Last updated: April 2026
Full-pay Pickem Poker refers to the strongest paytable version of the game — the 9/6 table that returns approximately 99.95% RTP under optimal play. It's the benchmark every serious Pickem Poker player uses to evaluate whether a game is worth their time. Every paytable below it is a compromise.
What the full-pay 9/6 paytable looks like
| Hand | Full-pay payout (per coin) | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 250 (800 at max coins) | Max-coin bonus is the whole game — always play 5 coins |
| Straight Flush | 50 | Paytable-sensitive for SF draw vs trips decisions |
| Four of a Kind | 25 | Rarely reduced, but check |
| Full House | 9 | Primary identifier — 9 = full-pay, 8 or below = reduced |
| Flush | 6 | Second identifier — 6 = full-pay, 5 or below = reduced |
| Straight | 4 | Usually stable across versions |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | Stable |
| Two Pair | 2 | Stable |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | Stable |
| 9s or 10s | 1 | Unique to Pickem Poker — verify it's present |
The two numbers that define full-pay are 9 (Full House) and 6 (Flush). If you see those two numbers, you're on a full-pay table. If either is reduced, you're playing a weaker version. It's a 10-second check before every session and worth doing every time.
Why "9/6" is the shorthand
In video poker shorthand, paytables are named for their Full House / Flush payouts because those are the most frequently hit medium-value hands. A "9/6" game pays 9-for-1 on Full Houses and 6-for-1 on Flushes. An "8/5" game pays 8 and 5. The shorthand captures the two lines most likely to differ between versions and most responsible for RTP variation.
How to find full-pay Pickem Poker
Pickem Poker is an RTG (RealTime Gaming) game, so full-pay versions exist at RTG-powered online casinos. Not all RTG casinos offer the full-pay version — some run 8/6 or 8/5. The check is simple: open the game, look at the paytable before betting, verify Full House = 9 and Flush = 6. If they're lower, either accept the weaker game knowingly or find a different casino. Our casino comparison page covers operators that offer full-pay access.
Is full-pay Pickem Poker always available at RTG casinos?
Not always. RTG licenses the game to casinos that may configure the paytable as they choose. Some offer 9/6, some offer 8/6 or 8/5. You must verify the paytable in the actual game — don't assume RTG = full-pay automatically.
Does full-pay Pickem Poker beat full-pay Jacks or Better?
Slightly — full-pay Pickem Poker (~99.95%) edges full-pay JoB (~99.54%) by about 0.4 percentage points. Both are excellent games. See the full comparison for details.