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Return to Player, or RTP, represents the percentage of all wagered money that a video poker machine is programmed to return to players over time. For example, a machine with a 98% RTP will return approximately $98 for every $100 wagered across a large sample of plays. RTP is calculated mathematically based on the pay table and hand probabilities. Higher RTP percentages are more favorable to players, though individual sessions will vary significantly due to short-term variance.

The pay table is the display showing how much each poker hand combination pays relative to your bet. It typically shows payouts for Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, and Jacks or Better. Pay tables vary significantly between machines, making them critical to understand before playing. Even slight differences in pay table values can change the overall RTP by several percentage points. Always examine the pay table before wagering.

Optimal play strategy refers to the mathematically correct way to play each hand in video poker based on probability and expected value. Strategy charts show exactly which cards to hold and which to discard in every possible situation. By following the appropriate strategy for your specific pay table, you maximize your long-term return percentage. Strategy cards are essential tools that significantly improve results compared to casual play. Different pay tables require different strategies, so it's important to match your strategy to your machine.

Expected Value represents the average amount you can expect to win or lose on each hand played. Calculating EV involves multiplying the probability of each outcome by its payoff. In video poker, optimal decisions are those that maximize expected value. A positive EV decision means that over many repetitions, you'd profit on average, while negative EV means a loss. Understanding EV helps players make mathematically sound decisions rather than relying on intuition or superstition.

Variance describes the fluctuations in your results around the expected value. High variance machines can produce significant winning or losing streaks, while low variance machines deliver more consistent results. Video poker typically has moderate to high variance because premium hands like Royal Flushes are rare but pay very well. Understanding variance helps players prepare mentally and financially for the ups and downs of play, and explains why short-term results can differ dramatically from long-term theoretical returns.

Video poker hand rankings follow traditional poker hierarchy, with Royal Flush being the highest hand (rarest at approximately 1 in 649,740 five-card hands), followed by Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, and one pair. Understanding the probability of achieving each hand is fundamental to strategy decisions. Players need to recognize which hands to pursue based on the current cards held and the probability of improving to stronger hands on the draw.