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Two Hands with an Inside Straight – But Different Holds

1 February 2025

Preamble: Today’s article is a quiz on proper video poker strategy for two different inside straights. The game is full-pay (9/6) jacks or better. The bet is the maximum of five credits sothat the royal flush pays 800-for-1 rather than 250-for-1.

See if you can play each hand properly.

Hand #1

The first hand for today is:

Queen of spades (Qs), 9 of diamonds (9d), jack of hearts (Jh), king of diamonds (Kd), 6 of diamonds (6d)

This hand contains four cards of an inside straight with three high cards (Qs, 9d, Jh, Kd), three high cards (Qs, Jh, Kd), and three cards of a flush (9d, Kd, 6d).

Which cards would you hold? The answers are after the second hand.

Hand #2

The second hand for today is:

King of hearts (Kh), queen of clubs (Qc), 9 of clubs (9c), jack of hearts (Jh), 2 of clubs (2c)

This hand also contains four cards of an inside straight with three high cards (Kh, Qc, 9c, Jh), three high cards (Kh, Qc, Jh), and three cards of a flush (Qc, 9c, 2c). However, in this hand, two of the high cards are suited (Kh, Jh).

Is the fact that there are two suited high cards enough to change your hold? What would you do?

Answers:
Hand #1
Here are the returns for the top holds for hand #1 (Qs, 9d, Jh, Kd, 6d):
- Four cards of an inside straight with three high cards (Qs, 9d, Jh, Kd) – returns 2.6596 credits on average for the five credits played.
- Three unsuited high cards (Qs, Jh, Kd) – returns 2.5023 credits on average.
- Queen/jack unsuited (Qs, Jh) – returns 2.4419 credits on average.
- Jack/king, queen/kind (Jh, Kd), (Qs, Kd) – return 2.3827 credits on average.

Hand #2
Here are the returns for the top holds of hand #2 (Kh, Qc, 9c, Jh, 2c):
- Suited king/jack – two of a royal flush (Kh, Jh) – returns 2.9439 credits on average for five credits played.
- Four cards of an inside straight with three high cards (Kh, Qc, 9c, Jh) – returns 2.6596 credits on average.
- Three high cards (Kh, Qc, Jh) – returns 2.5023 credits on average.
- Queen/jack unsuited (Qc, Jh) – returns 2.4419 credits on average.
- King/queen unsuited (Kh, Qc) – returns 2.3827 credits on average.

Notes:
- Two suited high cards (two of a royal flush) has the highest return of any in these two examples. This hold outweighs four cards of an inside straight with three high cards.
- Unsuited queen/jack outperforms unsuited king/queen or unsuited king/jack.

How did you do? Did you get both holds correct?

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
.
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.

Jerry Stickman Websites:

www.goldentouchcraps.com
www.goldentouchblackjack.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.

Jerry Stickman Websites:

www.goldentouchcraps.com
www.goldentouchblackjack.com