Video Poker Strategy

Below is a proper basic strategy chart for a video poker machine with a minimum payout for a two pairs or better which pays 8 coins for a full house and 7 coins for a flush with a Joker wild card. 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

108.33

4

1

4 Card Royal

95.21

5

0

Full House

40.00

5

0

Flush

35.00

5

0

Straight

25.00

4

1

4 Card Straight Flush - open both ends

23.33

3

2

3 of a Kind

19.53

4

1

4 Card Straight Flush - inside draw

17.29

4

1

Two Pairs

8.65

3

2

3 Card Royal

7.80

4

1

4 Card Flush

7.29

4

1

4 Card Straight - open both ends

4.69

2

3

One Pair

3.69

4

1

4 Card Straight - non sequential order

2.60

3

2

3 Card Straight Flush - open both ends

3.61

3

2

3 Card Flush

1.98

2

3

2 Card Royal

1.92

1

4

Five through Ten

1.28

1

4

Jack

1.27

1

4

Four

1.25

0

5

Nothing

1.23

Strategy with Starting Joker

Hand

Expected Value

5

0

Five of a Kind

500.00

5

0

Royal Flush with Joker

250.00

5

0

Straight Flush

250.00

4

1

4 of a Kind

108.33

5

0

Full House

40.00

5

0

Flush

35.00

4

1

4 Card Straight Flush - open both ends

32.81

4

1

Queen, Jack and Ten of same suit with Joker

32.81

4

1

King, Queen, Jack of same suit with Joker

27.08

4

1

King, Queen, Ten of same suit with Joker

27.08

4

1

King, Jack, Ten of same suit with Joker

27.08

5

0

Straight

25.00

4

1

4 Card Royal with Ace and Joker

21.04

3

2

3 of a Kind

19.53

4

1

4 Card Straight - open both ends

10.00

3

2

2 Card Royal Flush with Joker

9.33

4

1

4 Card Flush

9.17

4

1

4 Card Straight - non sequential order with Joker

8.12

3

2

King-Queen of same suit with Joker

7.67

3

2

King-Jack of same suit with Joker

7.67

3

2

King-Ten of same suit with Joker

7.67

3

2

Ace-King of same suit with Joker

6.71

3

2

Ace-Queen of same suit with Joker

6.71

3

2

Ace-Jack of same suit with Joker

6.71

3

2

Ace-Ten of same suit with Joker

6.71

2

3

Five through Ten with Joker

6.37

2

3

Jack with Joker

6.25

2

3

Four with Joker

6.21

1

4

Joker Only

5.94