The following guide observes the rules of game play and payouts as found in Microgaming online casinos. If you are playing Joker Poker at any other online casino, or a land-based casino, the rules and pay table may differ.

Let’s take a look at the basic screen options of Joker Poker.

• Optional Coin Sizes: $0.25, $0.50, $1, $2, $5
• Coins per Play: 1 to 5
• Min / Max Bet: $0.25 / $25
• Max Payout: 5000 Coins
• Lowest Winning Hand: Pair of Kings or Better

How to Play Joker Poker

Playing Joker Poker is relatively simple. Your first decision is how much to wager per coin. You can change this by clicking the plus (+) and minus (-) buttons at the bottom of the screen. Next, you need to place your bet of 1-5 coins by clicking on Bet One or Bet Max. If you choose Bet Max, 5 coins are played and the cards are automatically dealt. Otherwise, you will need to click Deal when you are ready.

Your starting hand is dealt, 5 cards face up. Please be aware that Microgaming online casinos invoke an instant strategy, thus one or more cards may be marked HELD as soon as they are dealt. This is based on the computer’s idea of what cards are most likely to produce a winning hand after the draw phase. You can keep these cards or click on them to remove the HELD sign. Clicking any card will change its keep/discard status.

Once you’ve chosen what cards you want to keep, click Deal and all other cards will be replaced with new ones to reveal your final 5-card hand. If you achieve a Pair of Kings or Better, the winning hand rank and corresponding payout is highlighted on the pay table. If not, the bet is lost and the game concludes.

When you win a hand of Joker Poker at a Microgaming online casino, the game isn’t over just yet. You have the option of collecting your winnings, or risking them on a double-or-nothing bet. If you choose to keep the winnings, press Collect. Otherwise, press Double and a High-Low game ensues.

Joker Poker Double Feature

If you choose to attempt doubling your winnings, another 5 cards are dealt. This time, only the first card is visible. To win, you must click one of the remaining cards, and it must rank higher than the first card. If your card is higher, you double your winnings. If not, the winnings are lost and the game is over.

If you win the Double feature, you have another opportunity to double those winnings. Click Double to try again, or Collect to keep the winnings and return to the video poker screen.

Joker Poker Pay Table