Video Poker Strategy

8/5 Jacks or Better machine

Below is a proper basic strategy chart for a video poker machine with a minimum payout for a pair of Jacks or better which pays 8 coins for a full house and 5 coins for a flush. The Expected Value column on the right is the mathematically computed number that represents what you can expect to win in the long run based on the initial five cards dealt when playing five coins. Players should always choose the highest expected value for every hand and draw replacement cards accordingly.

Cards Held

Discard

Hand

Expected Value

5

0

Royal Flush

4000.00

5

0

Straight Flush

250.00

4

1

4 of a Kind

125.00

4

1

4 Card Royal

91.38

5

0

Full House

40.00

5

0

Flush

25.00

3

2

3 of a Kind

21.23

5

0

Straight

20.00

4

1

4 Card Straight Flush - open both ends

16.50

4

1

Two Pairs

12.55

4

1

4 Card Straight Flush - inside draw

10.41

2

3

Pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings or Aces

7.65

3

2

3 Card Royal

6.44

4

1

4 Card Flush

5.27

4

1

Ten, Jack, Queen and King any suit

4.36

2

3

Low Pair - Two through Ten

4.07

4

1

4 Card Straight - sequential order

3.99

3

2

3 Card Straight Flush - sequential order

3.44

4

1

4 Card Straight - non sequential order

3.40

3

2

3 Card Straight Flush - non sequential order

2.97

2

3

2 Card Royal

2.96

4

1

4 Card Straight - non sequential - 3 high cards

2.66

3

2

3 High Cards - Ten through Ace

2.58

2

3

2 High Cards - Ten through Ace

2.53

1

4

1 High Card - Ten through Ace

2.29

0

5

Nothing

1.78