Video poker quiz: Two High Cards or Three-card Straight Flush

8 March 2025

By Jerry Stickman

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

See if you can play the two hands properly.

Today’s first hand contains:
- 3 of clubs (3c)
- King of hearts (Kh)
- Ace of clubs (Ac)
- Jack of hearts (Jh)
- 5 of clubs (5c)

The two obvious holds for the hand (3c, Kh, Ac, Jh, 5c) are:
- Two suited high cards / two cards of a royal flush (Kh, Jh)
- Three-card straight flush (3c, Ac, 5c)

Full disclosure time: I sometimes miss the fact that there are three cards of a straight flush in hands like this one. I tend to see the ace as a high card and not as a club tied to a low straight flush. It does not happen often, but when playing fast, I sometime do not notice the flush until after the Draw button is hit. By then, it is too late!

Okay, back to the main topic.

Which hold would you choose?

The returns for these two holds for the hand (3c, Kh, Ac, Jh, 5c) are:
- Two suited high cards (Kh, Jh) – return 2.9784 credits for five credits played on average.
- The three-card straight flush (3c, Ac, 5c) – returns 2.6873 credits on average.

In this case the two suited high cards (two cards of a royal flush) return about three-tenths of a credit more that the three cards of the straight flush.

Holding the two suited high cards is the proper hold for this hand. Is this the hold you chose?

Let’s try another similar hand with one minor change.

The second hand contains:
- 3 of clubs (3c)
- King of hearts (Kh)
- Ace of clubs (Ac)
- Queen of spades (Qs)
- 5 of clubs (5c)

As with the first hand, the two obvious holds for the hand (3c, Kh, Ac, Qs, 5c) are:
- Two high cards (Kh, Qs)
- Three-card straight flush (3c, Ac, 5c)

Which cards would you hold? Will this hand have a different best hold?

The returns for these two holds for the hand (3c, Kh, Ac, Jh, 5c) are:
- Two high cards (Kh, Qs) – return 2.4172 credits for five credits played on average.
- The three-card straight flush (3c, Ac, 5c) – returns 2.6873 credits on average.

When the two high cards are unsuited the resultant return drops enough to remove this hold from contention. Holding the three cards of a straight flush is the proper hold for this hand. Is this the hold you chose?

How did you do? Did you play both hands correctly?

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