Jacks or better video poker strategy is the one most commonly used. In a jacks or better game, the idea is that in any five card poker hand, the minimum of a pair of jacks is considered to be a winner. This means that a pair of tens or lower will not payout anything. The basis behind the jacks or better video poker strategy is to just try and hit a winning pair, unless you see the opportunity for a great hand.
A winning pair will be jacks, queens, kings, or aces. So if in the first five cards you are dealt one of these, you would want to hold onto it. This increases your chances of getting a pair that pays off after the second deal. It doesn't matter which high card you keep since they will all payoff the same amount.
Basics of Jacks Or Better Video Poker Strategy
If all you ever shoot for is a pair, you will end up losing a lot of money. A pair will usually only break you even, so it is not really a great winning hand. Hopefully if you are being conservative and shooting for just a pair, you should be able to hit a better hand just by chance.
Jacks or better video poker strategy also entails taking a chance when there is an opportunity for a big hand. The best time for this is when you have four of the same suit and need one more for the flush. If you notice this, don't worry about trying to get a high pair, but instead go for a flush which will payout much higher.