Video Poker table

Holding As and Kh gives us two high cards with potential for a pair of aces or kings (both paying 5 credits), while discarding the weak 7s, Qc, and 5d maximizes our draw opportunities for hitting premium hands like straights, flushes, or three-of-a-kind combinations.

Holding the pair of 7s gives a guaranteed 5-credit payout (jacks or better). Discarding K, 5, and 8 leaves three cards to draw for potential improvements to three of a kind, full house, or better. The King alone is not worth holding as a kicker without a strong draw. This hold pattern maximizes expected value by securing the guaranteed payout while maximizing upside with three-card draws.

Dealt 3s 9d Jd 7h Js. Current hand is a pair of jacks (pays 5 credits). Holding both jacks discards 3s, 9d, 7h, drawing three new cards. This maximizes expected value by keeping the guaranteed jacks-or-better payout while pursuing two pair, three of a kind, or a full house. Discarding the low unrelated cards 3, 9, 7 gives the best draw odds.

Pair of 9s is a guaranteed payout (jacks or better = 5 credits). Holding only the 9h keeps this guaranteed value while maximizing draw potential for three of a kind, full house, or four of a kind. The other cards (6h, 7h, 4c, 9d) offer no immediate value and are unlikely to improve the hand significantly if retained.

Hold the two jacks (Jh and Js) to pursue a high pair, which guarantees a 5-credit payout (jacks or better). Discarding the two diamonds and 8 of clubs maximizes opportunity for three of a kind, a full house, or a flush while retaining the guaranteed jacks payoff.

Holding three 7s (trips) guarantees a 15-credit payout. Discarding the Ah and 3c maximizes the chance to improve to a full house or four of a kind, which pay 45 and 125 credits respectively. This hold pattern optimizes expected value over drawing to any other combination.

Hold Jh and Qs (pair of jacks). This guarantees a payout of 5 credits (jacks or better). Discarding 6d, Ts, 9s gives three chances to improve to two pair, trips, straight, or flush while retaining the sure win.

Hold the pair of eights (jacks or better). Discarding the 6, K, and J gives the best expected value by keeping a guaranteed payout and maximizing draw potential for a full house or three of a kind, while avoiding low-value terminal hands.

Holding the pair of sixes gives expected value from potential three-of-a-kind (15 credits) or full house (45 credits). Discarding 2s, 5h, 3h provides three fresh cards with reasonable draw probability to improve the pair.

Hold the pair of fours and draw three cards. This is standard strategy: a made pair (even small) provides a guaranteed payoff and reasonable draw potential, while discarding the Q, 9, and A gives us the best chance to improve to two pair, trips, or better without chasing high cards that don't complement our pair.

Three hearts (2h, 8h, 5h) offer the best draw to a flush or straight flush. Discarding Qs and 9s maximizes expected value compared to keeping the high cards or breaking up the hearts.

Hold the pair of fives and the Jack. This gives the best expected value by keeping the pair (guaranteed 5 credits) while maximizing chances to improve to three of a kind, full house, or four of a kind on the draw.

Hold the Jack of clubs for a guaranteed payout of 5 credits (jacks or better). Discarding four cards offers no realistic path to a strong hand; the 9, 2, and 7 are weak and unlikely to improve the low 2, 6, 9 kickers.

Hold the pair of 2s. While a low pair doesn't pay directly, keeping it provides flexibility for potential three of a kind, full house, or four of a kind on the draw. Discarding the three unpaired cards (Tc, 8h, 5h) gives the best expected value for this hand composition.

No paying hand is possible. The cards Ts, 4c, 5d, 2s, 6s contain no pairs of jacks or better and no four-card draw to a flush or straight with reasonable probability. Discarding all five maximizes expected value by giving a fresh draw.

Hold Ah, Qd, and As for three cards to the royal flush (royal includes A-K-Q), while discarding 9h and 7h. This maximizes EV by keeping the two aces and queen (premium broadway cards) and keeping the ace-queen suited prospect for AQ flush combinations, while having opportunities for a full house or three of a kind with the pair of aces.

Holding Jc, 6c, 7c gives three cards to a flush (clubs) with two overcards, maximizing EV. Discarding 6s and 2h keeps the best combination for a flush draw or high-card outcome.

Hold the pair of 3s. This gives us 3+2 outs (three more 3s + two more kings) for trips or full house, which is better EV than chasing the four-to-flush (Kh/4c/5c) or discarding both 3s and hoping for a high pair or better. Pairing the 3s again yields 15 credits (three of a kind); a full house adds 45 credits.

Hold As-Ks for a four-flush to the royal (spades) with two high cards. Discarding 2s, 7h, 2h gives four outs to a flush or straight flush, and the pair of Kings provides a backup win if no spade arrives.

Hold the pair of queens (Qs, Qh) for guaranteed jacks-or-better payout of 5 credits. Discarding Jh, 7h, 8s gives the best chance to improve to three of a kind, full house, or better while retaining the locked pair value.

Hold the pair of 6s (jacks or better, guaranteed 5 credits). Discarding the 2s, 3c, and Kd gives the best expected value by pursuing draws to three of a kind, full house, or four of a kind while securing the minimum payoff.

Hold the Jack and Ten of clubs. This leaves open the possibility of drawing to a royal flush (any K, Q, or A of clubs), a straight, or other high-card combinations. Discarding the low cards (7d, 3h, 2d) maximizes expected value by pursuing premium hands while maintaining a pair of jacks if the draw doesn't improve.

Hold the pair of jacks (Js and Jh) for a guaranteed 5-credit payout. Discarding the three unpaired low cards (3d, 8h, 2d) maximizes the chance of improving to three of a kind, a full house, or four of a kind, which would significantly increase the payout.

Hold the two kings (Ks, Kd) to maximize expected value. This gives strong chances to draw into three of a kind, full house, or four of a kind, all of which pay well. Discarding 9c, 8h, and 3d gives the best expected return on this hand.

The dealt hand is 2d 3d 8d Jc Kh with three diamonds and two non-connecting high cards. Holding the three diamonds (8d, Jd, Kd) aims for a flush (pays 30 credits). Discarding 2d and 3d gives the best expected value since completing any four-card flush draw beats holding isolated high cards or trying for a pair of jacks or better.

Hold the Jack and 6 for potential pair development. Discarding 8-6-3 gives the best expected value by maximizing chances to improve to a paying hand (jacks or better, two pair, three of a kind, or full house) while keeping the high card Jack that guarantees at least a 5-credit payout if paired on the draw.

Hold Jd-Td-Kd (three diamonds with J and K kickers) to pursue a flush draw (needing one diamond from 9 remaining) or improve to a straight/pair. Discarding 4c and 2h maximizes expected value by targeting high-payout hands while maintaining the quality of the retained high cards.

Hold Jh and Ad. The Jack gives us a guaranteed pair (jacks or better, worth 5 credits). The Ace complements it well and offers additional draw opportunities for straights or flushes. Discarding 5d, 6h, and 2h maximizes expected value by aiming for broadway straights or ace-high combinations while keeping the sure pair.

Dealt 6c Qh 9c Kd Jh. Current hand is a pair of jacks or better (Q, K, J high card). The optimal play is to hold the three honor cards (Qh, Kd, Jh) and discard 6c and 9c to maximize the probability of improving to a high pair, three of a kind, or better. This gives five possible draws for improvement while maintaining the guaranteed jacks-or-better payout if no improvement occurs.

Hold the pair of 9s. This is the only made hand (pair of 9s pays 5 credits). Discarding the three kickers gives the best chance to improve to two pair, three of a kind, or better.

Hold the Jack to pursue a potential pair of jacks or better (5 credits) or a full house / three of a kind if favorable cards are drawn. Discarding 6c, 3d, 4d, 8h gives the best expected value with 9 cards remaining that could improve the hand, and avoids the low-payout holding patterns like keeping three to a straight or flush with no paint.

Holding only the King gives the best expected value. The dealt hand (3c, Ks, 4d, 2s, 5h) has no made hand and no strong draws. The King is the only card that can improve to a paying hand (jacks or better). Discarding all others maximizes the probability of drawing another high card to make a pair of Kings.

Hold the pair of eights. This gives a solid foundation with guaranteed three-of-a-kind payout (15 credits) and realistic chances to improve to a full house (45 credits) or four of a kind (125 credits) on the draw. Discarding the low cards (2, T, 7) maximizes expected value for the remaining hands.

Holding K-Q-K (Qc, Kd, Ks) gives the best expected value. We have a pair of kings (jacks or better, pays 5 credits guaranteed) and three cards toward a high straight or flush. Discarding the 10 and 2 maximizes the chance of improving to three of a kind, a full house, or a straight with premium payouts.

Holding the Qc (jacks or better) guarantees 5 credits. The pair of 7s does not pay (below jacks). Discarding the 7d, 8d, and 2d gives the best chance to improve to a paying hand while retaining the sure queen.

Hold Qc, Kc, Ad for three cards to a royal flush (broadway cards in different suits). This maximizes EV by chasing the high-value royal while maintaining secondary possibilities like pairs of queens, kings, or aces.

Hold the King. Current hand is nothing, and the King offers the best chance to make jacks or better (1 credit) or potentially a higher hand. Drawing four cards gives maximum opportunity to improve from this weak starting position.

Hold K-J-T of diamonds for a royal flush draw (4 to the royal, 15 outs) plus solid backup value with three high cards. Discard 5s and 9c which provide no current value and no synergy with the premium holding.

Hold Jd and Ad for a pair of jacks or better (guaranteed 5 credits). This is the final hand of the session, so locking in a sure payoff is optimal. Discarding 8h, 7h, Tc gives the best chance to improve to two pair, three of a kind, or better while securing the base payout.

Hold Ah and 6h for a potential flush draw with two hearts already and ace kicker. Discarding Th, 6c, 5h gives best expected value by pursuing the flush (5 cards to complete) while maintaining ace-high possibility.