Explanation Jack Poker

Jack Poker is a version of the game of poker, put in a format suitable for a gaming machine. Two rounds are dealt and the player has the option of keeping cards after the first round of cards.

Which combinations or cards get points is explained below (under “Card combinations”).

How do I play the game?

The stakes for the game are determined by pressing the STAKE button. Using this button, you can choose a stake from 1 to 8 credits. When the stakes are higher, the winning combinations of cards will gain more points. In a game of Jack Poker, cards will always be dealt twice. The cards will be dealt when the START button is pressed. The player can then decide to keep particular cards by pressing the HOLD button. You can undo the hold on the cards by pressing HOLD again. Be careful, because there is no automatic hold in Jack Poker – in contrast to other gaming machines – not even if there’s a winning combination after the first round has been dealt! By pressing the START button again, a second round will be dealt. The points you have won, if any, will be determined by the size of the stake and the combination of cards concerned. The winning combination and the prize won will be lit up in the upper panel.

The upper game

If a prize lights up in the upper panel, then the player can attempt to raise it by playing the gambling ladder. The current prize is indicated by a continually illuminated area, whereas the values to which it can be gambled are flashing. By pressing the GAMBLE button, the prize you have won is staked on the gambling ladder. Your prize can be increased or decreased, with the chance of a win depending on the difference between the current prize and the higher and lower prizes. Ultimately, you can play through up to the top of the ladder, where a prize can be won that is related to the current value of the jackpot. The value of that prize is shown in the topmost display on the gambling ladder. The upper game can be stopped at any moment by pressing the COLLECT WIN button; the points that have been won will then be added to the games won. When the prize is ‘Jacks or Better’, the winnings cannot be taken straight away; you are required to play at least once on the gambling ladder.

The jackpot

The jackpot can be won by getting a Royal Flush. The entire jackpot can only be won if you are playing for the maximum stake. If you’re playing for a lower stake, then a proportional share of the jackpot can be won. You can also win the jackpot by gambling up a lower prize. The chance of gambling a Straight Flush up to a Royal Flush on the gambling ladder is always 21%, irrespective of the amount in the jackpot. Although risky, this can therefore become a very interesting gamble as the jackpot gets larger.

Combinations of cards

The values of the combinations of cards – the hands – are given below, along with a short description. The highest value hands are given first. So a Full House beats a Straight, for example.

Royal Flush: 5 successive cards (10 through ace) of the same suit.
Straight Flush: 5 successive cards of the same suit.
Four of a Kind: 4 cards of the same face value.
Full House: 3 cards of one face value, combined with 2 cards of the same different face value.
Flush: 5 cards of the same suit.
Straight: 5 successive cards (NB ace, 2, 3, 4, 5 is also a Straight)
Three of a Kind: 3 cards of the same face value.
Two Pair: 2 pairs of cards of the same face value.
Jacks or Better: 2 cards (jacks or higher) of the same face value.