Quiz: Royal, Straight Flush, or Straight?

2 September 2023

By Jerry Stickman

This article contains a video poker strategy quiz. The game is an 8/5 (8-for-1 full house, 5-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: Kd, 9d, Ac, Jd, Qc.
• King of diamonds – (Kd)
• 9 of diamonds – (9d)
• Ace of clubs – (Ac)
• Jack of diamonds – (Jd)
• Queen of clubs – (Qc)

Four likely holds are:
1. Kd, 9d, Jd – (Three-card straight flush)
2. Kd, Ac, Jd, Qc – (Four-card inside straight – 4 high cards)
3. Ac, Qc – (Two-card royal flush)
4. Kd, Jd – (Two-card royal flush)

Choice 1 (Kd, 9d, Jd) – out of 1,081 possible results, a three-card straight flush can produce one straight flush, 44 flushes, 11 straights, nine three-of-a-kinds, 27 hands with two pairs, and 234 high pairs.

Choice 2 (Kd, Ac, Jd, Qc) – out of 47 possible results, a four-card inside straight with four high cards can produce 4 straights, and 12 high pairs.

Choice 3 (Ac, Qc) – out of 10,197 possible results, a two-card royal flush can produce one royal flush, two 4-of-a-kinds, 18 full houses, 164 flushes, 35 straights, 281 3-of-a-kinds, 711 hands with two pairs, and 4,806 high pairs.

Choice 4 (Kd, Jd) – out of 10,197 possible results, a two-card royal flush can produce one royal flush, two 4-of-a-kinds, 18 full houses, 119 flushes, 71 straights, 281 3-of-a-kinds, 711 hands with two pairs, and 4,806 high pairs.

Returns

Hold 1 (Kd, 9d, Jd) – returns 2.9093 credits on average for 5 credits bet.

Hold 2 (Kd, Ac, Jd, Qc) – returns 2.9787 credits on average for 5 credits bet.

Hold 3 (Ac, Qc) – returns 2.7829 credits on average for 5 credits bet.

Hold 4 (Kd, Jd) – returns 2.7579 credits on average for 5 credits bet.

The winner?

Hold 2 (Kd, Ac, Jd, Qc) is the proper hold. Even though the winning hands are only straights and high pairs, 16 out of 47 possible hands are winners. This is enough to top the list.

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