A New Video Poker Quiz

5 August 2023

By Jerry Stickman

This article contains a video poker strategy quiz. The game is full-pay (9/6 – 9-for-1 full house, 6-for-1 flush) jacks or better.

The quiz assumes the maximum five credits is played. The maximum bet produces the highest long-term return because the royal flush pays 800-for-1 (4,000-for-5) rather than 250-for-1 when less than the maximum is bet.

Look at the dealt hand below and decide which card or cards you would hold. Then read on to see if you are right.

Note: The statistics shown are from “Video Poker for Winners.”

These quizzes will be posted periodically and will feature hands that have holds that produce very close results.

Here is today’s dealt hand: 8c, Kd, Jc, 9h, Qc.
• 8 of clubs – (8c)
• King of diamonds – (Kd)
• Jack of clubs – (Jc)
• 9 of hearts – (9h)
• Queen of clubs – (Qc)

Four obvious possible holds are:
1. 8c, Jc, Qc – (Three-card straight flush)
2. Jc, Qc – (Two-card royal flush)
3. Kd, Jc, 9h, Qc – (Four-card inside straight)
4. Kd, Jc, Qc – (Three high cards)

Choice 1 (8c, Jc, Qc) – a three-card straight flush can produce one straight flushes, 44 flushes, 11 straights, nine three-of-a-kinds, 27 hands with two pairs, and 237 high pairs.

Choice 2 (Jc, Qc) – two-card royal flush can produce one royal flush, one straight flush, two four-of-a-kinds, 18 full houses, 118 flushes, 118 straights, 281 three-of-a-kinds, 711 hands with two pairs, and 4,914 high pairs.

Choice 3 (Kd, Jc, 9h, Qc) – four-card inside straight can produce four straights, and nine high pairs.

Choice 4 (Kd, Jc, Qc) – three high cards can produce 28 straights, nine three-of-a-kinds, 27 hands with two pairs, and 3438 high pairs.

Returns

Hold 1 (8c, Jc, Qc) – returns 3.1267 credits on average for 5 credits bet.

Hold 2 (Jc, Qc) – returns 2.9050 credits on average for 5 credits bet.

Hold 3 (Kd, Jc, 9h, Qc) – returns 2.6596 credits on average for 5 credits bet.

Hold 4 (Kd, Jc, Qc) – returns 2.5023 credits on average for 5 credits bet.

The winner?

Hold 1 (8c, Jc, Qc) is the proper hold – by a decent margin. The possible straight flush, flushes, and others make this hold the favorite.

Did you play this hand correctly?

As always, may all your wins be swift and large, and your losses be slow and small.

Jerry “Stickman”

Jerry “Stickman” is an expert in craps, blackjack and video poker and advantage slot machine play. He is a regular contributor to top gaming magazines. He authored the video poker section of “Everything Casino Poker: Get the Edge at Video Poker, Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, and Pai Gow Poker!” You can contact Jerry “Stickman” at stickmanjerryg@gmail.com