Joker Poker Strategy: The Complete Mathematical Guide to Maximum RTP

Joker Poker (also called "Joker Wild" or "Kings or Better") is one of the most exciting video poker variants, featuring a 53-card deck with a wild Joker that substitutes for any card. With optimal strategy, certain paytables offer over 100% RTP—making it one of the few beatable casino games.

This guide covers everything from beginner fundamentals to advanced mathematical strategy, including paytable analysis, decision trees, and exact hold/discard rules for maximum expected value.

Master Joker Poker Instantly

Use our interactive hand analyzer below to practice optimal strategy, or calculate exact probabilities using our RTP Calculator before playing for real money.

What is Joker Poker? Game Rules and Basics

Core Game Mechanics

Joker Poker is a 5-card draw video poker game played with a 53-card deck (standard 52 cards + 1 Joker). The Joker acts as a wild card, substituting for any card to create the best possible hand.

Standard Gameplay Flow:

Place your bet (1-5 coins)
Receive 5 cards from the 53-card deck
Choose which cards to hold/discard
Draw replacement cards
Get paid according to the paytable

Minimum Winning Hand

Unlike Jacks or Better, Joker Poker requires Kings or Better as the minimum qualifying hand in most variants. This higher threshold compensates for the wild card advantage.

Standard Paytable (Kings or Better):

Hand	1 Coin	2 Coins	3 Coins	4 Coins	5 Coins
Natural Royal Flush	250	500	750	1000	4000
Five of a Kind	100	200	300	400	500
Wild Royal Flush	50	100	150	200	250
Straight Flush	17	34	51	68	85
Four of a Kind	7	14	21	28	35
Full House	5	10	15	20	25
Flush	4	8	12	16	20
Straight	3	6	9	12	15
Three of a Kind	2	4	6	8	10
Two Pair	1	2	3	4	5
Kings or Better	1	2	3	4	5

Always Bet Max Coins

Notice the 4000-coin jump for Natural Royal Flush on 5 coins (vs. 1000 for 4 coins). This creates a 1.7-2.5% RTP advantage when betting max. Never play less than 5 coins on video poker machines.

Understanding Joker Poker Paytables

Full Pay vs. Short Pay Machines

The paytable determines your theoretical RTP. Here are the most common Joker Poker variations:

1. Full Pay (100.65% RTP) - Kings or Better

Paytable: 800-200-100-50-17-7-5-2-1

Natural Royal: 800-for-1 (5 coins)
Five of a Kind: 200-for-1
Wild Royal: 100-for-1
Straight Flush: 17-for-1 ⭐
Four of a Kind: 7-for-1 ⭐
Full House: 5-for-1 ⭐

Where to Find: Rare; mostly in high-limit rooms in Las Vegas (Aria, Bellagio)

Joker Poker Paytable Comparison

RTP comparison for different Joker Poker paytables with optimal strategy

Target: 98%+ RTP

Seek out Full Pay (100.65%) or 17/7/5 (98.44%) machines. These offer the best long-term returns.

Avoid: <96% RTP

Two Pair variants and Short Pay tables have poor RTP. The house edge is 4-7%, similar to slots.

Pro Tip: Check the payouts for Straight Flush (17 vs 15), Four of a Kind (7 vs 6), and Full House (5 vs 4). A single unit difference can change RTP by 1-2%.

2. Common Pay (98.44% RTP) - 17/7/5 Kings or Better

Paytable: 800-200-100-50-17-7-5-2-1 (same as full pay)

Most widely available variant
Excellent for bankroll growth
Requires perfect strategy

3. Short Pay (96.38% RTP) - 17/7/4 Kings or Better

Paytable: 800-200-100-50-17-7-4-2-1

Full House pays only 4-for-1 (vs. 5)
Common in casinos worldwide
Still beatable with comps and bonuses

4. Two Pair Variant (95.51% RTP)

Minimum: Two Pair instead of Kings Paytable: Adjusted lower on premium hands

Easier to win but lower payouts
Avoid this variant—always choose Kings or Better

Mathematical Analysis of Paytables

The key hands that determine RTP in Joker Poker:

\text{RTP} = \sum_{h=1}^{n} P(h) \times \text{Payout}(h)

Where:

P(h) = probability of hand h with optimal strategy
Payout(h) = coins returned for hand h
n = number of possible hands

Critical Paytable Positions:

Straight Flush (17 vs. 15): +0.89% RTP
Four of a Kind (7 vs. 6): +1.25% RTP
Full House (5 vs. 4): +2.06% RTP

Paytable识别 Rule

Always check the payouts for Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, and Full House. A "17/7/5" machine pays 17-for-1 on straight flush, 7-for-1 on four of a kind, and 5-for-1 on full house. This notation instantly tells you the RTP tier.

Fundamental Strategy for Beginners

The Golden Rule: NEVER Discard the Joker

This is the #1 rule in Joker Poker. The Joker guarantees at minimum a pair of Kings (1-for-1 payout). Discarding it is statistically catastrophic:

EV(\text{Keep Joker}) - EV(\text{Discard Joker}) \approx +4.2\text{ coins}

Example Mistake:

Dealt: Joker, 2♠, 4♦, 7♣, 9♥
Wrong play: Discard Joker hoping for straight
Right play: Keep Joker, discard 2-4-7-9, draw 4 cards

Even with "garbage" cards, the Joker guarantees you won't lose your bet.

Basic Strategy Hierarchy (Without Joker)

When you DON'T have a Joker, use this simplified decision tree:

Priority Order:

Made Hand (Full House or Better) → HOLD all 5 cards
Four to Royal Flush → Hold 4, discard 1
Three of a Kind → Hold trips, discard 2
Four to Straight Flush → Hold 4, discard 1
Two Pair → Hold both pairs, discard 1
Pair of Kings or Aces → Hold pair, discard 3
Four to Flush → Hold 4, discard 1
Low Pair (2s-Queens) → Hold pair, discard 3
Four to Straight (open-ended) → Hold 4, discard 1
Three to Royal Flush → Hold 3, discard 2
Two High Cards (K-A) → Hold 2, discard 3
One High Card (K-A) → Hold 1, discard 4
Garbage → Discard all 5 cards

Simplified for Beginners

This is a simplified tree for casual players. Advanced players should use the complete strategy chart below for +0.5-1% better RTP.

Basic Strategy Hierarchy (With Joker)

When you're dealt a Joker, the strategy changes dramatically:

Priority Order:

Four of a Kind or Better → HOLD all 5 cards
Four to Wild Royal Flush → Hold 4 (including Joker), discard 1
Full House → HOLD all 5 cards
Three of a Kind → Hold trips (including Joker), discard 2
Four to Straight Flush → Hold 4 (including Joker), discard 1
Flush → HOLD all 5 cards
Straight → HOLD all 5 cards
Four to Flush → Hold 4 (including Joker), discard 1
Pair (Kings or Better) → Hold pair (including Joker), discard 3
Three to Straight Flush → Hold 3 (including Joker), discard 2
Joker Only → Hold Joker, discard all 4 cards

When to Break a Pair: The Critical Decision

Breaking Low Pairs (2s-Queens):

BREAK the pair if you have:

4 cards to a Royal Flush
4 cards to a Straight Flush
4 cards to a Flush (with 2+ high cards)

NEVER break:

Pair of Kings or Aces (unless 4 to Royal)
Any pair when you have Joker

Mathematical Reasoning:

EV(\text{Keep Pair}) = 1.54 \text{ coins}

EV(\text{4 to Straight Flush}) = 2.13 \text{ coins}

The 0.59 coin difference justifies breaking low pairs for strong draws. For players seeking even more wild card complexity, Full Pay Deuces Wild offers four wild cards and positive expected value with perfect strategy.

Interactive Hand Analyzer

Click cards to hold/discard and see optimal strategy recommendations

♠

♥

♦

♣

♠

Select cards to hold

Choose which cards to keep for the draw

💡Tip: Look for 4-to-Royal, 4-to-Straight Flush, or high pairs first.

🃏 With Joker - Hold Priority

🎴 Without Joker - Hold Priority

Advanced Optimal Strategy Charts

Complete Strategy: Hands WITHOUT Joker

This is the exact optimal strategy for 17/7/5 Kings or Better paytable:

Rank 1: Pat Hands

Natural Royal Flush → Hold all
Straight Flush → Hold all
Four of a Kind → Hold all
Full House → Hold all

Rank 2: Four-Card Draws

4 to Royal Flush
4 to Straight Flush
Flush → Hold all
Straight → Hold all
Three of a Kind
4 to Flush

Rank 3: Pairs and Three-Card Draws

Two Pair
High Pair (K-A)
3 to Royal Flush (sequential, e.g., J-Q-K)
4 to Straight (open-ended with 1+ high cards)
Low Pair (2-Q)
3 to Royal Flush (1 gap, e.g., J-K-A)
3 to Straight Flush (sequential)
4 to Straight (open-ended)

Rank 4: High Card Draws

2 High Cards (same suit K-A)
3 to Straight Flush (1 gap)
2 High Cards (unsuited)
3 to Straight Flush (2 gaps)
3 to Flush (with 2 high cards)
1 High Card (K or A)

Rank 5: Desperation Plays

3 to Flush (1 high card)
Discard all 5 cards

Complete Strategy: Hands WITH Joker

Rank 1: Premium Hands

Five of a Kind → Hold all
Wild Royal Flush → Hold all
Straight Flush → Hold all
Four of a Kind → Hold all

Rank 2: Four-Card Draws (With Joker)

4 to Wild Royal Flush (Joker + 3 royals)
Full House → Hold all
4 to Straight Flush (Joker + 3 sequential)
Flush → Hold all
Three of a Kind (Joker + pair)

Rank 3: Drawing Hands

Straight → Hold all
4 to Flush (Joker + 3 suited)
3 to Wild Royal Flush (Joker + 2 royals)
3 to Straight Flush (Joker + 2 sequential)
Pair (Joker + 1 card matching)
4 to Straight (Joker + 3 sequential)
3 to Flush (Joker + 2 suited, with high cards)

Rank 4: Weak Draws

3 to Straight Flush (Joker + 2 cards, 1 gap)
2 to Wild Royal (Joker + 1 royal)
Joker Only → Hold Joker, discard all 4 other cards

Exceptions and Edge Cases

Exception 1: Royal Flush Draw vs. Pat Straight Flush

If you have a pat straight flush (e.g., 6♠-7♠-8♠-9♠-10♠) but can also draw to royal flush (e.g., discard 6♠, hope for J♠):

EV(\text{Pat SF}) = 17.0 \text{ coins (guaranteed)}

EV(\text{Draw to Royal}) = \frac{1}{47} \times 800 + \frac{46}{47} \times 0 = 17.02 \text{ coins}

Decision: Draw to the Royal (gain 0.02 coins on average).

Exception 2: Three of a Kind vs. Four to Flush (With Joker)

Dealt: Joker-K♠-K♦-7♠-3♠ (trips + 4 to flush)
EV (Keep Trips): 4.68 coins
EV (4 to Flush): 1.91 coins
Decision: Keep the Three of a Kind

Exception 3: Pair of Kings vs. 4 to Straight (Open-Ended)

Dealt: K♠-K♦-Q♣-J♥-10♠ (pair of Kings + 4 to straight)
EV (Pair): 1.85 coins
EV (4 to Straight): 1.06 coins
Decision: Keep the pair

Probability Analysis and Expected Value

Hand Frequencies in Joker Poker

The 53-card deck creates unique probabilities compared to standard Jacks or Better:

Hand	Probability (Optimal Play)	Frequency (1 in X hands)
Natural Royal Flush	0.00124%	80,660
Five of a Kind	0.01987%	5,033
Wild Royal Flush	0.0248%	4,032
Straight Flush	0.0635%	1,575
Four of a Kind	1.1823%	85
Full House	2.1456%	47
Flush	1.8976%	53
Straight	3.2145%	31
Three of a Kind	7.3521%	14
Two Pair	9.8654%	10
Pair (K+)	14.2387%	7
Nothing	59.6643%	1.7

Joker Poker Hand Probability Distribution

Frequency of hands with optimal strategy (17/7/5 paytable)

Nothing (Lose)0-for-1

Probability:59.664%

1 in:1.7

Pair (K+)1-for-1

Probability:14.239%

1 in:7

Two Pair1-for-1

Probability:9.865%

1 in:10

Three of a Kind2-for-1

Probability:7.352%

1 in:14

Straight3-for-1

Probability:3.215%

1 in:31

Flush4-for-1

Probability:1.898%

1 in:53

Full House5-for-1

Probability:2.146%

1 in:47

Four of a Kind7-for-1

Probability:1.182%

1 in:85

Straight Flush17-for-1

Probability:0.064%

1 in:1,575

Wild Royal50-for-1

Probability:0.025%

1 in:4,032

Five of a Kind100-for-1

Probability:0.020%

1 in:5,033

Natural Royal800-for-1

Probability:0.001%

1 in:80,660

59.66%

Hands lose (no pair of Kings+)

31.37%

Break even or small wins (1-2×)

8.97%

Big wins (3× or more)

Strategy Impact: These probabilities assume perfect optimal strategy. Playing incorrectly can increase "Nothing" rate by 2-5% and reduce overall RTP by 1-3 percentage points.

Expected Value Calculations

EV for Joker-Only Hand:

When you're dealt Joker + 4 garbage cards, your expected value is:

EV = P(\text{Pair K+}) \times 1 + P(\text{2 Pair}) \times 1 + ... + P(\text{5oaK}) \times 100

Approximate EV = 1.84 coins (on a 5-coin bet)

This means even the worst possible Joker hand returns 36.8% of your bet—much better than discarding it!

Variance Analysis

Joker Poker has moderate variance compared to other video poker games:

\sigma^2 = \sum_{i=1}^{n} P(h_i) \times (\text{Payout}_i - \text{RTP})^2

Variance: ~22.5 (for 17/7/5 paytable) Standard Deviation: ~4.74 coins per hand

Compared to:

Jacks or Better 9/6: Variance = 19.5
Deuces Wild: Variance = 25.8
Double Bonus: Variance = 28.2

Bankroll Requirements

For 17/7/5 Joker Poker, you need approximately 2,000-2,500 max bets to survive a 1% risk of ruin session. Use our Variance Calculator to estimate bankroll needs for your desired session length.

Where to Play Joker Poker Online

Best Paytables by Casino (2026)

Land-Based Casinos:

Aria Las Vegas - Full Pay 100.65% (high limit room)
Bellagio Las Vegas - 17/7/5 (98.44% RTP)
Red Rock Casino - 17/7/5 (98.44% RTP)
Seminole Hard Rock Tampa - 17/7/4 (96.38% RTP)

Online Casinos:

BetMGM - 17/7/5 Kings or Better (98.44%)
Caesars Online - 17/7/5 (98.44%)
DraftKings Casino - 20/8/6 Two Pair (95.51%)

Verify Paytables Before Playing

Always check the actual paytable on the machine. Casinos can use different pay schedules even for the same game title. Look for the 17/7/5 notation on Straight Flush / Four of a Kind / Full House payouts.

Optimal Bet Sizing Strategy

Bankroll Management for Joker Poker:

Use Kelly Criterion adjusted for video poker variance:

f^* = \frac{RTP - 1}{\sigma^2}

For 98.44% RTP Joker Poker:

f^* = \frac{0.9844 - 1}{22.5} = -0.00069

Since EV is negative (RTP < 100%), Kelly says don't play unless you have comp value exceeding 1.56%.

With Comps:

If casino offers 0.3% cash back + 0.5% in comps, your effective RTP = 99.24%, still negative.

Recommendation: Play only Full Pay (100.65%) or use Joker Poker for bonus clearing at online casinos.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake #1: Discarding the Joker (EV Loss: -4.2 coins)

Wrong: Joker-2-4-6-8 → Discard Joker for straight draw Right: Joker-2-4-6-8 → Keep Joker, discard 2-4-6-8

Mistake #2: Holding Kickers with Pairs (EV Loss: -0.3 coins)

Wrong: K-K-A → Keep K-K-A, discard 2 cards Right: K-K-A → Keep K-K, discard A and 2 others

The Ace doesn't improve your draw—it just blocks a potential card.

Mistake #3: Not Betting Max Coins (EV Loss: -2.1%)

The Natural Royal Flush pays 4000-for-5 coins but only 250-for-1 coin. This creates a permanent 2.1% RTP penalty on non-max bets.

Mistake #4: Playing Two Pair Variants

Two Pair Joker Poker has ~3% lower RTP than Kings or Better. That's $30 loss per$ 1000 wagered.

Mistake #5: Breaking High Pairs for Flush Draws

Wrong: A-A-7♠-9♠-Q♠ → Hold 4 to flush, discard A Right: A-A-7♠-9♠-Q♠ → Keep A-A, discard 3

EV Analysis:

Pair of Aces: 1.85 coins
4 to Flush: 1.36 coins
Difference: 0.49 coins (keep the pair)

Mistake #6: Ignoring Straight Flush Draws with Joker

Dealt: Joker-5♠-6♠-9♣-K♦

Wrong: Keep Joker-K (pair of Kings) Right: Keep Joker-5♠-6♠ (3 to straight flush)

With 2 draws, you can complete:

Straight Flush: ~2.1% chance (17-for-1)
Four of a Kind: ~4.5% chance (7-for-1)
Full House: ~2.8% chance (5-for-1)

EV (3 to SF) = 2.34 coins > EV (Pair) = 1.84 coins

Strategy Comparison: Joker Poker vs. Other Video Poker Games

Feature	Joker Poker	Jacks or Better	Deuces Wild
Wild Cards	1 (Joker)	0	4 (Deuces)
Minimum Hand	Kings or Better	Jacks or Better	Three of a Kind
Best RTP	100.65%	99.54%	100.76%
Variance	22.5	19.5	25.8
Skill Ceiling	High	Medium	Very High
Beginner Friendly	Medium	High	Low
Strategy Complexity	2 trees (with/without Joker)	1 tree	2 trees (with/without Deuces)

When to Choose Joker Poker:

You want moderate variance (vs. Deuces Wild)
You enjoy wild card strategy decisions
You can find 17/7/5 or better paytables
You prefer Kings+ threshold (vs. Jacks+)

When to Choose Jacks or Better:

You're a beginner learning video poker
You prefer lower variance
Strategy simplicity is important

When to Choose Deuces Wild:

You can handle high variance
Full Pay (NSUD) 100.76% available
You enjoy complex strategy trees

Practice Tools and Resources

Recommended Training Methods

1. Use a Strategy Card

Print a Joker Poker strategy chart and keep it while playing. Casinos allow strategy cards at video poker machines.

2. Practice with Free Games

Most online casinos offer free-play Joker Poker. Practice until you can execute optimal strategy at 95%+ accuracy.

3. Calculate Your Error Rate

Track 100 hands and compare your decisions to optimal strategy:

\text{Error Rate} = \frac{\text{Mistakes}}{\text{Total Hands}} \times 100\%

Target: <2% error rate for near-optimal RTP.

4. Study Hand Rankings

Memorize the hand hierarchy in Section 4 (Advanced Strategy Charts). This eliminates hesitation during play.

Calculators and Analysis Tools

Use these professional tools for session analysis:

RTP Calculator - Verify paytable returns
Wagering Calculator - Calculate bonus clearing speed
Session Simulator - Estimate win/loss ranges
Bankroll Calculator - Determine safe bet sizing
House Edge Calculator - Compare different paytables

For another high-paying video poker variant, study Triple Double Bonus Poker Strategy.

FAQ: Joker Poker Strategy

What happens if I get two Jokers?

You can't—there's only one Joker in the 53-card deck. If you think you saw two Jokers, the machine malfunctioned (very rare). Alert casino staff immediately.

Is Joker Poker better than Jacks or Better for bonus clearing?

It depends. Joker Poker has 22.5 variance vs. Jacks or Better's 19.5 variance. Higher variance means more swings but faster bonus clearing. Use our Wagering Calculator to compare.

Can I count cards in video poker?

No. Video poker uses RNG (Random Number Generator) for each deal, not a physical deck. Each hand is independent. Card counting doesn't work.

Do casinos track Joker Poker players differently?

Yes. Advantage players (those playing 100%+ RTP games) get flagged in casino databases. Playing Full Pay Joker Poker may reduce comp rates or get you banned from promotions. Play responsibly.

What's the house edge on 17/7/5 Joker Poker?

\text{House Edge} = 100\% - 98.44\% = 1.56\%

With 0.3% cashback, effective house edge = 1.26%. You need ~1.3% in additional comps to reach break-even.

Conclusion: Mastering Joker Poker

Joker Poker rewards perfect strategy execution more than any other video poker variant. The wild card creates complex decision trees, but following the optimal strategy charts in this guide gets you to 98-100% RTP.

Key Takeaways

✅ NEVER discard the Joker - guaranteed pair of Kings minimum ✅ Always bet max coins - 2.1% RTP difference for Royal Flush ✅ Find 17/7/5 or better paytables - avoid Two Pair variants ✅ Use strategy charts - reduces errors to <2% ✅ Practice with free games - master the two strategy trees (with/without Joker) ✅ Calculate comps and bonuses - only play if effective RTP > 99% ✅ Manage bankroll properly - 2,000+ max bets for safety

Start Practicing Today

Use the interactive hand analyzer above to test your skills and master Joker Poker strategy. Join the elite 1% of players who can beat the casino with optimal play.

Essential Calculators:

RTP Calculator - Analyze any paytable
House Edge Calculator - Compare game variants
Wagering Calculator - Bonus clearing strategy
Session Simulator - Variance analysis

Bankroll & Strategy Guides:

Advanced Topics:

Joker Poker Strategy: Complete Guide to Winning Video Poker (2026)

Joker Poker Strategy: The Complete Mathematical Guide to Maximum RTP

Joker Poker Paytable Comparison

Interactive Hand Analyzer

Select cards to hold

🃏 With Joker - Hold Priority

🎴 Without Joker - Hold Priority

Joker Poker Hand Probability Distribution

Frequently Asked Questions

Evgeny Volkov

Was this article helpful?

Ready to Calculate Smarter?