Ranked #118 of all time · ranking score 77 · See the list
"Joker Poker," released by Gottlieb in June 1978, is a classic pinball machine designed by Ed Krynski with artwork by Gordon Morison. It features a card game theme and is available in both solid-state and electro-mechanical versions.
Finish the card rank lit to activate 5X bonus, then shoot drop targets all day, Aces and Queens first. Hit the EB standup if enabled and lit.
Balanced
Very High
Smack targets, then smack more targets. Aces all day is one option. But if you love drop targets, this is a game for you, since that’s about all there is to do. Getting 5X bonus on each ball is desired, done via one shot on ball 1 (hit the 10), by two or three shots on ball 2 (get the three queens; this assumes 3-ball game settings), and by however many shots it takes on ball 3 to get the five aces. You only get bonus for completed sets of cards, at 1X each base or at 5X if you finish the goal rank [10, Q’s, A’s] for that ball. You do get a base 1X bonus for the “goal” card rank. The 10 and pair of jacks are linked as far as targets resetting goes - - the Q, K and A banks each reset when completed, but the 10 and Jacks only reset when both are completed. The big points here, though, are hitting any targets _after_ you’ve completed that set once during a ball. They score 5000 each at that point, which is where most of a top score will come from. For the Aces, get the two on the right by threading your shot between the Js and the Qs; get the second and third from the left with shots off the upper left wall. The target on the far left is hard to hit from the bottom; use the upper flipper or nudges off the left bumper. If extra balls are on, there are two ways to get one: finishing either the Aces or the A-B-C lanes will light the EB stand up target in the extreme upper right. Since you can get the B via either return lane at the bottom, you should plunge for the A or A lane whenever EBs are active. I prefer the A, if possible, since if you later get the B via a ball through a return lane, then you just need the C up top. If you manage to get the ball up there where you can nudge it into the C, you have an opportunity to immediately collect the EB when the ball falls through the top C lane onto the pop bumper if you can nudge so that the rebound off of the right bumper is into the EB target. Two drop targets are noticeably riskier for draining out the right side: the right hand Jack target and the bottom King target.
via Bob's Guide
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Podcasts, videos, and articles from the community that mention Joker Poker.
Midwest Pinball Championship 2026 - Morning Qualifier Morning qualifier. Top 12 make the evening playoffs.
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