Tens or Better lowers the minimum winning hand from a pair of Jacks to a pair of Tens. This one-rank change increases your hit frequency, reduces variance, and makes your bankroll last longer. If you know Jacks or Better strategy, you can play Tens or Better with minimal adjustment.
The 10 Is Now a High Card
The single most important strategy change: a lone 10 has the same value as a lone Jack, Queen, King, or Ace. In JoB, a 10 is worthless as a single hold. In Tens or Better, it qualifies for a paying pair.
Example: Dealt 10♠ 5♣ 3♥ 8♦ 2♣ — hold the 10♠. In JoB, you'd discard everything. Here, the 10 has high-card value.
Example: Dealt 10♥ J♥ 4♣ 7♦ 9♠ — hold 10♥ J♥ (two suited high cards with Royal Flush potential). In JoB, you'd hold only the J♥.
This also means 10-J, 10-Q, 10-K suited are all valid two-card Royal draws.
When Tens or Better Beats JoB
The game's RTP is lower than full-pay JoB, but pay table availability matters:
| Situation | Better Choice |
|---|---|
| 9/6 JoB (99.54%) available | JoB wins |
| Only 8/5 JoB (97.30%) vs 6/5 ToB (99.14%) | Tens or Better wins |
| Only 7/5 JoB (96.15%) vs 6/5 ToB (99.14%) | Tens or Better wins |
Full-pay Tens or Better (6/5, 99.14%) beats any JoB pay table below 9/5. If your casino's JoB machines are short-pay, check for Tens or Better — it might be the better game.
Don't Confuse Pay Table Labels
This is a common and costly error. Tens or Better uses different numbers than JoB:
- 6/5 Tens or Better = 99.14% (full pay, good game)
- 6/5 Jacks or Better = 95.00% (terrible, avoid)
A "6/5" label means completely different things depending on which game you're playing. Always know which game is loaded before evaluating the pay table.
Similarly, 7/5 Tens or Better (98.49%) is a decent game. 7/5 JoB (96.15%) is not.
The Lower Variance Advantage
Tens or Better has the lowest variance of any standard (non-wild) video poker game. The extra paying hand (pair of 10s) creates a smoother bankroll curve:
- Hit frequency: ~45% of hands win something (vs ~42% in JoB)
- Bankroll requirement: 150-200 max bets for a session (vs 200-300 for JoB)
- Losing streaks are shorter on average
This makes it excellent for:
- Comp grinding: Lower variance means your bankroll lasts longer, earning more comps per dollar of risk
- Recreational play: More frequent wins keep the experience enjoyable
- Learning strategy: The lower stakes feel let you practice hand decisions without heavy bankroll pressure
Strategy Is JoB with One Change
Everything in JoB strategy applies to Tens or Better, with one modification: replace "Jacks or Better" with "Tens or Better" in the strategy hierarchy.
- Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind
- Four to a Royal Flush
- Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind
- Four to a Straight Flush
- Two Pair
- Pair of Tens or Higher (was Jacks or Higher)
- Three to a Royal Flush
- Four to a Flush
- Four to an open-ended Straight
- Low Pair (2s through 9s)
- Three to a Straight Flush
- Two high cards (10 through Ace)
- Single 10, Jack, Queen, King, or Ace (10 added)
That's it. Every other decision is identical to JoB. If you already know JoB strategy, you can play Tens or Better right now.