Video Poker

Much like blackjack, video poker can be a great game if played correctly and a money waste if it isn't. Given the different kinds of video poker machines, there are different strategies that should be followed. In any case you should look for a game you understand and one that pays the best possible return.

Personally I only play the normal video poker machines and avoid the ones with wild cards, not because they are bad but because I don't understand the best way to play them. The payoffs vary among the regular machines. Avoid machines that only pay even money for a two pair. Also avoid machines that pay only 5 for a flush and 6 for a full house, unless it has a big progressive jackpot. Personally I look for the machines that pay 6 for a flush and 9 for a full house.

I have writen a computer program that helped me determine that best way to play these "6/9" video poker machines. Below are some rules that will cover almost every borderline situation:

Keep a high pair unless you also have:

• 4 to a straight (or royal) flush

Keep a low pair unless you also have:

• 4 to a flush
• 4 to an outside straight with at least 3 "high" cards
• Any 3 suited cards in the 10-A range
• 4 to a straight (or royal) flush

Keep 4 to a flush unless you also have:

• A high pair
• Any 3 suited cards in the 10-A range

Keep 4 to an outside straight unless you also have:

• Any high pair
• Any low pair unless 3 or 4 to the outside straight are "high" cards
• 4 to a flush
• Any 3 suited cards in the 10-A range

If you have 4 to a straight flush (inside or outside) go for the straight flush unless you also have:

• A pat straight
• A pat flush

If you have 4 to a royal flush ALWAYS go for the royal, even if you have a pat straight or flush.

If you have 2 or 3 unsuited high cards:

• If you have 2 keep both
• If you have 3 discard the ace if there is one

If you have 1 "high" card keep that only unless you also have:

• Any 3 suited cards in a row, except 2-3-4
• 3 to any straight flush with at least one high card
• 4 to a flush
• 4 to an outside straight
• A low pair

Throw away all five cards unless you have:

• Anything listed above
• Any 3 to a straight flush, spread 3 or 4 only
• 3 to any straight flush, with at least one "high" card
• 4 to an inside straight with at least one high card
• 4 to an outside straight

"high" means J,Q,K, or A.

While this strategy is specifically for 6/9 machines it could be used on any machine without much loss. There are books out there that tell you specifically how to play every kind of machine.

The expected return following this strategy I'm not exactly sure of but I believe it to be about 99 cents on the dollar. While I have a lot of respect for the game I don't play it often. There is something I don't like about sitting among the slot junkees. The tables I find much more fun and exciting so that is where you'll find me 95% of the time.

The following table shows the expected return per coin bet (based on five coins) given various cards kept. These expected returns vary slightly based on specifically what was thrown away. Listed below are expected returns based on a set of typical discards. This information is meant as an appendix to the strategy above, the casual player can ignore it.

Appendix

*

Subtract .021277 for a discarded "high" pair,

Subtract .081064 for a discarded straight,

Subtract .127660 for a discarded flush.

**

Add .063830 for each "high" card,