Free Preview Of Microgaming's Jacks or Better Video Poker
Jacks or Better is one of the most well-known variations of video poker, and it can be found in land based casinos as well as in online venues. This is generally considered the 'standard' upon which all other variations of the game are created, as well. The game itself draws on traditional Five Card Stud and allows the player to essentially play poker against a machine rather than a real-life opponent. The player receives five virtual cards and must determine which cards to hold and which to exchange for a new draw in order to create the best poker hand possible. As with most variants of the game, the Royal Flush is the highest hand attainable.
The only real difference between Jacks or Better and Five Card Stud is that the player must create a poker hand that is a pair of Jacks or higher in order to receive a payout. In traditional poker, since the gambler is up against a real-life opponent, the highest hand wins -- even if that hand is nothing more than the high card. There are also ways to enjoy a free video poker game, but this is only possible in online venues. Most of the online casinos that offer video poker will offer it in both paid and free versions. Of course, the free versions are great for people who enjoy the game-play but who do not want to spend any money. In most cases, these games are played for credits so that some sense of accomplishment remains, but there are no real cash prizes to be won.
This particular free game that is available with no download required was developed by Microgaming - a pioneer of the online gambling software industry. There are many different software providers that develop similar (or the exact same) games with different rules and payout tables. For example, here is a free version of Jacks or Better from Net Entertainment (NetEnt). It has the exact same rules with slightly different payout tables. Both versions are free and fun to practice.