How would you play this hand?

19 July 2025

By Jerry Stickman

The game is full-pay jacks or better. You bet the max of five credits to get the 800-to-1 royal flush pay.

You are dealt the following hand:
- Ace of spades (As)
- Jack of hearts (Jh)
- Queen of diamonds (Qd)
- 9 of clubs (9c)
- 10 of hearts (Th)

There are several possible options:
- Hold the Ace, Jack, Queen and Ten to go for a high pair, or straight.
- Hold the Jack of hearts and Queen of diamonds to go for a high pair, two pairs, three-of-a-kind, straight, full house, or four-of-a-kind.
- Hold the Ace, Jack and Queen going for a high pair, two pair, three-of-a-kind, or straight.
- Hold the Jack, Queen, Nine, and Ten to go for a high pair or straight.
- Hold the Jack and Ten of hearts to go for a high pair, two pair, three-of-a-kind, straight, flush, full house, four-of-a-kind, or a royal flush.
- Hold the lone Ace or Queen to go for a high pair, two pairs, three-of-a-kind, straight, flush, full house, four-of-a-kind, straight flush, or royal flush.
- Hold the lone Jack of hearts to go for the same as the previous line but without a shot at a straight flush or royal flush, full house, or four-of-a-kind.
- Hold the Ace and either the Queen or Jack to go for a high pair, two pairs, three-of-a-kind, straight, full house, or four-of-a-kind.

Here is a list of what each hold returns – on average, listed by highest to lowest average return:
- Holding the Jack, Queen, Nine and Ten returns 4.0426 credits for five credits bet.
- Holding the Ace, Jack, Queen and Ten returns 2.6596 credits.
- Holding the Jack and Queen returns 2.4123 credits.
- Holding the Jack and Ten returns 2.3867 credits.
- Hold the Ace and either the Queen or Jack returns 2.3235 credits.
- Hold the lone Ace returns 2.2573 credits.
- Hold the lone Queen returns 2.2539 credits.
- Hold the lone Jack returns 2.2179 credits.
- Holding the Ace, Jack and Queen returns 2.2063 credits.

As the list shows, the best return comes from holding the four cards of an open straight. This hold returns the most even though the only possible winning hands are a high pair and a straight. The second-best return is only two thirds of the best return. Interestingly, the hold of a two-card royal flush (the Jack and Ten of hearts) comes in number four on the return list even though four-of-a-kinds, straight flushes and a royal are possible winners with this hold.

And, it goes downhill from there.

Is that how you would have played it?

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

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 and 888casino.com. 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