Video Poker Strategy Quiz 10-Q Suited or J-Q Unsuited?

24 December 2022

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 if 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 more than one hold that produces very close results.

Here is today’s dealt hand: Ts, Qs, Jh, 4d, 6c
? 10 of spades – (Ts)
? Queen of spades – (Qs)
? Jack of hearts – (Jh)
? 4 of diamonds – (4d)
? 6 of clubs – (6c)

The three apparent best choices of cards to hold are:

1. Ts, Qs – (two suited cards – one of them a high card, shot at a royal flush).
2. Qs, Jh – (two unsuited high cards – neither an ace)
3. Ts, Qs, Jh – (three cards of an open straight with two high cards)

Choice 1 has the possibility of a royal flush, but only one high card. There is also the possibility of many other winning hands.

Choice 2 has two high cards and is a two-card open straight.

Choice 3 has three cards of an open straight with two high cards.

Let’s look at the returns from each of these holds followed by an explanation of what winning hands play a part in return for that hold.

1.Ts, Qs: Long-term return – 2.3928 for the five credits played.
? 16,215 possible final hands.
? 2,847 high pairs paying 1-for-1.
? 711 two-pair hands paying 2-for-1.
? 281 three-of-a-kind hands paying 3-for-1.
? 141 straights paying 4-for-1.
? 162 flushes paying 6-for-1.

? 18 full houses paying 9-for-1.
? 2 four-of-a-kind hands paying 125-for-1.
? 1 royal flush paying 800-for-1.

2. Qs, Jh: Long-term return – 2.4900 for five credits played.
? 16,215 possible final hands.
? 5,022 high pairs paying 1-for-1.
? 711 two-pair hands paying 2-for-1.
? 281 three-of-a-kind hands paying 3-for-1.
? 144 straights paying 4-for-1.
? 18 full houses paying 9-for-1.
?
2 four-of-a-kind hands paying 125-for-1.
3. Ts, Qs, Jh: Long-term return – 2.3728 for five credits played.
? 1,081 possible final hands.
? 240 high pairs paying 1-for-1.
? 27 two-pair hands paying 2-for-1.
? 9 three-of-a-kind hands paying 3-for-1.
? 48 straights paying 4-for-1.

Explanations

Hold 1 (Ts, Qs) has a shot at the royal flush and 162 flushes that hold two does not. While helping the return, this hold weighs in at second place.

Hold 2 (Qs, Jh) has two high cards. Even though they are not suited, they can produce many more high pairs (5,022 versus 2,847). This hold can produce three more straights than hold 1 (144 versus 141).

Even with no possible flushes, the plethora of high pairs is enough to produce the highest return of the holds.

Hold 3 (Ts, Qs, Jh) has an open straight with two high cards. Unfortunately, holding three cards reduces the number of possible final hands (1,081 versus 16,215). There are no possible flushes, full houses, or four-of-a-kind hands. These all combine to make the hold the worst of the three.

Hold 2 (Qs, Jh) is the proper hold.

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