A Joker is one of the two extra cards that often comes with a 52-card deck. The Jokers are usually dressed in the outfit of a medieval jester.
Poker games like Texas hold ‘em and Omaha don’t use the Joker card, but there are other games that do. Card games like Go Fish, Crazy Eights, War, and Indian Rummy all use the Joker for a different purpose. The Joker often replaces other cards or can be “wild”, replacing whatever card the player chooses.
But what is Joker poker? There was an Australian TV show around 2005 called Joker Poker, featuring comedians playing Texas hold ‘em, but that’s probably not why you’re here. A game called Jokers Wild (another name for Joker poker), is a style of video poker that you can play in 888poker’s casino and other sites.
Let’s go over the rules of Joker poker and find out how to play for maximum winnings.
The Rules of Joker Poker
The rules of Joker poker or Jokers Wild are very easy to learn. The game is based on a video poker game called Jacks or Better. You’ll have a double Joker in a normal set of cards, but in Joker Poker there is only one.
The game involves making the best possible 5-card combination using the same hand hierarchy as traditional poker. The lowest hand for a payout in Jokers Wild is a pair of kings.
Step One: Players select Deal to begin a round of Joker poker. Five random cards will appear on the digital table, ranging from ace to king (Ace-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-Jack-Queen-King) and including one Joker card. A Joker can act as any of the other 13 cards from ace to king.
Step Two: Choose the cards that you would like to “hold” by thinking about your hand combination. If you haven’t drawn a pair (like in the screenshot above), it’s best to hold cards that are a king or better. A Joker will act as any card that improves your hand combination, so you should always hold a Joker. Getting dealt a double Joker is always advantageous.
Step Three: Select Deal again and draw for a better hand combination. All of the cards that weren’t held will be randomly exchanged.
Step Four: Decide what your final hand combination is and receive your payout.
Jokers Wild or Joker poker can be lots of fun, but sometimes it's even better to play against other players. One of the best places for online Texas hold ‘em and Omaha poker is PokerStars. They’re offering every new player a $30 Freeplay and a 100% matched bonus, just for depositing $10. Fast-folding poker is very popular, but tournaments like The Marathon with a $20,000 prize pool attract a lot of players too.
The Payouts For Hand Combinations in Joker Poker
Payouts remain pretty much the same across different platforms, but let’s look at 888poker’s payouts in their 888casino.
The minimum hand combination that will pay you a prize is a pair of kings. A two-pair also has the same payout as a pair of kings or better.
You can adjust the value of your coins, but the chart will display payouts for 1-5 coins.
For example, if your coins are valued at $5, you win $5 for having kings or better. Three-of-a-kind will win you $10, and so on.
The payout for signing up at 888poker is up to $88, without depositing! Just for registering an account, you can pick up cash and tickets to get started on the poker site. Head to the cash game tables for popular formats like Texas hold ‘em and Omaha or speed things up on the fast-folding Snap tables.
Poker with Friends is your way to host your own cash games and tournaments. You can invite the players you want, choose the stakes, and even schedule games ahead of time. Check out our guide to find ways to host online home games.
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Americas Cardroom
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Basic Strategy for Joker Poker
Here’s how to play more profitably when you’re enjoying Joker poker.
Some of the decisions are very simple if you aren’t dealt a Joker:
- If you are dealt a pair, hold it and exchange the other three cards.
- If you are dealt a two-pair, discard the fifth disconnected card.
- If you are dealt three-of-a-kind, discard the remaining two cards
If you are dealt a Joker: discard any cards that don’t help you make a hand like three-of-a-kind or better.
Mobile Poker Apps You Should Check Out
Mobile poker apps are the best way to play poker if you want to use mobile devices without location restrictions. Texas hold ‘em and Omaha are the most popular formats, but some apps like PPPoker and PokerBros offer open-face Chinese poker.
These apps use agents and club organizers to manage player funds and host poker games. Instead of going up against the entire player base of a poker site, you’ll be able to pick where you play.
Mobile poker apps run on iOS and Android devices. It’s possible to use an emulator, but the interface doesn’t always work as well on these programs. When you’re ready, the GipsyTeam support staff can help you find the right club to join and guide you through the depositing process. Get in touch with us between 07:00 and 19:00 UTC.
