About Jacks or Better Power Poker
Microgaming have developed several Power Poker titles, and this is based on Jacks or Better. This makes it quite possibly the simplest of all the Power Poker video poker games out there. Since it is centred on Jacks or Better, there are no wilds or substitute cards for you to enjoy. It is about poker skill, pure and simple. If you love Jacks or Better and are after something a bit more challenging, then this could be the game for you.
How to play
To start off with, Jacks or Better Power Poker isn’t actually any different than a standard game of Jacks or Better. Players must select which of their five cards they wish to keep, and which they want to discard.
Those cards they have kept will then be transported to the other four poker hands above the first hand. Additional cards will then be randomly added to the four poker hands, giving you four complete hands. These four poker hands will then be compared against the paytable, and if you have a winning hand (or hands) it (or they) will be paid out to you.
The first hand that you play in Jacks or Better Power Poker is only used to determine which cards you will keep and does not constitute a winning hand.
Wagering and prizes
Because you must wager on all five hands in Jacks or Better Power Poker, the coin values are quite low, whilst the game itself can be rather costly. Coin values can be altered from 0.25 up to 5.00 and up to 5 of these can be staked per hand. Ultimately, you’re looking at wagers which range from 1.00 up to 100.00 per hand.
Players will not have to think too hard about how to construct their hand. This video poker game is mostly about luck. However, you can still do your bit at the beginning of the game, to put yourself in good stead to land Jacks or Better, Two Pairs, a Three of a Kind, Straight or Flush, a Full House, 4 of a Kind, a Straight Flush or a Royal Flush. The latter is the best paying hand in Jacks or Better Power Poker, being worth 250x your total bet.
Final thoughts
This video poker game is best played by players who already know how to play 5 Card Stud, and have tried their hand at the standard Jacks or Better video poker game. Once comfortable with that, you should be able to easily play this game. Be warned, though, this Power Poker game is more about luck than skill, unlike the original Jacks or Better game from Microgaming.
