Video Poker Paytable Calculator
Compare Jacks or Better paytables and see what each one really returns.
Presets are exact, benchmarked tables. Editing a payout switches to a custom estimate. Payouts are per coin at the maximum five-coin bet, where the 800 Royal applies; a single-coin Royal pays 250.
Benchmark table. RTP is the published optimal-strategy, max-coin return.
| Paytable | Royal | Full House | Flush | RTP | House Edge | Loss vs 9/6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/6 Jacks or Better | 800 | 9 | 6 | 99.54% | 0.46% | 0.00% |
| 9/5 | 800 | 9 | 5 | 98.45% | 1.55% | 1.09% |
| 8/6 | 800 | 8 | 6 | 98.39% | 1.61% | 1.15% |
| 8/5 | 800 | 8 | 5 | 97.30% | 2.70% | 2.25% |
| 7/5 | 800 | 7 | 5 | 96.15% | 3.85% | 3.40% |
| 6/5 | 800 | 6 | 5 | 95.00% | 5.00% | 4.54% |
Jacks or Better Paytable Benchmarks
Tables are named by their Full House and Flush payouts. A 9/6 table pays 9 and 6; a 9/5 keeps the Full House at 9 but cuts the Flush to 5. That single point matters because flushes land far more often than royals, so a one-credit cut there removes real long-term value. For a detailed baseline schedule, see the 9/6 Jacks or Better pay table reference.
The lesson is simple: a table can look almost identical while the return shifts materially. The gap between 9/6 and 8/5 is not cosmetic — it changes the expected cost of play before mistakes, bet size, or promotions even enter the picture.
House Edge = 100% − RTPFull House and Flush are the shortcuts
Most tables are named by these two payouts because they are changed first. Cutting either one reduces return more reliably than a small tweak elsewhere in the schedule.
The Royal needs context
The 800 figure assumes max-coin play. A single-coin Royal pays 250, which lowers return and also shifts optimal strategy — which is why a changed Royal is the weakest spot for any quick estimate.
Custom return is not exact here
Exact return is not the sum of payout numbers. It depends on optimal play across every starting hand, so custom tables are first-order estimates unless they match a benchmark.
Paytable first, strategy second
A strategy chart is only useful once the table is known. Different payouts move the correct hold in close spots, so table analysis comes before hand-by-hand work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a video poker paytable calculator?
It compares the payouts for final hands and estimates how strong a table is. For known Jacks or Better benchmarks it shows a reference RTP and house edge.
What does 9/6 mean?
The game pays 9 for a Full House and 6 for a Flush — the shorthand for the full-pay table.
Is the custom result exact?
No. Custom results are first-order estimates that hold 9/6 strategy fixed. An exact figure needs exhaustive optimal-strategy analysis across every starting hand and draw, which is least forgiving when the Royal payout changes.
Why can a small change matter?
Some hands land far more often than others. Trimming a frequent hand like Flush or Full House cuts more value than a quick glance suggests.
Is higher RTP always better?
Usually it means a lower long-term edge, but variance, bankroll, bet size, and strategy accuracy still matter. A high-RTP table played badly can trail a lower one played well.
Check the Paytable Before the Strategy Chart
For Jacks or Better, the table is the first filter. Once it is identified, use a hand calculator or strategy chart matched to the same payouts — so 9/6 assumptions never get applied to a weaker 8/5 or 6/5 game.