Challenge mode where only a pair of Aces qualifies as the minimum winning hand. Higher-ranking hands pay significantly more to compensate for the difficulty, with Straight Flush at 80x and Four of a Kind at 40x.
1. Place your bet: Choose BET 1 through BET 5. Always play BET 5 (max bet) — it unlocks the 4000-credit Royal Flush jackpot instead of the standard 1250.
2. Receive 5 cards: You're dealt 5 cards from a standard 52-card deck.
3. Select cards to HOLD: Click the cards you want to keep. The goal is to build the strongest possible poker hand.
4. Press DRAW: Discarded cards are replaced from the remaining deck. Your final hand is evaluated against the payout table.
5. Minimum winning hand: Aces or Better pays 1× your bet.
This 8/5 pay table (Full House 8×, Flush 5×) offers competitive returns with perfect strategy — making it one of the more accessible casino games. Key hand probabilities for a standard 52-card deck:
| Hand | Frequency | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 1 in 40,391 | 0.0025% |
| Straight Flush | 1 in 9,148 | 0.011% |
| Four of a Kind | 1 in 423 | 0.24% |
| Full House | 1 in 87 | 1.15% |
| Flush | 1 in 91 | 1.10% |
| Straight | 1 in 89 | 1.12% |
| Three of a Kind | 1 in 14 | 7.44% |
| Two Pair | 1 in 8 | 12.9% |
| Aces or Better | 1 in 13 | 7.7% |
| No Win | — | ~55% |
Always hold: Any made hand (Aces or Better+, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind). Never break a winning hand unless chasing a Royal Flush with 4 cards to a Royal.
Drawing priority (highest to lowest):
1. Four of a kind, straight flush, royal flush — hold all 5
2. Four cards to a royal flush (discard even a paying pair)
3. Three of a kind, straight, flush, full house — hold made hand
4. Four cards to a straight flush
5. Two pair — hold both pairs, draw one card
6. High pair (Aces or Better qualifying cards) — hold the pair
7. Three cards to a royal flush
8. Four cards to a flush
9. Low pair (non-qualifying) — hold the pair, draw three
10. Four cards to an outside straight (open-ended)
The Royal Flush jackpot: With BET 5, a Royal Flush pays 4000 credits vs. 1250 at proportional rate. This jackpot bonus increases the RTP by ~2%, making max bet essential.
Never hold a kicker: When holding a pair, always discard the remaining 3 cards — holding an "ace kicker" with a pair reduces your expected value.
Inside vs. outside straights: Prefer open-ended straight draws (e.g., 5-6-7-8) over gutshot straights (e.g., 5-6-8-9). Open-ended straights have twice the outs (8 vs. 4).
Suited high cards: Three suited high cards (e.g., A♠ K♠ Q♠) are worth holding over an unsuited high pair — the Royal Flush premium justifies the risk.
Expected Value (EV): Holding a low pair (EV: ~0.82) beats holding two unsuited high cards (EV: ~0.49). When in doubt, the pair wins.
| Hand | BET 1 | BET 2 | BET 3 | BET 4 | BET 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 250 | 500 | 750 | 1000 | 4000 |
| Straight Flush | 80 | 160 | 240 | 320 | 400 |
| Four of a Kind | 40 | 80 | 120 | 160 | 200 |
| Full House | 8 | 16 | 24 | 32 | 40 |
| Flush | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 |
| Straight | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Aces or Better | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Aces or Better returns 98.20% to the player (RTP) with optimal strategy. This means for every $100 wagered over the long run, the expected return is $98.20. Using proper strategy is essential to achieve this return rate.
Place your bet (1-5 coins), then press Deal to receive 5 cards from a 52-card deck. Select which cards to hold, then press Draw to replace the rest. Your final hand is evaluated against the pay table. The minimum winning hand is Aces or Better. Always bet max coins (5) to qualify for the enhanced Royal Flush jackpot of 4,000 coins.
Yes! Aces or Better is one of the best games for beginners because of its straightforward strategy and low variance. The consistent payouts mean your bankroll lasts longer while you learn. Start by learning which hands to hold and always play max bet for the Royal Flush bonus. Practice here for free to build your skills before playing in a casino.
Aces or Better has low variance. This means relatively steady, predictable results with smaller swings in your bankroll. Ideal for beginners and players who prefer consistent returns.
Yes! Aces or Better is completely free to play on Pure Video Poker. No download, no registration, and no real money required. You get 1,000 practice credits to play with. It works in any modern web browser on desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones. Use it to practice strategy and learn the game before playing at a real casino.