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 10 coins for a full house and 7 coins for a flush plus bonus payouts for four 2's, 3's or 4's and Aces. 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

4

1

Four Aces

800.00

4

1

Four 2's, 3's or 4's

400.00

4

1

Four 5's through Kings

250.00

5

0

Straight Flush

250.00

4

1

4 Card Royal

93.25

3

2

Three Aces

50.57

5

0

Full House

50.00

5

0

Flush

35.00

3

2

Three 2's, 3's or 4's

33.55

3

2

Three 5's through Kings

27.17

5

0

Straight

25.00

4

1

4 Card Straight Flush - open both ends

18.42

4

1

4 Card Straight Flush - inside draw

12.22

4

1

Two Pair

8.83

2

3

Pair of Aces

8.82

3

2

3 Card Royal

7.63

2

3

Pair of Jacks, Queens or Kings

7.29

4

1

4 Card Flush

7.18

4

1

Ten, Jack, Queen and King any suit

4.57

2

3

Pair of 2's, 3's or 4's

4.13

3

2

3 Card Straight Flush - sequential order

3.91

2

3

Pair of 5's through 10's

3.72

3

2

3 Card Straight Flush - non sequential order

3.43

2

3

2 Card Royal

3.08

4

1

4 Card Straight - non sequential - 3 high cards

2.66

3

2

3 High Cards - Jack through King

2.60

2

3

2 High Cards - Jack through King

2.38

1

4

1 High Card - Ten through Ace

2.14

0

5

Nothing

1.64