Jacks or Better

Poker is a card game that conjures up many images. Most prominent of these is the picture of pioneer cowboys sitting in a smoky town saloon, shot glasses of gut-rot whisky at their elbows. A more modern scenario might be a group of cigar smoking guys sitting around the table in someone's apartment, the table piled high with colored chips competing for space with bottles of Beck's or Budweiser. The history of the game is unclear, but it probably developed in Europe or Persia whose traveling merchants were responsible for bringing the game to the southern United States. With the advent of internet technology, the game has now gone digital and video poker is currently one of the most popular online games played online around the world.

Poker is usually played with a full deck, each player receiving a hand of five cards. Many variants of the original game exist. One of the most common of these is calledJacks or Better. In this version, normal poker hand ranks apply, but only winning hands of a pair of Jacks, or better count. For example, with basic poker, a pair of deuces can beat a single face card. In the Jacks or Better variation, the high face card would win, as doubles of anything from a pair of 10's and worse are counted as singles.

As with all poker variations, each has its own strategy. An opening holder of a pair of low cards should hold these in favor over single face cards, as three of even a low card will still beat a pair of picture cards. Single face cards should also be held as drawing a further face card of the same rank will count as a winning double.

Online video poker has resulted in a revival of interest in this classic card game.Poker websites allow players to challenge computer opponents for large cash prizes. The flexibility and sophistication of these video poker games is unlimited with many sites offering facilities to double up on their winnings and other strategies.

Also Try out our multi-deck Jacks or Bette.