Maximizing Returns: Best Video Poker Variants for Optimal Payouts

[Jalpasi]

Alright, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of maximizing returns in video poker! I’ve been grinding these machines for years, and I’m here to share some thoughts on the best variants for squeezing out those optimal payouts. Since we’re all chasing that sweet edge, I’ll focus on variants with solid paytables and how to pair them with casino perks like cashback to stretch your bankroll further.
First off, 9/6 Jacks or Better is my go-to for a reason. The full-pay version (9 coins for a full house, 6 for a flush) has a 99.54% RTP with perfect strategy. It’s not flashy, but it’s consistent, and consistency is king when you’re playing for the long haul. Most casinos still offer this one, and if you’re in a spot with a decent cashback program (say, 0.5% or higher), it effectively bumps your return closer to 100%. Look for casinos with loyalty tiers—those extra points can stack up fast and turn into real money.
If you want a bit more variance and bigger swings, Double Bonus Poker (10/7 paytable) is a beast. You’re looking at 100.17% RTP with perfect play, which is insane for a casino game. The catch? You need to nail the strategy, and the volatility can be brutal. Those four-of-a-kind payouts are juicy, but dry spells hit hard. Pair this with a cashback deal, and you’re cushioning those swings while still chasing that positive EV. Just don’t expect to find 10/7 tables everywhere—check downtown Vegas or smaller regional spots.
For those who like a mix of fun and value, Deuces Wild (full-pay, 100.76% RTP) is a wild ride. The 4 deuces payout is a rush, and the strategy is forgiving once you get the hang of it. The downside? Full-pay Deuces is rare these days, so you might settle for a 98.91% “not-so-ugly” version. Still, with a solid cashback program, you’re in a good spot. Pro tip: always check the paytable before you sit down. A single coin difference on a flush or straight can tank your edge.
One thing I always do: scope out the casino’s rewards program before playing. Cashback, comps, or even free play can make a huge difference, especially on near-100% RTP games. Some places offer 1% cashback on video poker if you hit higher tiers, which is basically free money when you’re already playing optimally. Also, don’t sleep on online casinos—many have better paytables and reload bonuses that act like cashback. Just read the fine print on wagering requirements.
Strategy is non-negotiable. Grab a training app or print out a strategy card for your variant. Practice until it’s muscle memory. And please, don’t max bet unless your bankroll can handle the variance—chasing big payouts with short stacks is a recipe for busting. Stick to your limits, play the best paytables you can find, and let those cashback perks do their magic.
What’s your favorite variant for chasing returns? Anyone got a spot with killer paytables or cashback deals worth sharing? Let’s keep the edge sharp!

 

[Chris123456]

Alright, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of maximizing returns in video poker! I’ve been grinding these machines for years, and I’m here to share some thoughts on the best variants for squeezing out those optimal payouts. Since we’re all chasing that sweet edge, I’ll focus on variants with solid paytables and how to pair them with casino perks like cashback to stretch your bankroll further.
First off, 9/6 Jacks or Better is my go-to for a reason. The full-pay version (9 coins for a full house, 6 for a flush) has a 99.54% RTP with perfect strategy. It’s not flashy, but it’s consistent, and consistency is king when you’re playing for the long haul. Most casinos still offer this one, and if you’re in a spot with a decent cashback program (say, 0.5% or higher), it effectively bumps your return closer to 100%. Look for casinos with loyalty tiers—those extra points can stack up fast and turn into real money.
If you want a bit more variance and bigger swings, Double Bonus Poker (10/7 paytable) is a beast. You’re looking at 100.17% RTP with perfect play, which is insane for a casino game. The catch? You need to nail the strategy, and the volatility can be brutal. Those four-of-a-kind payouts are juicy, but dry spells hit hard. Pair this with a cashback deal, and you’re cushioning those swings while still chasing that positive EV. Just don’t expect to find 10/7 tables everywhere—check downtown Vegas or smaller regional spots.
For those who like a mix of fun and value, Deuces Wild (full-pay, 100.76% RTP) is a wild ride. The 4 deuces payout is a rush, and the strategy is forgiving once you get the hang of it. The downside? Full-pay Deuces is rare these days, so you might settle for a 98.91% “not-so-ugly” version. Still, with a solid cashback program, you’re in a good spot. Pro tip: always check the paytable before you sit down. A single coin difference on a flush or straight can tank your edge.
One thing I always do: scope out the casino’s rewards program before playing. Cashback, comps, or even free play can make a huge difference, especially on near-100% RTP games. Some places offer 1% cashback on video poker if you hit higher tiers, which is basically free money when you’re already playing optimally. Also, don’t sleep on online casinos—many have better paytables and reload bonuses that act like cashback. Just read the fine print on wagering requirements.
Strategy is non-negotiable. Grab a training app or print out a strategy card for your variant. Practice until it’s muscle memory. And please, don’t max bet unless your bankroll can handle the variance—chasing big payouts with short stacks is a recipe for busting. Stick to your limits, play the best paytables you can find, and let those cashback perks do their magic.
What’s your favorite variant for chasing returns? Anyone got a spot with killer paytables or cashback deals worth sharing? Let’s keep the edge sharp!

Man, reading your post has me sweating a bit—chasing those razor-thin edges in video poker feels like walking a tightrope sometimes! You nailed it with the breakdown on 9/6 Jacks or Better and Double Bonus Poker. Those are solid picks for grinding out returns, but the volatility you mentioned, especially with Double Bonus, hits home. I’ve been burned by those dry spells before, and it’s got me thinking about how I manage my bets to keep things steady. Since you’re all about maximizing returns, I’ll share how I’ve been applying flat-betting to video poker to keep my bankroll intact while still hunting for those payouts.

I’m a big believer in flat-betting—same wager every hand, no matter what. It’s not sexy, but it keeps me from chasing losses or getting cocky after a big four-of-a-kind hit. With something like 9/6 Jacks or Better, I stick to a fixed bet size that’s about 0.5% of my session bankroll. So, if I’m rolling with $1,000, I’m betting $5 a hand (max coin for the royal flush bonus, obviously). The RTP is 99.54% with perfect play, like you said, and flat-betting lets me grind through the variance without sweating the swings too much. Over a few sessions last month, I tracked my results: 20 hours of play, down $150 overall, but the casino’s 0.7% cashback kicked back $70. That’s not a win, but it’s a slow bleed, and I’m still in the game.

Double Bonus Poker, though? That’s where things get dicey. The 100.17% RTP is tempting, but those swings are no joke. I tried flat-betting $5 hands on a 10/7 machine downtown last trip. Played 10 hours, hit two quads, and still ended down $400 before cashback. The math says it’s positive EV, but you need a deep bankroll and nerves of steel. I stick to flat bets here too, but I drop to $2.50 a hand to stretch my funds. Cashback (0.5% at that spot) softened the blow, and I walked away with some comped meals to ease the sting. Lesson learned: flat-betting keeps me disciplined, but I’m picky about paytables and rewards to make it worth it.

Deuces Wild is my guilty pleasure, but like you said, full-pay is a unicorn these days. I found a 98.91% version online with a 1% reload bonus, which is close enough to cashback. Flat-betting $5 hands, I played 15 hours last month and came out $200 ahead, mostly thanks to a lucky deuces hit. The key was sticking to the strategy card and not bumping my bet when I felt “hot.” That’s where flat-betting saves me—keeps my head clear when the game gets wild.

Your point about casino perks is huge. I always check the rewards program before I play. One spot I hit has a tiered system where you get 0.8% cashback once you log enough hours. Pair that with a 99.54% game, and you’re flirting with breakeven before you even factor in comps. Online, I look for sites with low-wagering bonuses—some give you 50% back on deposits if you play video poker, which is basically a bankroll booster.

The anxiety kicks in when I think about how thin the margins are. One bad paytable or a lazy strategy slip can flip your edge to the house’s favor. That’s why I’m obsessive about flat-betting. It forces me to stay consistent, whether I’m up or down. I track every session: hours played, bets placed, wins, losses, and cashback. Last quarter, I played 60 hours across Jacks and Deuces, down $500 net but got $300 back in cashback and comps. Not a home run, but I’m still swinging.

What’s got me nervous is how rare those good paytables are getting. I’m heading to Vegas next month—anyone know a spot with 9/6 Jacks or 10/7 Double Bonus that’s still got decent cashback? And how do you guys handle the stress of those long sessions? Flat-betting helps me stay calm, but I’m curious if anyone’s got other tricks for keeping the edge without losing their mind.