Joker Wild
Strategy Rules

Play Online Poker

The winning hands and pay-outs for Joker Wild, from highest to lowest are:

Royal Flush without the joker - A, K, Q, J, and 10 of the same suit. Pays 4,000 or more coins when five coins are bet. Pays 400 per coin bet if playing less than five coins.

Five of a Kind - Four same-value cards plus the joker. Pays 200 per coin bet.

The following joker wild hands may be made with or without the joker:

Joker Royal Flush - A royal flush where one of the five cards is the joker. Pays 100 per coin bet.

Straight Flush - Five consecutive cards in the same suit, for instance 8, 9, 10, J and Q. Pays 50 or 40 per coin bet. Four of a Kind - A hand with four cards of the same value. Pays 20, 17 or 15 per coin bet.

Full House - Three cards of one value, and two cards of another value. Pays 8, 7 or 5 per coin bet.

Flush - Any five cards of the same suit, in no particular order. Pays 5 per coin bet.

Three of a Kind - Any three cards of the same value. Pays 2 per coin bet.

Two Pair / Pair of Kings or Aces - Pays 1 per coin bet. These are the lowest paying hands in Jokers Wild.

There are two versions of Joker Wild games. One version returns your bet on a two-pair hand. The strategy presented here is for the (better) game which gives back your money if you line up a pair of Kings or Aces.

Kings or Better Joker Wild Strategy

If the hand you're dealt contains the joker: Keep all hands that are three-of-a-kind or higher, except hold four cards to the royal flush, even if it means discarding a paying hand of lower value.
(Always remember that the joker is part of the combination you're looking for, for example two sevens and the joker equals three-of-a-kind).

Keep any four-card straight flush and a four-card flush if it includes K, A or both.

Keep three cards to a royal flush

Keep a paying pair of high cards (King, Ace).

Keep any three cards to a straight flush.

Keep any four-card flush without King or Ace.

Keep consecutive four-card straights

If not dealt any of the above, keep the Joker only.

If you're dealt a hand without the Joker:

Keep all paying hands, except hold a four-card royal flush.

Keep any four cards to a straight flush and any three cards to a royal flush.

Keep four cards to any flush.

Keep any pair of 2's to Queens.

Keep any three cards to a straight flush.

Keep any four-card consecutive straight.

Keep two cards to a royal flush if one of the cards is a Ace or King.

Keep unsuited King and Ace.

Keep King or Ace alone.

Keep two suited royal flush cards lower than King or Ace.

If you're not dealt any of the above, draw five new cards.

TIP: Print out these joker wild strategy rules and refer to them while playing online. Be sure you make the correct hold/discard decision for every hand. Take your time learning joker wild strategy, the computer will wait.