An online video poker game with a fresh look, Playtech’s Jacks or Better offers only two deals to form a hand of at least a pair of Jacks. Hands are formed by holding or getting rid of cards and replacing them with new ones.
The game is a standard video poker based on the famous five card draw. There are no bonus features or Wild cards, but there is a gamble feature that could see winnings doubled or lost.
Before Play Commences
Before the Jacks or Better video poker cards are dealt, players would need to decide whether to play at the default 1.00 bet, or to adjust the betting options for lower or higher bets. The game yields significantly higher returns on bigger bets.
The default bet is lower than mid-range, which extends from 0.05 to 5.00. Players can bet between one and five coins, which makes for a maximum bet of 25.00.
The Plus and Minus buttons are used to set the coin value, and the Bet One button is used to place bets. Instead of clicking the Bet One button five times to place the maximum bet, players can click the Bet Max button once.
How to Play
The Jacks or Better pay table includes all the regular winning poker hands, bar one. In this game, the bare minimum in a winning hand is a pair of Jacks, while the highest paying hand is a royal flush.
When the player has placed a bet, a Deal button will appear on the screen, and that button will need to be selected to receive the first deal in the same way punters click on Bet button in sports betting America. Five cards will appear on the screen.
Below each card is a Hold button. If the player wants to hold any cards, they need to click the Hold button.
The Jacks or Better game software has an autohold function that automatically holds any first-deal cards that form a winning hand. Any cards not held will be replaced with new cards when the player clicks the Draw button.
Once the second deal is complete, the player’s hand will be checked against the pay table. If the hand wins anything, the game’s gamble feature will become accessible.
Gamble Feature an Optional Extra
The Jacks or Better gamble feature is an optional card guessing game that can be used to gamble any winnings made from a successful poker hand. The gamble feature can be played a number of times consecutively, if correct choices are made.
The mini game is played with five cards, one of which is face up. The player must select one of the four face-down cards. That card will be revealed, and if its value is higher than the initial face-up card, the player’s winnings will be doubled.
If, however, the card is revealed to have a lower value than the initial face-up card, the winnings will be lost.
About Playtech Video Poker Software
Playtech is widely recognised as a leading developer of online and mobile casino game software. That same software has gone into the building of Jacks or Better video poker.
The game produces fair and accurate results using a certified random number generator, and the playing action flows smoothly. The sound effects are discreet, and employed where necessary. The look of the game is different to that of most online video poker games.
Where many other games tend to replicate the same casino card table or use surprisingly lacklustre backgrounds, Playtech has given Jacks or Better a mediaeval theme with jousting Jacks.