All American Poker is a Jacks or Better variant that pays 8 for 1 on every full house, flush and straight, raises the straight flush to 200, and cuts two pair to even money. The strongest standard version pays 35 for four of a kind and returns 99.60% with perfect strategy. Check the four of a kind line before you play, because that one number decides most of the return.
All American Poker pay table
All American versions share the same pays for most hands and differ mainly on four of a kind. Pays below are per coin with a five-coin bet:
| Hand | Pays |
|---|---|
| Royal flush | 800 |
| Straight flush | 200 |
| Four of a kind | 35 (30 or 25 on weaker versions) |
| Full house | 8 |
| Flush | 8 |
| Straight | 8 |
| Three of a kind | 3 |
| Two pair | 1 |
| Jacks or better | 1 |
As with most video poker, the 800-for-1 royal flush is paid only on a maximum-coin bet, so play five coins or you give up a large part of the return.
Which All American machine to play
The return depends on the four of a kind pay and on whether the full house, flush and straight pay 8 or 7:
| Version (quads / FH-F-S) | Return with perfect strategy |
|---|---|
| 35 / 8-8-8 | 99.60% |
| 34 / 8-8-8 (Playtech online) | 99.38% |
| 30 / 8-8-8 | 98.49% |
| 25 / 8-8-8 | 97.38% |
| 40 / 7-7-7 | 96.27% |
| 25 / 8-8-8 with a 100 straight flush (Betsoft online) | 96.01% |
| 30 / 7-7-7 | 94.00% |
A machine that pays 7 instead of 8 on the full house, flush and straight loses more than two points of return even when it pays 40 for quads, so read the whole table, not just the top line. Online versions from Playtech and Betsoft use their own tables, shown above. Comparing All American to Double Double Bonus or Deuces Wild? Our video poker hub lists the pay tables to look for in each game, and players in Las Vegas can start with our best video poker in Las Vegas guide.
How to play All American Poker
You are dealt five cards, choose which to hold, and draw replacements once. The final hand is paid from the table. Strategy starts from Jacks or Better, but the 8-for-1 pays on straights and flushes and the even-money two pair change several key decisions:
- Four to a royal flush beats a made flush or straight. Break a pat flush or straight when four of its cards are to a royal.
- Four to a flush beats any pair, even jacks or better. Nine flush cards out of 47 at 8 for 1 are worth more than any single pair, the opposite of Jacks or Better.
- An open-ended straight draw beats a low pair. Eight outs paying 8 for 1 is worth about twice as much as a low pair in this game, which is the opposite of the usual Jacks or Better habit.
- Aces get no special treatment. There is no bonus for four aces, so an ace counts the same as any other high card.
Common mistakes
The most common error is playing All American like Bonus Poker or Jacks or Better and treating two pair and low pairs as strong hands. With two pair paying only 1, drawing hands that can make a straight, flush or straight flush gain value. The other mistake is sitting down at a 30 or 25 machine, or a 7-7-7 machine, without checking the table when a better version may be nearby. For more on picking the right machine, see our casino games guides.
All American Poker FAQ
What is the best All American Poker pay table?
The 35 / 8-8-8 table, which returns 99.60% with perfect strategy.
How is All American different from Jacks or Better?
Full houses, flushes and straights all pay 8, the straight flush pays 200, and two pair drops to 1.
Can you play All American Poker online?
Yes. Playtech and Betsoft both make online versions, with returns of 99.38% and 96.01% respectively on their standard tables.
Gamble responsibly. If gambling stops being fun, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET.