Sample Video Poker Strategies

The first two strategies are expressed as a prioritized list of "keepers". That is, if the hand dealt contains the indicated cards, those cards should be kept and all others (if any) should be discarded. The third strategy is expressed as a prioritized list of rules. The first rule that applies to the hand is always followed.

Strategy A

Strategy B

Straight Flush
Four-of-a-kind
Full House
4-card Royal
Flush
Straight
4-card straight flush
Three-of-a-kind
Two-pair
High pair (J,Q,K,A)
3-card Royal
4-card flush
K-Q-J-T
Low pair
4-card two-ended straight
3-card straight flush
4-card 1-gap straight (with 3 of J,Q,K,A)
2-card Royal
3 high cards (J,Q,K)
2 high cards (J,Q,K,A)
1 high card (J,Q,K,A)
3-card 2-gap straight flush
4-card 1-gap straight

Strategy C

1. Always keep a straight flush or royal flush.
2. Keep a 4-card royal flush.
3. Keep any paying cards of two-pair or better.
4. Keep a high pair unless you have 4-cards to a straight flush.
5. Keep a low pair unless you have K-Q-J-10, 3-card royal flush or a 4-card flush.
6. Keep a 3-card royal flush rather than 4-card flush or 4-card open-ended straight.
7. Choose the 4-card flush over any 4-card straight.
8. Keep any 3-cards to a straight flush unless you have a pair, a 4-card flush or a 4-card open-ended straight.
9. Keep 3-cards with 2 gaps to a straight flush and no high cards unless you have one or two high cards.
10. Break A-K-Q-J only for a suited Q-J or any three suited high cards.
11. Break any three high cards for two suited high cards.
12. Keep 4 cards with 1 gap to a straight if it includes three high cards.
13. Keep K-Q-J.
14. Keep two suited high cards.
15. Keep any one or two high cards.
16. Keep Q-Ten suited or J-Ten suited.
17. Keep K-Ten suited only if no other cards are of the same suit.