VP Quiz: Two-card Royal Flush or Two Possible Inside Straights?

9 December 2023

By Jerry Stickman

Video Poker Strategy Quiz:
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.

Note: The statistics shown are from Video Poker for Winners.

These quizzes will be posted periodically and will feature hands that have hold choices that produce either very close results or are played wrong due to missing the obvious.

Here is today’s dealt hand: 8d, Qs, 9c, Kc, Js.

• 8 of diamonds – (8d)
• Queen of spades – (Qs)
• 9 of clubs – (9c)
• King of clubs – (Kc)
• Jack of spades – (Js)

Checking the possibilities.

Three obvious possible holds are:

1. Qs, 9c, Kc, Js – (Four-card inside straight)
2. Qs, Kc, Js – (Three-card inside straight)
3. Qs, Js – (Two-card royal flush)

The unsuited king / jack, unsuited queen / jack and four-card inside straight with two high cards are obviously inferior holds to the three above.

Choice 1 (Qs, 9c, Kc, Js) – Out of 47 possible outcomes, a four-card inside straight flush can produce four straights, and nine high pairs.

Choice 2 (Qs, Kc, Js) – Out of 1,081 possible outcomes, a three-card inside strataight can produce 28 straights, nine three-of-a-kinds, 27 hands with two pairs, and 348 high pairs.

Choice 3 (Qs, Js) – Out of 16,215 possible outcomes a two-card royal flush can produce one royal flush, two straight flushes, two four-of-a-kinds, 18 full houses, 162 flushes, 117 straights, 281 three-of-a-kinds, 711 hands with two pairs, and 4,914 high pairs.

Examining the returns from each hold.

Hold 1 (Qs, 9c, Kc, Js) – returns 2.6596 credits on average for the 5 credits bet.

Hold 2 (Qs, Kc, Js) – returns 2.5023 credits on average for the 5 credits bet.

Hold 3 (Qs, Js) – returns 3.0006 credits on average for the 5 credits bet.

We have a winner!

Hold 3 (Qs, Js) is the proper hold – by a moderate margin. The possible royal flush, straight flushes, and four-of-a-kinds make it the overall winner.

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