Video Poker Strategy Quiz: Straight, K-Q Suited, or J-10 Suited?

10 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 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: Qs, Ks, Jd, Td, 5d
• Queen of spades – (Qs)
• King of spades – (Ks)
• Jack of diamonds – (Jd)
• 10 of diamonds – (Td)
• 5 of diamonds – (5d)

The four apparent best choices of cards to hold are:
1. Qs, Ks – (Two-card royal flush – two high cards)
2. Jd, Td – (Two-card royal flush – one high card
3. Qs, Ks, Jd, Td – (Four-card open straight – 3 high cards)
4. Qs, Ks, Jd – (Three-card open straight – 3 high cards)

Choice 1 (Qs, Ks) can produce a royal flush, straight flush and many others.

Choice 2 (Jd, Td) can also produce a royal flush, straight flush and many others.

Choice 3 (Qs, Ks, Jd, Td) offers chances for a straight or high pair and nothing else.

Choice 4 (Qs, Ks, Jd) offers chances for a high pair, two pairs, three-of-a-kind, straight, or 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. Qs, Ks: Long-term return – 2.9291 for five credits bet.
• 16,215 possible final hands.
• 4,914 high pairs paying 1-for-1.
• 711 two-pair hands paying 2-for-1.
• 281 three-of-a-kind hands paying 3-for-1.
• 70 straights paying 4-for-1.
• 163 flushes paying 6-for-1.
• 18 full houses paying 9-for-1.
• Two four-of-a-kind hands paying 125-for-1.
• One straight flush paying 250-for-1.
• One royal flush paying 800-for-1.

2. Jd, Td: Long term return – 2.3380 for five credits bet.
• 16,215 possible final hands.
• 2,739 high pairs paying 1-for-1.
• 711 two-pair hands paying 2-for-1.
• 281 three-of-a-kind hands paying 3-for-1.
• 180 straights paying 4-for-1.
• 116 flushes paying 6-for-1.
• 18 full houses paying 9-for-1.
• Two four-of-a-kind hands paying 125-for-1.
• Three straight flushes paying 250-for-1.
• One royal flush paying 800-for-1.

3. Qs, Ks, Jd, Td: Long term return – 4.3617 for five credits bet.
• 47 possible final hands.
• Nine high pairs paying 1-for-1.
• Eight straights paying 4-for-1

4. Qs, Ks, Jd: Long term return – 2.4283 for five credits bet.
• 1,081 possible final hands.
• 348 high pairs paying 1-for-1.
• 27 two pairs paying 2-for-1.
• Nine three-of-a-kind hands paying 3-for-1.
• 24 straights paying 4-for-1.

Explanations

Hold 1 (Qs, Ks) returns significantly more than hold 2 (Jd, Td). This is because there are many more high pairs and flushes. The return for hold 1 is almost six-tenths of a credit more than hold 2.

Hold 3 (Qs, Ks, Jd, Td) has only 47 possible final hands, however, nine of these are high pairs and eight are straights.

Hold 4 (Qs, Ks, Jd) nothing but high cards. However, this hold returns almost two full credits less than hold 3 because there is a much higher percentage of non-winning hands.

Hold 4 (Qs, Ks, Jd, Td) is the proper hold – by a long shot.

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