Yes, skill absolutely matters in video poker—unlike most casino games where luck rules, this one gives you a real shot to influence the outcome. It’s not just about hitting “deal” and hoping; your decisions on which cards to hold or discard can make or break your results. That’s what sets it apart from slots and even games like roulette.
Try out your luck and skill for fun (no gambling) here.
Here’s how it works: after you’re dealt five cards, you choose which ones to keep and which to replace. The right choices depend on the game’s paytable and the odds of hitting a winning hand. For example, in Jacks or Better, should you keep a low pair or ditch it for a shot at a flush? The best chances of improving the hand would be to hold the low pair. But because of the paytable, skilled players know the pair’s may be safe—stats show it pays out more often—but chasing the four-to-a-flush is worth it in the long run. This isn’t guesswork; it’s math.
Take 9/6 Jacks or Better again. With perfect strategy—knowing exactly when to hold or fold based on every possible hand—you can push the return-to-player (RTP) to 99.54%. Mess up those choices, and it drops fast, maybe to 97% or lower. That 2-3% gap might not sound like much, but over hundreds of hands, it’s the difference between breaking even and bleeding cash. Pros use strategy charts (like those from Wizard of Odds) to nail every move.
Compare that to slots, where the RTP is fixed—say, 95%—and you’ve got no control. Video poker hands you the reins; skill turns a 1-in-47 chance at a flush into a calculated play. Casinos hate this because “advantage players” who master it can grind out profits. That’s why they tweak paytables or boot sharp players—it’s a battle of wits.
So, yeah, skill matters. Learn the game, study the paytable, and practice your decisions. It’s not a guarantee to win, but it’s your best weapon against the house.
