Video Poker Strategy Quiz: Straight, K-J Unsuited, or ??

7 January 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.

Here is today’s dealt hand: Jh, Ks, Td, Ad, 9d
• Jack of hearts – (Jh)
• King of spades – (Ks)
• 10 of diamonds – (Td)
• Ace of diamonds – (Ad)
• 9 of diamonds – (9d)

The four apparent best choices of cards to hold are:
1. Jh, Ks, Td, Ad – (Inside straight – 3 high cards)
2. Jh, Ks, Td, 9d – (Inside straight – 2 high cards)
3. Jh, Ks – (2 high cards)
4. Ks, Ad – or – Jh, Ad (2 high cards including ace)

Choice 1 can produce a straight or a high pair.

Choice 2 can also produce a straight or a high pair.

Choices 3 and 4 offer chances for a straight, high pair, two pairs, three and four of a kind, and a full house.

Let’s look at the returns from each of these holds along with an explanation of which winning hands play a part in the respective return.

1. Jh, Ks, Td, Ad: Long-term return – 2.6596 for five credits bet.
• 47 possible final hands.
• Nine high pairs paying 1-for-1.
• Four straights paying 4-for-1.

2. Jh, Ks, Td, 9d: Long term return – 2.3404 for five credits bet.
• 47 possible final hands.
• Six high pairs paying 1-for-1.
• Four straights paying 4-for-1

3. Jh, Ks: Long term return – 2.3679 for five credits bet.
• 16,215 possible final hands.
• 4,914 high pairs paying 1-for-1.
• 711 two pairs paying 2-for-1.
• 281 three-of-a-kind hands paying 3-for-1.
• 72 straights paying 4-for-1
• 18 full houses paying 9-for-1.
• Two four-of-a-kind hands paying 125-for-1.

4. Ks, Ad –or– Jh, Ad: Long term return – 2.3235 for five credits bet.
• 16,215 possible final hands.
• 4,914 high pairs paying 1-for-1.
• 711 two pairs paying 2-for-1.
• 281 three-of-a-kind hands paying 3-for-1.
• 36 straights paying 4-for-1.
• 18 full houses paying 9-for-1
• Two four-of-a-kind hands paying 125-for-1

Explanations

Hold 2 (Jh, Ks, Td, 9d) returns less than hold 1 (Jh, Ks, Td, Ad) because there are fewer high pairs possible (six versus nine). This reduces overall return by about one-third of a credit.

Even though hold 3 (Jh, Ks) and hold 4 (Ks, Ad –or– Jh, Ad) both have two high cards, the ace limits the number of straights. This reduction in the number of straights reduces the overall return by about five-hundredths of a credit.

The reduced return for hold 2 is enough to put it in third place behind holds 1 and 3.

Hold 1 (inside straight with three high cards) 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, 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