Video Poker optimal hold strategy

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Set out below are simple hold strategies for playing various versions of video poker. The versions listed include those offered on Evolution’s Video Poker Live table as well as Playtech’s recently introduced Who Wants to be a Millionaire Video Poker.

Couple of points to note:

  1. Complete optimal hold strategies can run close to 50 lines. The strategies below are a bit simpler but will get you very close to the optimal theoretical return.
  2. Where the Evolution or Playtech offered pay table differs from that considered to be full pay, the differences are highlighted accordingly.

To apply optimal hold strategy, choose the highest ranking hold instruction that applies to your main (first dealt) hand.

Jacks or Better

Full Pay Jacks or Better Paytable:

  • Royal Flush: 800x
  • Straight Flush: 50x
  • Four of a Kind: 25x
  • Full House: 9x
  • Flush: 6x
  • Straight: 4x
  • Three of a Kind: 3x
  • Two Pair: 2x
  • Jacks or Better: 1x (pair)

Optimal Play Theoretical Return: 99.54%

Optimal Hold Strategy:

  1. Hold a Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, or Straight.
  2. Hold Four to a Royal Flush.
  3. Hold Three of a Kind, Straight, or a Flush.
  4. Hold Four to a Straight Flush.
  5. Hold Two Pair.
  6. Hold High Pair (Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces).
  7. Hold Three to a Royal Flush.
  8. Hold Four to a Flush.
  9. Hold Low Pair (Tens or Lower).
  10. Hold Four to an Outside Straight (e.g., 5-6-7-8).
  11. Hold Two Suited High Cards (Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces).
  12. Hold Three to a Straight Flush (with one gap and at least one high card).
  13. Hold Two Suited High Cards (if no high cards, keep only one).
  14. Hold Suited 10/J, 10/Q, or 10/K.
  15. Hold One High Card (J, Q, K, A).
  16. Discard all.

Tens or Better

Full Pay Tens or Better Paytable:

  • Royal Flush: 800x
  • Straight Flush: 50x
  • Four of a Kind: 25x
  • Full House: 6x
  • Flush: 5x
  • Straight: 4x
  • Three of a Kind: 3x
  • Two Pair: 2x
  • Tens or Better: 1x (pair)

Optimal Play Theoretical Return: 99.14%

Evolution Tens or Better Paytable:

  • Royal Flush: 800x
  • Straight Flush: 50x
  • Four of a Kind: 20x
  • Full House: 6x
  • Flush: 5x
  • Straight: 4x
  • Three of a Kind: 3x
  • Two Pair: 2x
  • Tens or Better: 1x (pair)

Optimal Play Theoretical Return: 97.96%

Optimal Hold Strategy:

  1. Hold a Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, or Straight.
  2. Hold Four to a Royal Flush.
  3. Hold Three of a Kind, Straight, or a Flush.
  4. Hold Four to a Straight Flush.
  5. Hold Two Pair.
  6. Hold High Pair (Tens, Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces).
  7. Hold Three to a Royal Flush.
  8. Hold Four to a Flush.
  9. Hold Low Pair (Nines or Lower) – This is different from Jacks or Better strategy.
  10. Hold Four to an Outside Straight (e.g., 5-6-7-8).
  11. Hold Two Suited High Cards (Tens or Higher).
  12. Hold Three to a Straight Flush (with one gap and at least one high card).
  13. Hold Two Suited High Cards (if no high cards, keep only one).
  14. Hold Suited 10/J, 10/Q, or 10/K.
  15. Hold One High Card (10, J, Q, K, A).
  16. Discard all.

Deuces Wild

Full Pay Deuces Wild Paytable:

  • Natural Royal Flush: 800x
  • Four Deuces (Wilds): 200x
  • Wild Royal Flush: 25x
  • Five of a Kind: 15x
  • Straight Flush: 9x
  • Four of a Kind: 5x
  • Full House: 3x
  • Flush: 2x
  • Straight: 2x
  • Three of a Kind: 1x

Optimal Play Theoretical Return: 100.76%
(Needless to say, these terminals are unicorns)

Evolution/Playtech Deuces Wild Paytables:

  • Natural Royal Flush: 800x
  • Four Deuces (Wilds): 200x
  • Wild Royal Flush: 25x
  • Five of a Kind: 15x
  • Straight Flush: 9x
  • Four of a Kind: 4x
  • Full House: 4x
  • Flush: 3x
  • Straight: 2x
  • Three of a Kind: 1x

Optimal Play Theoretical Return: 98.91%

Optimal Hold Strategy:

  1. Hold a Natural Royal Flush or Four Deuces.
  2. Hold Four to a Natural Royal Flush.
  3. Hold Four Deuces.
  4. Hold Three Deuces.
  5. Hold Wild Royal Flush.
  6. Hold Five of a Kind.
  7. Hold Four of a Kind.
  8. Hold Full House.
  9. Hold Four to a Wild Royal Flush.
  10. Hold Straight Flush.
  11. Hold Three of a Kind.
  12. Hold Flush.
  13. Hold Straight.
  14. Hold Four to a Straight Flush.
  15. Hold Two Pair.
  16. Hold High Pair (Jacks or Better).
  17. Hold Four to a Flush.
  18. Hold Three to a Natural Royal Flush.
  19. Hold Low Pair.
  20. Hold Four to an Outside Straight (e.g., 5-6-7-8).
  21. Hold Two Suited High Cards (Jacks or Better).
  22. Hold Three to a Straight Flush.
  23. Hold Two Deuces.
  24. Hold One Deuce.
  25. Discard all.

Bonus Poker

Full Pay Bonus Poker Paytable:

  • Royal Flush: 800x
  • Straight Flush: 50x
  • Four Aces: 80x
  • Four 2s, 3s, 4s: 40x
  • Four 5s through Kings: 25x
  • Full House: 8x
  • Flush: 5x
  • Straight: 4x
  • Three of a Kind: 3x
  • Two Pair: 2x
  • Jacks or Better: 1x (pair)

Optimal Play Theoretical Return: 99.17%

Optimal Hold Strategy:

  1. Hold a Royal Flush or Straight Flush.
  2. Hold Four Aces.
  3. Hold Four of a Kind (2s, 3s, or 4s).
  4. Hold Four of a Kind (5s through Kings).
  5. Hold Four to a Royal Flush.
  6. Hold Full House.
  7. Hold Four to a Straight Flush.
  8. Hold Three of a Kind.
  9. Hold Two Pair.
  10. Hold High Pair (Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces).
  11. Hold Three to a Royal Flush.
  12. Hold Four to a Flush.
  13. Hold Low Pair (Tens or Lower).
  14. Hold Four to an Outside Straight (e.g., 5-6-7-8).
  15. Hold Three to a Straight Flush.
  16. Hold Two Suited High Cards (Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces).
  17. Hold Suited 10/J, 10/Q, or 10/K.
  18. Hold One High Card (J, Q, K, A).
  19. Discard all.

Double Double Bonus

Full Pay Double Double Bonus Paytable:

  • Royal Flush: 800x
  • Straight Flush: 50x
  • Four Aces with 2, 3, or 4: 400 (with Ace kicker)
  • Four Aces: 160x
  • Four 2s, 3s, 4s with Ace, 2, 3, or 4: 160x (with Ace kicker)
  • Four 2s, 3s, 4s: 80x
  • Other Four of a Kind: 50x
  • Full House: 9x
  • Flush: 6x
  • Straight: 4x
  • Three of a Kind: 3x
  • Two Pair: 1x
  • Jacks or Better: 1x (pair)

Optimal Play Theoretical Return: 98.98%

Optimal Hold Strategy:

  1. Hold a Royal Flush or Straight Flush.
  2. Hold Four Aces.
  3. Hold Four 2s, 3s, or 4s with A, 2, 3, or 4 kicker.
  4. Hold Four 2s, 3s, or 4s.
  5. Hold Four Aces without the designated kicker.
  6. Hold Four 5s through Kings with A, 2, 3, or 4 kicker.
  7. Hold Four 5s through Kings.
  8. Hold Full House.
  9. Hold Four to a Royal Flush.
  10. Hold Three Aces.
  11. Hold Three 2s, 3s, or 4s with A, 2, 3, or 4 kicker.
  12. Hold Three Aces with kicker other than A, 2, 3, or 4.
  13. Hold Three 5s through Kings with A, 2, 3, or 4 kicker.
  14. Hold Three to a Straight Flush.
  15. Hold Two Pair.
  16. Hold One High Pair (Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces).
  17. Hold Four to a Flush.
  18. Hold Three to a Royal Flush.
  19. Hold Four to an Outside Straight (e.g., 5-6-7-8).
  20. Hold Low Pair (Tens or Lower).
  21. Hold Suited 10/J, 10/Q, or 10/K.
  22. Hold One High Card (J, Q, K, A).
  23. Discard all

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