Optimum
Video Poker Strategy
The
Optimum Video Poker Strategy is designed
to be the most consistent for the frequent
player who is not playing long enough per
session to seriously chase the big jackpots.
The profitability for a given session will vary
greatly, but over time should average out to the
upper limits of the expected return for a game.
The optimum strategy is
listed in a table format below. Feel free to
print it out and follow along while playing
online.
There are six hands that
if you are dealt that you should keep. The
payouts on them are high enough to keep the
hand. Those hands are:
Royal Flush, Straight
Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush,
Straight
Where you see High
Cards listed below that means one or more of
the following cards - Ace, King, Queen or Jack.
When you see Gap that means two
non-consecutive cards for example a 7 and a 9.
|
You are
dealt the following Hands |
Number to
Draw |
| Four Cards
to a Royal Flush |
1 |
| Three of a
kind |
2 |
| Four Card
Straight Flush |
1 |
| Two Pair |
1 |
| Three Cards
to a Royal Flush |
2 |
| High Pair |
3 |
| Four Card
Flush |
1 |
| Open Ended
Straight with 3 High Cards |
1 |
| Low Pair |
3 |
| Open Ended
Straight Draw |
1 |
| Three to a
Straight Flush |
2 |
| Two to a
Royal Flush but no 10 |
3 |
| Inside
Straight with at least 3 high Cards |
1 |
| Two Cards
to a Royal Flush with a 10 |
3 |
| Three High
Cards |
2 |
| Three to a
Straight Flush with a gap |
2 |
| Two High
Cards |
3 |
| One High
Card |
4 |
| Mixed Low
Cards |
5 |
Using this chart is very
easy. All you do is start at the top of the
list and work your way down until you find the
very first draw that fits your hand and use it.
For example if you are
dealt a pair of Kings you start at the top and
look for the hand that fits yours. As you go
down the list you come to “High Pairs” which
exactly fits your hand. You would keep the pair
of Kings and draw three new cards.
Another hand that you
might get could be six of hearts, seven of
hearts, eight of hearts, two of clubs and six of
diamonds. As you look down the list you come to
“Three to a Straight Flush”. You would keep the
six of hearts, seven of hearts, eight of hearts
and draw two new cards to replace the two of
clubs and six of diamonds.
As you can see using this
chart is very easy. |
