Video Poker Strategy

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 7 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

Four Aces

2000.00

5

0

Four 2,3,4

500.00

5

0

Straight Flush

300.00

4

1

4 of a Kind

250.00

3

2

Three Aces

100.69

4

1

4 Card Royal

98.67

3

2

Three 2,3,4

38.86

5

0

Full House

35.00

3

2

Three 5-K

26.22

5

0

Flush

25.00

5

0

Straight

20.00

4

1

4 Card Straight Flush - open both ends

19.35

2

3

Pair of Aces

11.99

4

1

4 Card Straight Flush - inside draw

11.91

4

1

Two Pair

7.55

2

3

Pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings or Aces

7.13

3

2

3 Card Royal

6.60

4

1

4 Card Flush

5.43

4

1

Ten, Jack, Queen and King any suit

4.36

4

1

4 Card Straight - sequential order

3.71

2

3

Pair - 5 through King

3.56

3

2

3 Card Straight Flush - sequential order

2.95

3

2

3 Card Straight Flush - non sequential order

2.92

4

1

4 Card Straight - non sequential order

2.67

2

3

One Ace

2.50

2

3

2 High Cards - Ten through Ace

2.24

1

4

1 High Card - Ten through Ace

2.17

0

5

Nothing

1.63