|
The odds
The odds on a given hand vary from game to game, of course, but
generally speaking the house edge on Video Poker games is pretty
small, even 0% in some cases. Where the Video Poker games get an
edge is with players who do not follow an optimum strategy. In other
words, winging any given game based on a loose understanding of
Poker is going to lose you money.
Each Video Poker variation has its own quirks when it comes to the
odds and optimum player strategy. In the next section we'll give you
a rough guide to the most popular games, but detailed strategy
guides would take pages. If you're serious about Video Poker, try
some of the material in our reference section. Smart players can do
pretty well at Video Poker.
Jacks or better
Jacks Or Better strategy can get a little complicated. For a full
analysis check our references below, or follow this rough strategy
guide:
Keep any hand that already pays. Possible exceptions, by potential
value, are:
-
Hold four
card Royal Flushes to make Straights or Flushes.
-
Four card
straight flushes, inside or outside.
-
High card
Pairs rank here.
-
Three card
Royal Flushes.
-
Four card
Flushes.
-
Low Pairs
rank here, trying to build Three Of A Kind.
-
Four card
Flushes.
-
Four card
Straights. Hold inside Straights only if you've got three or more
high cards (J, Q, K, A).
If you've got nothing worth money, here's a general strategy, in
order of preference:
-
Keep any two
suited high cards. Discard unsuited high cards.
-
Four
mixed-suit high cards:
-keep any three suited, toss the unsuited.
-otherwise, keep them all.
-
Three
unsuited high cards:
-keep all three of K-Q-J.
-with A-K-J or A-Q-J, discard the A.
-
Keep any two
unsuited high cards.
-
Keep any
single high card.
Tens or better
Same strategy as Jacks Or Better where 10 is now a high card.
Deuces wild
General strategy includes, best options first:
-
Hold any 5 Of
A Kind or Royal Flush.
-
Else, if
you've got four 2's: keep 'em!.
-
Else, if
you've got three 2's:
-hold any made 5 Of A Kind or Royal Flush
-otherwise, keep the 2's and discard the rest.
-
Else, if
you've got two 2's:
-hold any made Straight, Five Of A Kind or Royal Flush.
-hold any 4 of a Kind.
-hold any 4 of a Royal Flush.
-otherwise, keep the 2's and discard the rest.
-
Else, if
you've got a single 2, keep any made hand EXCEPT:
-hold four card Royal Flushes over made Straights, Flushes and
Straight Flushes.
-keep four card Straight Flushes of all types.
-hold three card Royal Flushes .
-pairs: with two pair, keep one, but not both.
-hold four card Flushes.
-hold four card Straights.
-hold three card Straight Flushes, including gaps.
-hold four card inside Straights.
-hang on to two card Q or J high Straight Flushes .
-discard two card Royal Flushes.
-if you've come this low in the list, discard everything and try
again.
Jokers wild
Remember that only K and A are high cards: this is a Kings or Better
game.
General strategy:
-
Keep a Joker
if you get it. You'll only see in once in ten hands, on average.
-
Don't keep an
inside Straight.
-
Straight
Flushes are a good payer and they occur considerably more
frequently than in a game like Jacks or Better
All American
Straights and Flushes pay well here so it tips the usual strategy in
their favour:
-
Prefer inside
Straights over one or two high cards.
-
Prefer 4 card
outside Straights and 4 card flushes over pairs, even high ones.
Hold any three cards to a Flush.
|
