All American Poker rewrites one of the fundamental assumptions of video poker: that a flush beats a straight, and a full house beats both. In this Jacks or Better variant, all three hands pay identical amounts on the full-pay table. That single change makes All American one of the most strategically interesting — and potentially profitable — games in the video poker family.
The full-pay version returns 100.72%, giving the player an edge over the house. But short-pay versions drop to the mid-96% range, erasing that advantage entirely. Understanding the pay table is not optional — it is the entire game.
How to Identify the Full-Pay Version
All American Poker's signature is the equalized payout for three traditionally different hands. On the full-pay table, Full House, Flush, and Straight all pay 8 for 1 per coin wagered.
The quick identification method is to look at five numbers: the per-coin payouts for Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, and Straight. The full-pay version reads 200/40/8/8/8. The key tell is whether Flush and Straight match the Full House payout. If they are lower, you are on a short-pay machine.
Quick reference:
- 200/40/8/8/8 — Full pay (100.72% RTP). Player-positive.
- 200/40/8/6/6 — Reduced straights and flushes (98.49% RTP).
- 175/20/8/6/6 — Heavily reduced (approximately 96.19% RTP).
Pay Table Comparison: Full Pay vs Short Pay
| Hand | Full Pay (8/8/8) | Short Pay (8/6/6) | Short Pay (8/6/6 reduced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 800 | 800 | 800 |
| Straight Flush | 200 | 200 | 175 |
| Four of a Kind | 40 | 40 | 20 |
| Full House | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Flush | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Straight | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Two Pair | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 1 | 1 |
The full-pay version pays the same for all three middle-tier hands (Full House, Flush, Straight), which fundamentally changes the strategy. The short-pay versions bring Flush and Straight down to 6, restoring the traditional hierarchy and eliminating the game's distinctive appeal.
On the most heavily reduced version, Four of a Kind drops from 40 to 20 and Straight Flush from 200 to 175, compounding the losses.
The RTP Gap: Where the Edge Disappears
The full-pay version at 100.72% means you have a theoretical edge of $0.72 for every $100 wagered. The first short-pay version at 98.49% means the house takes $1.51 per $100. That is a swing of $2.23 per $100 — purely from the pay table, playing the same cards.
On a $1 denomination at max bet ($5 per hand) and 400 hands per hour, the full-pay version theoretically pays you about $14 per hour. The 96.19% version costs you about $76 per hour. Same game, same screen, completely different economics.
What Makes All American Unique
Most Jacks or Better variants tweak the bonus structure for four-of-a-kind hands. All American takes a completely different approach: it leaves four-of-a-kind payouts elevated at 40 for 1 (versus 25 in standard Jacks or Better), then equalizes the three middle-tier hands.
This creates fascinating strategic consequences:
- Flush draws become more valuable. In Jacks or Better, a four-card flush draw is a moderate holding. In All American, the increased flush payout (8 vs 6) pushes flush draws higher in the priority list.
- Straight draws gain significant value. The doubled straight payout (8 vs 4 in Jacks or Better) means open-ended straight draws are much stronger holdings.
- Two pair plays differently. Because the Full House payout is only 8 (versus 9 in 9/6 Jacks or Better), the incentive to break two pair for a flush or straight draw is higher in certain situations.
- Four of a kind is more valuable. At 40 for 1, four of a kind pays 60% more than in Jacks or Better, which changes the calculation when holding three of a kind versus a made straight or flush.
Strategy Differences from Jacks or Better
If you play All American with standard Jacks or Better strategy, you will leave money on the table — quite a bit of it. The equalized payout structure means the entire hand priority system shifts.
The most important changes:
- Four-card straights rank much higher. An open-ended straight draw in All American is often worth more than a low pair, which would never be true in Jacks or Better.
- Four-card flushes similarly outrank holdings that would beat them in Jacks or Better.
- Three-card royal flush draws are more complex because the improved straight and flush payouts make alternative draws more competitive.
- Two pair is still a hold in most cases, but edge cases where you might break two pair for a four-card straight flush draw appear more frequently.
The strategy is genuinely different enough that using a Jacks or Better cheat sheet on an All American machine will cost you at least a half percentage point of return.
The Bottom Line
All American Poker is one of the most cleverly designed video poker variants. By equalizing the Full House, Flush, and Straight payouts, it creates a game that looks familiar but plays completely differently. The full-pay 8/8/8 version at 100.72% RTP is one of the best deals in the casino — for players who recognize it and play accordingly.
The catch is the same as always: short-pay versions strip out the edge. If straights and flushes pay 6 instead of 8, you are playing a below-average Jacks or Better derivative instead of a player-positive game. Check those three lines before you start.
Play All American Poker Free
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