Is Holding the Ace Correct?

4 February 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.

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

Here is today’s dealt hand: 6d, 3h, Ah, 7c, 5h
• 6 of diamonds – (6d)
• 3 of hearts – (3h)
• A of hearts – (Ah)
• 7 of clubs – (7c)
• 5 of hearts – (5h)

This is one of those hands that many players tend to play incorrectly. This is especially true for players who play very quickly.

The hand has a high card and four cards of an inside straight – all low.

Knowing that you never hold an inside straight with no high cards, almost as an instinct, many players will hold the ace and hit the draw button.

I know, it has happened to me. Usually, an instant after hitting the draw button, I notice my error. There is a three-card straight flush in hearts (3h, Ah, 5h).

This error is particularly costly. Holding the lone ace returns 2.3281 credits, on average, for the five credits played. Holding the three cards of a straight flush returns 2.7151 credits, on average, for the five credits played.

It is normally easy to spot a three-card straight flush when all the cards are low cards, or when there is more than one high card.

However, when there is a lone ace among several low cards, it is easy to not see the straight flush.

Beware of this situation.

Did you play the hand properly?

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