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Online Poker vs. Live Poker: What Do the Statistics Say?
I’m often asked if Poker players prefer live poker in a casino, or poker room or do they prefer playing online? I prefer in person because I enjoy the social aspect of the game. I have played both and been successful in both as a low limit recreational player. I really wanted to research this more so using different resources this is an article I was able to provide.
Online poker vs. live poker is a debate that divides the poker world. Online play offers convenience, faster action, and opportunities to improve through volume, while live poker delivers the casino atmosphere, social interaction, and the chance to read physical tells. But what do the numbers actually say about which format players prefer? Two published surveys offer useful insight—and the results suggest that many poker players don’t want to choose just one.
In PokerOrg’s 2024 State of Poker survey, more than 1,300 U.S. poker players were asked about their playing preferences. An impressive 90% said they enjoyed both live and online poker. Just 6% preferred sticking exclusively to live poker, while 4% played online only. However, when respondents were forced to choose between the two formats, the results split approximately 50/50. The takeaway? Neither format clearly dominated among respondents who had to pick a favorite. Read the PokerOrg survey.
A second data point comes from Lucid Poker’s 2026 Global Player Survey, which collected 1,487 responses from players across 16 countries. The results showed that 52.5% played both live and online, 30.1% played live only, and 17.4% played online only. These figures suggest that playing both formats is common among the surveyed players. However, there’s an important distinction: this survey measured which formats respondents played, not which one they preferred. It was also a self-selected survey rather than a random sample, so its results shouldn’t be treated as representative of every poker player worldwide. Read the 2026 survey and methodology.
How do you prefer to play? I would love to find out in the comments.
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Harrah’s Atlantic City Review: Poker, Drinks & Late-Night Eats
Harrah’s Atlantic City is a great choice for a casino getaway, with easy check-in, plenty of entertainment, and a fun atmosphere.
The Xhibition Bar was a blast, and a special shout-out to Mike, an incredible bartender who helped make the experience even better! Add in Harrah’s reliable late-night food options, and you’re covered when the night runs long.
The poker room was another highlight—until my pocket jacks took a hit! Playing $1/$2 No-Limit Hold’em, I was in the big blind with JJ and shoved my last $70 after the small blind raised to $35. He called with K-Q offsuit, and unfortunately, my jacks got cracked. That’s poker! Even with the bad beat, I had a great time at the tables.
The verdict: Harrah’s Atlantic City delivers on poker, nightlife, and late-night eats. Between the lively Xhibition Bar, outstanding service from Mike, and a poker room worth visiting, it’s an easy recommendation for your next Atlantic City trip. I’d absolutely return—and hopefully my pocket jacks get a little more respect next time!
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When Should You 4-Bet in Poker? The Ultimate Guide to 4-Bet Strategy
In No-Limit Texas Hold’em, a 4-bet is one of the most powerful weapons in your preflop arsenal. It can build a monster pot with a premium hand, punish an aggressive 3-bettor, or force an opponent to fold before the flop. But timing matters. A poorly chosen 4-bet can turn a manageable pot into an expensive mistake. The secret isn’t simply having a big hand—it’s understanding your opponent, your position, your stack sizes, and how their range reacts to pressure.
When to 4-Bet for Value
The most straightforward reason to 4-bet is when you hold a premium hand such as pocket Aces, pocket Kings, or Ace-King suited. Pocket Queens and other strong hands can also be candidates depending on the opponent and situation. For example, you’re playing $2/$5 No-Limit Hold’em with $500 effective stacks. You raise to $15 with A♠K♠, an opponent 3-bets to $50, and you 4-bet to $120. You’re building a pot with a strong hand while making weaker holdings pay to continue. Before you raise, though, have a plan: if your opponent shoves, will you call? With Ace-King suited against many aggressive players, continuing may be reasonable, but the right decision depends on their range and the money already invested. A 4-bet should have a purpose—not be an automatic reaction to a 3-bet.
When to 4-Bet Bluff
A 4-bet doesn’t always have to represent pocket Aces. Against opponents who 3-bet too frequently and can fold to further aggression, a well-timed bluff can be profitable. A hand such as A-5 suited is sometimes a good candidate because holding an Ace reduces the combinations of pocket Aces and Ace-King your opponent can have. It also retains some potential to make a strong hand if called. Position matters, too. A late-position open that gets 3-bet by an aggressive blind defender can create a better bluffing opportunity than an early-position raise facing a tight player’s 3-bet. However, don’t confuse aggression with strategy. Against a calling station who refuses to fold, bluffing is usually a poor investment. Save the fancy moves for players who are capable of letting go of a hand.
When NOT to 4-Bet
One of the biggest mistakes in low-stakes cash games is 4-betting without considering what happens next. If a tight opponent 3-bets your early-position raise, their range may be strong enough that marginal hands and bluffs become unattractive. Likewise, hands that look pretty but struggle against a shove can create difficult, expensive decisions. Stack depth matters: with shallow stacks, a 4-bet can effectively commit you to the pot; with deeper stacks, you may have more room to maneuver after the flop. Your 4-bet sizing should also reflect the situation. As a general starting point, a 4-bet in position might be around 2.2–2.5 times the 3-bet size, while out of position you may use a larger size, often around 2.5–3 times. These are guidelines, not rules—adjust for the original raise, stack sizes, and opponent tendencies.
The Bottom Line: Make Your 4-Bets Count
The best 4-bettors aren’t necessarily the most aggressive players at the table. They’re the players who understand why they’re raising and what they’re trying to accomplish. Sometimes the goal is to get value from a weaker hand. Sometimes it’s to make an aggressive opponent pay for 3-betting too wide. And sometimes folding is simply the most profitable decision. Pay attention to who is 3-betting, which positions are involved, and how often your opponent folds to pressure. Build a plan before putting those extra chips in the pot. Master those fundamentals, and your 4-bets can become a calculated part of your strategy instead of an expensive guessing game.
Play smart. Apply pressure. Know when to pull the trigger
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Mississippi Stud Poker: How to Play and the Best Strategy
In my recent casino visits I came across a game of poker, I had not played before and had only other seen one other time. So I had to play it, dropped a few bucks and enjoyed it which led me to this article. If you enjoy poker but want to try something different from a traditional poker table, Mississippi Stud is worth a look. It’s a poker-based casino table game where you are not playing against the dealer or other players. Instead, your final five-card poker hand determines whether you win, lose, or push. The real challenge is deciding how much to bet—or whether to fold—as additional cards are revealed. You begin with an Ante, receive two hole cards, and three community cards are revealed one at a time. At each of the three betting stages, you can fold or raise 1x, 2x, or 3x your Ante. (Wizard of Odds)
The game starts with your two cards and the first decision. You should generally raise 3x with any pair, while hands containing strong high cards are often worth a smaller 1x raise. A particularly useful starting hand is 6-5 suited, which has enough straight and flush potential to continue. Weak combinations—especially hands containing only low cards with little potential—should usually be folded. Once the first community card appears, the strategy becomes more interesting. Made hands such as a pair of 6s or better can justify a 3x raise, while strong straight or flush draws can also warrant aggressive betting. (Wizard of Odds)
Mississippi Stud Strategy Cheat Sheet:
The standard pay table makes the game especially interesting because Jacks through Aces pay even money, while a pair of 6s through 10s is normally a push. Two pair pays 2-to-1, three of a kind 3-to-1, a straight 4-to-1, a flush 6-to-1, a full house 10-to-1, four of a kind 40-to-1, a straight flush 100-to-1, and a royal flush can pay 500-to-1. (Wizard of Odds) The key Mississippi Stud lesson is that you don’t want to blindly chase big hands. Good strategy is about maximizing your bets when you have an advantage and getting out when the cards don’t cooperate. And remember: this is still a casino game with a house edge—even optimal strategy doesn’t turn it into a guaranteed winner. The published optimal strategy produces a house edge of roughly 4.9% under the standard rules and pay table. (Wizard of Odds)
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When Should You C-Bet in Poker? When to Fire and When to Check
The continuation bet (C-bet) is one of the most common weapons in poker, but that doesn’t mean you should fire every flop just because you raised preflop. C-betting makes sense when the flop favors your perceived range, especially on dry boards where your opponent is unlikely to have connected. A flop like K♣ 7♦ 2♠ is a great example. As the preflop raiser, you can represent plenty of strong kings, overpairs and big hands. A small bet can often get the job done without risking a huge portion of your stack.
Knowing when NOT to C-bet is just as important. Connected, coordinated boards such as 9♠ 8♠ 7♥ can hit your opponent’s calling range hard. If you’re holding A♣ K♦ and completely miss, blindly firing can put you in a tough spot when you get called or raised. Multiway pots are another reason to slow down—your bluff has to get through multiple opponents. Sometimes the best poker play is simply checking and seeing what develops.
The key is to C-bet with a reason, not out of habit. Consider the board, your position, your opponent’s range, the number of players in the pot and what your bet is trying to accomplish. Sometimes you’re betting for value, sometimes you’re folding out better hands, and sometimes you’re building a pot with a monster. And sometimes… checking is the play. Jacks to Kings Poker — play the hand, not the habit.
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Harrington Raceway Casino Review: Slots, Tables & $60K+ Extreme Texas Hold’em Progressive
Harrington Raceway Casino in Delaware packs a lot of gaming action under one roof. The casino has tons of great slot machines, including plenty of popular Dragon Link games, making it easy to find something to play. The casino is clean, lively, and the staff was super friendly throughout my visit.
The table-game selection was another highlight, with a nice variety of games to choose from. I even found Louisiana Stud, a game I had never played before. They also offer Extreme Texas Hold’em, a different variation of Ultimate Texas Hold’em. With the progressive sitting at over $60,000, I couldn’t resist giving it a shot!
Harrington Raceway also offers a convenient self-service beverage station, a nice gift shop, and Bonz restaurant right inside the casino. Overall, it’s a fun Delaware casino with plenty of slots, interesting table games, friendly service, and enough variety to keep a casino visit interesting.
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Ocean Downs Casino Review: Best Slots, Table Games & Beachside Casino Fun
Ocean Downs Casino near Ocean City, Maryland, delivers a fun casino experience with a great location close to the beach. The casino is super clean, organized, and packed with new and popular slot machines. It was actually busy when I visited, and the crowd had a fun, energetic vibe that made the entire place feel alive.
The table game selection is also impressive, with a nice variety for players who prefer something beyond the slots. The staff was friendly and helpful, and the property was easy to navigate. I also liked the bars throughout the casino, including a bar area featuring poker and keno machines—always a nice bonus for casino fans.
The promotions definitely caught my attention. New members can get $20 in free slot play plus a chance at $500, and I even received a $10 birthday bonus. You can’t complain about free play! Add in the excellent sports betting and horse racing venue, and there is plenty to do whether you’re there for the casino, the races, or just looking for a fun night out.
Overall, Ocean Downs Casino is a great beach-area casino destination with plenty of slots, table games, promotions, bars, sports betting, and horse racing. The combination of a lively crowd, friendly staff, clean surroundings, and its location near Ocean City makes Ocean Downs a place I’d happily visit again. Casino fun, beach nearby, and plenty of action—that’s a pretty good combination.
Bally’s Dover Casino Review
Looking for a casino in Dover, Delaware? Bally’s Dover offers a clean, comfortable atmosphere with a strong selection of slot machines, electronic poker games, and several casino table games and of course horse racing!
The casino features new and popular slot machines, along with a nice high-limit slot area. Poker-machine players will also find a large dedicated area with plenty of electronic poker options.
The table-game selection is limited, with roulette, blackjack, Match, and Pai Gow Poker available. There’s also a nice casino bar featuring poker and keno machines, giving players another place to relax and play.
For dining, Sugar Factory provides a fun option right inside the casino.
Final Thoughts
Bally’s Dover is a clean and enjoyable Delaware casino that is particularly appealing to slot and electronic poker players. While the table-game selection is smaller, the variety of slots, high-limit area, poker machines, bar, and Sugar Factory make Bally’s Dover worth a visit.
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The Value of the Check-Call in $1/$3 No-Limit Hold’em
Sometimes the best poker play is the one that looks like you’re doing nothing.
At a $1/$3 No-Limit Hold’em table, there’s a constant temptation to bet, raise, and apply pressure. Aggression is important, but another weapon every poker player should have in their toolbox is the check-call.
A check-call allows you to keep weaker hands and bluffs in your opponent’s range while controlling the size of the pot. Instead of building a massive pot with a marginal hand, you let your opponent do some of the betting for you.
Why Check-Calling Works
Imagine you’re in the big blind with A♠9♠ and defend against a button raise. The flop comes A♦7♣4♥.
You have top pair, but it’s not necessarily a hand that wants to play for stacks. If you lead into your opponent, you may fold out hands you beat while getting action primarily from better aces and strong draws.
Checking gives your opponent an opportunity to bluff or bet worse hands.
When they fire, you can call and keep those weaker hands in the pot.
That’s the hidden value of the check-call.
Don’t Confuse Checking With Being Weak
One of the biggest mistakes recreational players make is assuming that checking means weakness.
It doesn’t.
A well-timed check can be a trap, a pot-control play, or a way to induce aggression.
At $1/$3, you’ll encounter plenty of players who automatically stab when checked to. Against those opponents, checking a medium-strength hand can be much more profitable than betting yourself.
You’re essentially saying:
“Go ahead. Tell me how much you want to put into this pot.”
The Key Is Knowing Your Opponent
The check-call becomes especially powerful when you understand your opponent’s tendencies.
Against an aggressive player who frequently continuation-bets, checking can allow them to put money into the pot with hands that would have folded to your bet.
Against a passive player who rarely bluffs, however, a check-call deserves more caution. Their bet may represent genuine strength.
Poker isn’t about making the same play every time. It’s about understanding why the play works against the particular player sitting across from you.
Check-Call Doesn’t Mean Check-Call Forever
Another important point: calling the flop doesn’t mean you have to call every street.
If the turn dramatically changes the board or your opponent suddenly increases their bet sizing, reassess the situation.
The beauty of the check-call is that it gives you information without committing your entire stack.
You can call the flop, evaluate the turn, and make a better decision with more information.
The Bottom Line
At $1/$3 No-Limit Hold’em, you don’t have to win every pot by being the aggressor.
Sometimes the most profitable decision is to check, let your opponent bet, and simply call.
The check-call keeps bluffs in, controls pot size, disguises your hand, and can frustrate opponents who expect you to fight for every pot.
Poker isn’t always about making the biggest move.
Sometimes the smartest move is letting your opponent make the move for you.
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Hand of the Day: I Didn’t See That Coming!
$1/$2 No-Limit Hold’em — Tropicana Atlantic City
Hero: Small Blind — Q♠7♦ offsuit
Starting Stack: $210
Button Stack: Approximately $400
Sometimes poker gives you exactly what you want.
And sometimes it gives you exactly what you want… right before it punches you in the face.
Pre-Flop
I’m sitting in the small blind at the Tropicana in Atlantic City with Q-7 offsuit.
Not exactly a hand I’m writing home about.
Four players see the flop, and it comes:
Q – 9 – K
Well, hello there.
I decide to fire for $15.
Everyone folds except the dealer button, who simply calls.
Now I’m cautious. The button calling tells me I probably have something to worry about. A king? A decent queen? Maybe a straight draw?
The Turn
Then the turn comes…
Q
That’s right. A third queen.
Now I’ve made three queens with a pretty weak kicker, but suddenly I’m feeling much better about life.
I decide to mix it up with one of my favorite things: odd bet sizing.
I make it $56.
The button calls again.
Okay…
Now I’m perplexed.
Does she have a straight draw? Did she call with pocket aces? Is she hanging onto pocket nines?
There are plenty of possibilities, but I’m still feeling pretty good about my three queens.
The River
Then comes the river.
7
Fireworks.
Seriously.
In my head, this hand is now a lock.
I’ve just made queens full of sevens, and I’m convinced I’m getting all of my chips in.
I fake tank for more than a minute, trying to look like I’m wrestling with the decision.
Then comes the dramatic sigh.
“I’m all in.”
Perfect.
The button calls.
Exactly what I wanted.
Except…
She turns over…
K♠K♦
Pocket Kings.
I stare at the cards.
Then I stare at the board.
Then I probably stared at the table for another few seconds trying to understand what just happened.
The button had flopped a set of kings and then turned a full house.
Meanwhile, I had turned my three queens into a river full house and convinced myself I had the nuts.
I didn’t see that coming.
I shook my head, politely said, “Nice hand,” and headed straight to the bar.
Ouch.
The Poker Lesson
This one hurts because the river feels so good.
But the bigger lesson isn’t simply “don’t get unlucky.”
It’s about relative hand strength and range awareness.
A full house feels enormous. But poker isn’t about how strong your hand looks in isolation. It’s about how your hand compares with the hands your opponent can realistically have.
Once the button continued calling both the flop and turn, there were some very strong hands that deserved consideration — especially sets and hands containing a king.
And that river 7 made my hand stronger while simultaneously making some of the button’s potential holdings much stronger.
That’s one of poker’s cruelest tricks:
Sometimes the card you’re praying for is the card that gets you into the most trouble.
And apparently, sometimes that card also sends you directly to the bar.
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Dimes: The $165 Shove — Hand of the Day
Sometimes the best poker move is the one you make before your opponent has time to think.
In this $1/$3 No-Limit Texas Hold’em hand, “Dimes” picks up pocket tens (TT) in the cutoff with about $165 behind. The small blind, holding A-K offsuit, is known as a maniac and has roughly $400. Dimes raises to $12 preflop, and the small blind makes the call.
The flop comes J-4-2 rainbow. Not exactly a scary board for pocket tens, but there is a problem: Dimes knows the player in the small blind is capable of making aggressive and unpredictable plays. Rather than allowing AK to see another card cheaply—or giving the maniac an opportunity to make a move—Dimes quickly moves all-in for roughly $153.
Maybe the shove came a little too quickly. Dimes later admitted the thought was essentially, “Get him out of here before he decides to do something crazy.” Instead, the maniac goes into the tank for nearly two minutes before finally making the call with A-K high.
Now Dimes has to sweat it out.
The Q♥ hits the turn, creating a brief moment of panic. But the river brings another J, pairing the board and leaving pocket tens ahead. Dimes doubles up to roughly $330.
The Poker Lesson
The lesson isn’t that you should automatically shove pocket tens on every J-4-2 flop. The important factors were stack size, opponent tendencies, and table dynamics.
Against a predictable player, there may be plenty of reasons to take a slower approach. Against a maniac with a wide range, however, putting maximum pressure on a relatively dry board can sometimes prevent your opponent from turning a missed hand into a difficult decision for you.
The other interesting question is whether Dimes shoved too quickly. Speed can sometimes reveal confidence, but it can also look suspiciously like a player who desperately wants a call to disappear.
Either way, the plan worked.
Dimes shoved. AK called. The tens held.
Sometimes poker doesn’t require magic.
Sometimes you just need Dimes. 🃏💰
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$2/$5 NL Hold’em Bankroll Management: Protect Your Poker Money
Playing $2/$5 No-Limit Texas Hold’em requires more than good cards and solid strategy—it requires proper bankroll management. Unlike $1/$2, the swings at $2/$5 can become significant very quickly. A $500 buy-in may disappear in one hand, and a few losing sessions can put a serious dent in your poker funds. As a general guideline, a regular $2/$5 player should consider having 30–50 buy-ins available. If you normally buy in for $500, that means roughly $15,000–$25,000 dedicated specifically to poker.
Your poker bankroll should be money you can afford to lose without affecting your everyday life. Don’t include rent, mortgage payments, emergency savings, or money needed for bills. It’s also important to separate your session bankroll from your overall bankroll. You might bring $1,000 or $1,500 to the table, but that doesn’t mean you only have that amount available for poker. Setting reasonable limits before you play can also help prevent chasing losses. If you’re down several buy-ins and find yourself playing emotionally rather than making good decisions, it’s probably time to step away.
One of the biggest bankroll mistakes is moving up in stakes too quickly. Running $500 into $2,000 during one great $2/$5 session doesn’t mean you’re ready for $5/$10. Likewise, losing a few sessions doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a bad $2/$5 player. Poker has tremendous short-term variance, so you need to judge your results over a meaningful sample. If your bankroll drops below the level you’re comfortable with, moving temporarily back to $1/$2 isn’t failure—it’s smart bankroll management. Your goal isn’t to prove you belong at a certain stake; your goal is to make profitable decisions and stay in the game.
The most important rule is simple: never play a stake where a normal losing streak can hurt you financially. Track your buy-ins, cash-outs, hours, and results so you can see how you’re actually performing over time. A properly managed bankroll also gives you something extremely valuable at the poker table: confidence that you can withstand the inevitable bad beats and losing sessions. At $2/$5, protecting your bankroll is just as important as knowing when to bet, raise, or fold. Play within your bankroll, stay disciplined, and let the long run work in your favor.
Playing $2/$5 No-Limit Texas Hold’em requires more than good cards and solid strategy—it requires proper bankroll management. Unlike $1/$2, the swings at $2/$5 can become significant very quickly. A $500 buy-in may disappear in one hand, and a few losing sessions can put a serious dent in your poker funds. As a general guideline, a regular $2/$5 player should consider having 30–50 buy-ins available. If you normally buy in for $500, that means roughly $15,000–$25,000 dedicated specifically to poker.
.Your poker bankroll should be money you can afford to lose without affecting your everyday life. Don’t include rent, mortgage payments, emergency savings, or money needed for bills. It’s also important to separate your session bankroll from your overall bankroll. You might bring $1,000 or $1,500 to the table, but that doesn’t mean you only have that amount available for poker. Setting reasonable limits before you play can also help prevent chasing losses. If you’re down several buy-ins and find yourself playing emotionally rather than making good decisions, it’s probably time to step away.
One of the biggest bankroll mistakes is moving up in stakes too quickly. Running $500 into $2,000 during one great $2/$5 session doesn’t mean you’re ready for $5/$10. Likewise, losing a few sessions doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a bad $2/$5 player. Poker has tremendous short-term variance, so you need to judge your results over a meaningful sample. If your bankroll drops below the level you’re comfortable with, moving temporarily back to $1/$2 isn’t failure—it’s smart bankroll management. Your goal isn’t to prove you belong at a certain stake; your goal is to make profitable decisions and stay in the game.
The most important rule is simple: never play a stake where a normal losing streak can hurt you financially. Track your buy-ins, cash-outs, hours, and results so you can see how you’re actually performing over time. A properly managed bankroll also gives you something extremely valuable at the poker table: confidence that you can withstand the inevitable bad beats and losing sessions. At $2/$5, protecting your bankroll is just as important as knowing when to bet, raise, or fold. Play within your bankroll, stay disciplined, and let the long run work in your favor.
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Video Poker Strategy: How to Play Video Poker and Make Smarter Decisions at the Machine
Video poker can look a lot like a slot machine, but there is one huge difference: you make decisions.
Instead of simply pressing a button and hoping for a winning combination, you are dealt a hand of cards and must decide which cards to keep and which to discard. That’s the foundation of any good video poker strategy.
At jackstokingspoker.org, we focus on making better decisions at the poker table. The same idea applies here. If you understand how to play video poker and apply a solid strategy, you can reduce the house edge and play much more effectively.
Start With the Right Game: Jacks or Better Strategy Basics
Not all video poker machines are created equal.
Before you put money into a machine, check the pay table. Different machines can have very different payouts, and that directly affects your long-term results.
For beginners, Jacks or Better strategy is the best place to start. It’s the most straightforward version of video poker and teaches strong fundamentals.
The goal is simple: finish with at least a pair of jacks, queens, kings, or aces — or build stronger poker hands like two pair, three of a kind, straights, flushes, full houses, four of a kind, straight flushes, or the royal flush.
The Core Video Poker Strategy: Keep Strong Hands
One of the biggest beginner mistakes in how to play video poker is overthinking strong hands.
If you are dealt a strong made hand, you usually keep it.
For example:
A♠ A♥ 7♣ 4♦ 2♠
Keep the two aces.
You already have a winning pair, so breaking it up in hopes of something better is usually a mistake in basic video poker strategy.
Likewise, if you are dealt a straight, flush, or full house, you should almost always keep the entire hand.
Don’t Automatically Chase a Royal Flush
The royal flush is the dream hand in video poker, but chasing it blindly is not part of good strategy.
Imagine you are dealt:
K♠ 9♦ 6♣ 3♥ 2♦
There is no real draw here. Keeping the king just because you hope to build a royal flush is not correct video poker strategy.
Good play is based on math, not hope. Learning how to play video poker properly means knowing when not to chase unlikely outcomes.
Learn the Value of Pairs in Jacks or Better Strategy
In Jacks or Better strategy, a pair of jacks or higher is a paying hand, which makes it very important.
For example:
A♣ A♦ 8♠ 6♥ 3♣
Keep the aces.
But a hand like:
10♠ 10♦ 7♣ 4♥ 2♦
requires more attention because tens are not a paying pair in Jacks or Better. This is where a basic strategy chart becomes extremely useful for improving your video poker strategy.
Don’t Forget About Four-Card Draws
Sometimes the best play in how to play video poker isn’t a made hand — it’s a strong draw.
For example:
10♠ J♠ Q♠ K♠ 4♦
You have four cards to a royal flush.
Keeping those four suited cards gives you a real chance to hit the strongest hand in the game. This is one of the most exciting parts of video poker strategy: you are making decisions before the final card is revealed
.
Bet Consistently for Better Video Poker Strategy
Another key part of video poker strategy is consistency.
Avoid changing your bet size based on short-term results.
Decide on a bankroll and denomination before you start. For example, if you’re playing a $0.25 machine, set a clear budget before you sit down.
Don’t chase losses by increasing your wagers. That’s one of the fastest ways to lose control of your session.
Bankroll Management Is Part of How to Play Video Poker
Even with perfect video poker strategy, you will still have losing sessions. That’s just part of the game.
That’s why bankroll management is essential.
Set a loss limit before you play and stick to it. If you reach it, walk away.
And if you’re ahead, don’t let that change your discipline. Good Jacks or Better strategy is about long-term consistency, not short-term emotion.
The Bottom Line: Video Poker Strategy Is About Better Decisions
Learning how to play video poker isn’t about finding a trick that guarantees wins.
It’s about making better decisions over thousands of hands.
Start with a good-paying machine, learn Jacks or Better strategy, understand which hands to keep, and manage your bankroll responsibly. That’s the foundation of strong video poker strategy.
At jackstokingspoker.org, we believe in one simple idea:
Better decisions lead to better results.
If you’re also working on your Texas Hold’em game, video poker is a great way to sharpen your understanding of hand values, probabilities, and decision-making.
Want to improve your poker game? Keep following jackstokingspoker.org — The Player in Seat 4 is always looking for the next edge.
Video Poker Strategy Cheat Sheet (Quick Reference)
● Always keep paying pairs (Jacks or better in Jacks or Better games)
● Always keep made strong hands: two pair, three of a kind, straights, flushes, full houses, quads, straight flushes
● Always keep four to a royal flush (same suit: 10-J-Q-K-A)
● Prefer high cards over low unsuited cards when no made hand exists
● Discard weak, unsuited low cards (especially 2–9 with no draw potential)
● Do not break strong hands chasing unlikely draws
● Do not chase royal flushes without a real draw
● Keep high pairs over drawing hands in most cases
● Follow a basic strategy chart for Jacks or Better for optimal play
In my next post I will provide a simple to memorize or print basic strategy guide!
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🃏 Hand of the Day: Pocket Aces Go Unchallenged on the Turn
Hand of the Day: Pocket Aces Turn Shove Wins Without a Showdown
There are few better starting hands in Texas Hold’em than pocket aces.
But getting dealt AA is only the beginning. The real challenge is figuring out how to get maximum value while protecting yourself when the board starts getting dangerous.
Today’s Hand of the Day is a great example.
I picked up A♠A♥ and watched the action develop.
The first player raised to $20.
A second player made it $40.
When the action got to me, I decided to flat call.
We went to the flop three-handed.
Pre-Flop
Player 1: $20
Player 2: Raises to $40
Hero: Calls $40 with pocket aces
The flop came:
9♣ 6♦ 4♥
Not a bad flop for pocket aces.
There wasn’t an immediate flush draw, although the connected cards created some straight possibilities.
The first player to act bet $60.
The second player called.
I looked down at my pocket aces and decided to flat call again.
At this point, I wasn’t interested in blowing up the pot unnecessarily. I was happy to allow my opponents to continue putting money into the middle.
Flop Action
Player 1: Bets $60
Player 2: Calls $60
Hero: Calls $60
Then came the card that changed the hand.
5♣
The board was now:
9♣ 6♦ 4♥ 5♣
Suddenly, the board was much more dangerous.
Straight possibilities were developing, and the second club created potential flush draws.
The original bettor fired another $60.
The next player called.
Now the action was back to me.
I had a decision.
Call?
Raise?
Or put maximum pressure on both players?
I chose the third option.
ALL IN.
I shoved my entire stack into the middle.
The Tank
Both players went into the tank.
And the second player really went into the tank.
Approximately five minutes.
That’s a long time to make a poker decision.
Eventually, both players folded.
The pot was mine.
No showdown.
No river.
No sweat.
The One-Ace Reveal
After both players folded, I decided to show one ace.
Then I mucked the other.
They never got to see the complete hand.
Sometimes in poker, you don’t have to show the whole story.
You just have to tell enough of it.
What Can We Learn From This Hand?
1. Don’t Automatically Slow Down With AA
Pocket aces are the best starting hand in Texas Hold’em, but they aren’t invincible.
The board changes.
Your opponents’ ranges change.
And your strategy needs to change with them.
2. Pay Attention to Turn Cards
The 5♣ wasn’t necessarily a terrible card for pocket aces, but it made the board considerably more connected.
Straight draws and flush draws were now much more relevant.
Giving opponents another cheap card wasn’t particularly appealing.
3. Sometimes Calling Is Better Early
Pre-flop, I could have put in another raise.
On the flop, I could have raised the $60 bet.
Instead, I called.
That kept my opponents involved and allowed them to continue betting.
Then, when the board became more dangerous, I changed gears.
4. Put Difficult Decisions on Your Opponents
The all-in shove forced both players to make a major decision.
They had already invested money.
They had draws and potential made hands to consider.
But now they had to risk their entire stack.
Neither player was willing to do it.
That’s the power of pressure in poker.
The Final Verdict
Pocket aces.
Three players to the flop.
9♣ 6♦ 4♥.
5♣ turn.
Two bets and a call.
Then the shove.
Both opponents folded.
One opponent tanked for five minutes before finally letting the hand go.
And pocket aces never had to see a river.
Hand of the Day Takeaway
Don’t fall in love with your starting hand.
Pocket aces may be the best starting hand in poker, but good players don’t just play their cards — they play the board, the betting action and their opponents.
Sometimes the best way to win with pocket aces isn’t to show them at showdown.
Sometimes it’s to make everyone else fold.
That’s exactly what happened here.
Starting Hand: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flop: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Turn: ⚠️ Dangerous
Decision: 💥 All-in
Result: 🏆 Everyone folds
Showdown: None needed
Would you have shoved the turn, or would you have just called?
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Atlantic City trip to Tropicana: August 2026 Day 1
So it’s Dukes birthday and we decided to go to the beach for a few days and river tubing and why not spend a couple days in AC? My amazing wife found an outdoor bounce park on the bay in Margate so all of our kids decided to go! They haven’t really been to AC before so we booked at Tropicana, it’s my new favorite and probably the most Children friendly in my opinion!
We visit Cesar’s properties quite a bit so we were able to get 2 rooms for 2 nights for about $200 since even though we receive comped rooms you still need to cover the taxes and resort fees.
When arrived at 200 we were ready to check in, took like 15 minutes because I wanted to hit the desk and ensure rooms that were adjoining if possible. Otherwise it takes almost seconds with their quick kiosks!
We dropped off our bags and freshened up great ocean view and headed to get something to eat. Tropicana has a great selection of restaurants and an afford court, so it’s actually exciting just to eat! They have Carmines, PF Changs, other high end choices and tucked away I think is the last “Good “ Hooters, several food court choices and my favorite Casa and Tequila Bar! I think my children were overwhelmed so after an eternity of discussion we all agreed on Taco and Tequila. It’s close to the boardwalk and they wanted to explore! Meal as usual was fantastic and the service was great only issue is we can’t get reward points from eating there.
We took the kids on to the boardwalk checked out the beach stopped for candy at Sugar and walked as far as they wanted till their feet hurt and needed to tram car back!
We got back to the room about 930pm and I decided it was time to play cards. Since Tropicana is one of the few places left with a poker room I decided to play there! Great time great action and good play. I made a few bad decisions early actually I got called by a couple of worse hands that hit but sometimes that’s the game and was down to about $70 from my $240 start. I later hit some great hands. Doubled up with jacks then almost tripled up from a huge hand with big raises till I shoved with Rockets after the turn opponent bet out $60, a caller behind him and I shoved putting them both in the tank, one for 5 minutes obv both were on big draws. I ended up leaving at 200m with about $500 bucks as the game started to slow up.
I decided it was time to head to the room but unfortunately for me I walked through the table games! I bought in for $300 on Top Flush and after an hour I had busted, telling me it was definitely bed time. I couldn’t hit a hand to save my life!
Day 2 publishing soon. If you enjoyed this article please like, share, subscribe, comment. Please click on our sponsor links to help keep our blog free! Thanks for reading and I’ll see you at the tables!
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