Best Joker Poker Strategy: Our Top Tips for Joker Poker

Joker Poker Strategy Tips to Improve Your Skills

Building a reliable Joker Poker strategy will allow you to reduce the house edge to essentially zero, which is almost unheard of in the casino industry! We’re here to help with our best tips to improve your chances in this popular video poker variant.

Keep reading for our best advice for both beginners and experienced players looking to improve their Joker Poker strategy.

Joker Poker Strategy Tips for Beginners

I will start with my advice for Joker Poker beginners who might be prone to making big errors. The following simple rules will help you avoid major mistakes and stop leaking value to the casinos when you play this video poker version.

1. Pick a High Paying Table

The overall RTP (return-to-player) of Joker Poker is very high compared to other casino games, but it’s not fixed and even the top online casinos have different versions. A key part of any Joker Poker strategy is picking the correct table to play at. The right pay table can significantly improve your payouts. Lower-paying Joker Poker tables have an RTP between 92% and 98% with an optimal strategy. While an RTP of 98% is better than most online slots, it is far from the best in video poker. Some Joker Poker games with payout tables offer an RTP of over 100%. One key part of the payout table to look at is the minimum hand needed to win. For example, tables that require Kings or better are easier to win at than machines that need a two-pair or better. The payouts at the top of the table are also an essential factor. For instance, machines that offer a 1,000x payout for a natural royal flush are usually more rewarding than games that offer 800x payouts for the same hand. The payouts for 5-of-a-kind and Royal Flushes with a joker are also important to watch. Comparing the different tables can be tricky, so we have a recommended casino with a high RTP version at the end of this article to help.

2. Never Discard a Joker

Another basic strategy to use in Joker Poker is to never discard a joker. This strategy sounds simple, but it is one of the best ways to improve your chances of winning.

Jokers are wild in Joker Poker and can replace any card to create a winning combination. They can also help you create a Royal Flush, but it pays less than a natural Royal Flush. Jokers can even be used to create a 5-of-a-kind, one of the highest-paying hands in the game. A joker will also help save hands that are otherwise likely losers. For instance, they make any pair into 3-of-a-kind, making them a guaranteed winner. A joker will also turn two pairs into a full house, and so on.

3. Do Not Discard Winning Hands

Another basic strategy to keep in mind when playing Joker Poker is to avoid discarding winning hands when possible. For instance, a pair of Kings only offers a 1x payout. You only get your money back, but that’s still an excellent starting point since you can always improve if you get lucky. Avoiding losing is the name of the game, especially over a long session. Therefore, novice players should never discard a winning hand. Advanced players can risk discarding a winning pair in situations where they have a chance of securing a more significant win. With a lucky draw, your low-winning hand can also become a higher-paying hand. For instance, there are three cards, including the joker, that can make your low-paying pair of Kings into 3-of-a-kind.

More Advanced Joker Poker Strategy Tricks

Once you know the basics of Joker Poker, you should look to also apply the following tips.

1. Know When to Break a Pair

You need at least a pair of kings to win in Joker Poker, and some machines require two pairs or better to win. The high threshold for a winning pair can make low pairs seem unappealing. However, keeping low pairs can be a winning Joker and Double Joker Poker strategy.

A low pair, such as a pair of 5s, is just one card away from being a thereof-a-kind, a winning hand. It can also help you create two pairs or a full house. With jokers being wild, the chances of a low pair turning into a winning hand are higher compared to other video poker variants. There are situations where breaking a pair is the best option. For instance, let’s say you are dealt this hand:

- 5d-5s-6s-7s-8s

Breaking the pair gives you a chance at a Straight Flush, a much higher-paying hand, so you should break the pair. You should also discard a pair, even a high pair, if you have a chance at a Royal Flush. This technique only applies to single pairs. If you have two pairs or better, then you should hold your cards.

2. Hold for Straights and Flushes

Straight and Flushes are not the highest-paying hands in Joker Poker, but even the lowest straight is better than the best 3-of-a-kind. As a result, you should hold cards that bring you close to a straight or flush when possible.

Hold for Straights and Flushes in Joker Poker

In most cases, you need three or more cards to play for a straight or a flush. If you have an Ace-King suited, though, that is enough to push for a Royal Flush. Your chances of getting the cards you need are not high. For instance, your chances of getting one card with one out are roughly 48:1. However, the payout for a straight or a flush is usually 3x or 5x your stake amount, respectively. If you are playing for a Straight Flush or a Royal Flush, it is even more worth the risk. Your potential payouts can jump as high as 1,000x in some Joker Poker games.

3. Use a Joker Poker Strategy Chart

As you can see, there are many different situations that you can face in Joker Poker. New players can easily be overwhelmed by all the information they need to learn for different hands. On the bright side, there are Joker Poker strategy charts that outline the optimum strategy for each hand. Using these charts does not guarantee that you will win every hand. However, over time, the right strategy chart can help you win more consistently when playing Joker Poker. Ideally, you should have at least two charts: one for a joker and one without. Having a joker in your hand significantly increases the number of winning combinations you can make. As a result, the “optimal” decision for each hand also changes, and you can be more aggressive.

Where to Play Joker Poker Video Poker?

A solid Joker Poker strategy can significantly improve your playing experience. The casino you choose will also influence your session. Luckily, there are several excellent options for enjoying Joker Poker online.

The best place to enjoy Joker Poker online is DuckyLuck Casino. This site offers multiple Joker Poker games from Rival, including multi-hand variations. You can try Double Joker Poker, too, and all the video poker games offer a free demo.

DuckyLuck has a great mobile video poker app as well, so you can play from your preferred mobile device. New members can use the site’s 600% crypto welcome bonus to add up to $3,000 in extra funds to their Joker Poker bankroll.