Back to the RESOURCES page

The game is Full-pay Jacks or Better with a 4000-coin Royal Flush

With the Royal at its lowest level, we are faced with a play which is difficult for anyone to make. Because we will discard the 9, it makes the 10 worth less, since we've reduced the number of straights we can get. The 9 is a 'penalty' card in this hand, so the proper play is to hold the King alone. Tough to do, but look at it this way: while we cannot get a Royal by discarding the 10, it has increased our chances for four Kings. (Yeah, I know - small consolation.) But successful video poker players rely on the math, not the hunches. Here are the numbers:
Hold 10, K: 2.2911
Hold K only: 2.2988

If the 9 was an 8, the numbers would look like this:
Hold 10, K: 2.3108
Hold K only: 2.3042

The game is full-pay 'Money Fever' which can be found on the Williams 'Multi-Play' Machines. The pay schedule and how the game works can be found in the 5-4-98 'Video Poker Bible'. Since the flush pays so much, the minimum holding hand is a two-card flush and you'll always have at least that: (five cards, only four suits). So, we obviously hold the two diamonds in this play. Here are the numbers:

Hold 2 diamonds: 1.5794
Hold J only: 1.0420
Discard all: 0.9290

The game is 9/6 Jacks or Better with a 7000-coin Royal. The proper play is usually to hold both high cards, since that doubles your chances to at least get a pair and get your $$$ back. But, with such a high Royal (we see them quite often here in St. Louis on dollar machines), holding the Jack alone is the proper play. Why the Jack over the Ace? The Jack allows you to complete more straights, so it has a higher value. Here are the numbers:
Hold Jack only: 2.4011
Hold J, A: 2.3913

If any of the discards was a 'penalty' card (either 8 or higher or any heart), the proper play would be to hold both high cards. Is this video poker geekdom, or what?

The game is 9/6 Jacks or Better with a 5000-coin Royal. Normally, a 3-card straight flush draw is better than even the best 2-card royal draw, but with an elevated jackpot, the J, Q is the better play. Here are the numbers:

Hold J, Q: 3.1844
Hold 3 hearts: 3.1499

The game is 'Powerhouse' Poker where the Full House pays 60 for 5 and 4 Aces pays 1000 for 5. Two-pair pay only 5 for 5, so the temptation is great to go for the 4 Aces. But, because of that nice Full House payoff, the proper play is to keep the two-pair. Here are the numbers:

Hold 2-pair: 9.6809
Hold A, A: 9.4767

[Back to the top]