Feedback Jacks or Better

22 October 2022

By Jerry Stickman

From Ray:

Hi Jerry,

The slight variations in strategy were very interesting, and I have a couple of follow-up questions and comments.

First, I think there was a misprint in the Bonus Poker explanation. The 4th line reads Th and should probably read Jh (saving the card that would be a winner if paired, not the other).

Now, it seems that the main reason the best hold in JoB should be the suited jack and ten is because a flush pays more (6) than in BP (5). Is that why?

Also, even though I don't hold 4 to an inside straight, I know many people that would, yet you didn't even mention that 7,8,T,J is not a good hold and what the average return on that would be. (How much worse of a return is it?)

Thanks Jerry, I always appreciate your articles. They are not only informative but also interesting.

More thinking makes us all better players.

Hi Ray,

Thanks so much for your very insightful comments and questions. You are very observant.

You are absolutely correct about the misprint – I should have caught it. The fourth line of the Bonus Poker returns should read Jh, not Th for the very reason you mentioned.

You are also correct in the reason for the Jh, Th being the best hold. The 6-for-1 Jacks or Better pay versus the 5-for-1 Bonus Poker pay make all the difference.

Regarding the average return for the inside straight (Jh, Th, 8d, 7d) – it is 2.0213 credits for the five credits bet. This is true for both Jacks or Better and Bonus Poker.

And thank you for the nice comments about my articles. I do appreciate them.

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

Note: to see the original article, go here: Jacks or Better versus Bonus Poker (casinocitytimes.com)

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