Updated on: August 6th, 2024
Tens or Better is a variation of video poker. Video poker is a casino game enjoyed by many players in the United States and
elsewhere. This variation of the game has a few striking similarities to Jacks or Better, another variation of video poker.
Both games can be played at land-based and online casinos. The difference is that in a Tens or Better game, you must have at least one pair of tens to receive a payout, compared to a pair of jacks like in Jacks or Better. Because it’s easier to secure a pair or tens than that required to win in a game of Jacks or Better, the payout values in this variation are less than its counterpart.
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How to Play Tens or Better
The actual gameplay in Tens or Better is less daunting once you get the hang of it. Read the following instructions to learn how to play.
1. Create an Account
You need to choose a casino site and create an account with them. The casino sites we have listed above are great choices for playing video poker and other casino games.
2. Deposit Money into Your Account
To play Tens or Better for real money, you have to deposit money into your account. The money in your casino account is called your bankroll and will be used to fund your session. Most casinos offer a wide variety of payment options for you to choose from and its best to select an option most convenient to you.
3. Decide How Much Money to Wager on a Round
Next, you will have to decide how much money you are willing to wager on a round of Tens or Better. This is called your base unit and will depend on the size of your overall bankroll and how much you can afford. Setting a base amount is especially important for those who are using a bankroll management strategy.
4. Click on “Deal Cards”
For those playing Tens or Better on the internet, you’ll see an icon on the screen that says ‘deal cards’ or something similar. When you click on this tab, you will be dealt five cards from a deck of 52 cards. These cards are generated using random number generator software. This will be your first hand.
5. Decide if it’s a Good Enough Hand
Based on the five cards you’ve been dealt, you have to decide whether you think you’ve received a good enough hand to continue playing or not. If the answer is no, you can click on the deal button again to be dealt a new set of cards, replacing the old ones.
6. Payout or Not?
With your new set of cards displaying on the screen, you’ll see if you’ve indeed received a better hand, making you eligible for a payout or not. If you a get at least a pair of tens, you win, if not, you lose your bet.
7. Deal Again
To begin a new round after you win or lose, simply click the deal cards button again to receive a fresh set of cards and to start the next round of Tens or Better.
Paid Hands
Tens or Better has a long list of possible winning hands. Some hands rank higher than others and the payout values for each differ. See the list in ascending order below.
- Royal Flush: This hand pays the most in tens or better and consists of an Ace, K, Q, J and 10.
- Four of a Kind: This hand is self-explanatory as it consists of four of the same cards.
- Straight Flush: This hand consists of five cards belonging to the same suite, and has a sequence.
- Flush: A flush hand is similar to the one above except they don’t have to follow a sequence, they just have to be cards belonging to the same suit.
- Straight: A straight hand in tens or better is one with five cards in sequential order regardless of suit.
- Full House: A full house refers to three cards of the same kind and a pair.
- Three of a Kind: As the name suggest
- Two Pairs: As the name suggests
- Tens or Better: This refers to a pair of aces, kings, queens, jacks or tens.
The Best Strategies to Use
In Tens or Better, you need to have the best hand to win the game. Players do not know what hand they will be dealt. However, there are certain moves you can make to ensure that you are improving your chances of being the one with the best hand. Below, we have some of the different paid hands found in a game of Tens or Better and what you need to do when you receive any of those hands.
| Paid Hand | Strategy |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | Hold |
| Straight Flush | Hold |
| Straight | Hold |
| Four of a Kind | Hold |
| Flush | Hold |
| Full House | Hold |
| Three of a Kind | Draw Two Cards |
| Two Pairs | Draw One Card |
| Tens or Better |
Payout Values in Tens or Better
You’ll see that the payout table in a game of Tens or Better is almost identical to the payout table in Jacks or Better. Below we have the standard payout values in the game. However, it’s always best to verify these payouts with your casino site to make sure nothing has changed.
| Card Value | Payout Value |
|---|---|
| Tens or Better | 1 |
| Two Pairs | 2 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 |
| Straight | 4 |
| Flush | 5 |
| Full House | 6 |
| Four of a Kind | 25 |
| Straight Flush | 50 |
| Natural Royal Flush | 250 |
The Doubling Feature in Tens or Better
Players of the game also have the option to double their winnings. This feature applies to both virtual players and those in an actual casino venue. The doubling feature is activated once you’ve won a hand. Upon winning, you’ll be given the option to draw five new cards. The first card will belong to the dealer and will be dealt face up. The remaining four cards will be dealt face down. Of those four cards, you have to choose one while its facing down. If the card you chose has a value higher than the dealer’s card, you get to double your winnings. If it happens to be a tie you can either leave the game and take your winnings, or request to double again. The tricky part about choosing to double a second time around is that if the card you’ve chosen looses again, you lose your entire bet, winnings included. Some online casinos even offer the opportunity to double only half of your winnings while safely storing the other half in your bankroll.
Additional Tips
- Avoid playing low pairs. Remember the game only pays out for tens or better. Rather go for straight or flush hands.
- If you don’t have the best hand, keep all tens or higher in the hopes of making a pair, tens or better and hopefully get some money back.
- Don’t be scared to target large payouts. You are better off chasing royal or straight flush hands over straight or pair hands.
