Video Poker table

With no made pair, no flush draw, and no straight draw, the only paying potential is the lone Ace. In 9/6 Jacks or Better, holding a single high card is the optimal play here.

The best available starting hand is the pair of 3s; holding both low-pair cards maximizes expected value compared with drawing to unsuited or two-card flush possibilities.

Holding the pair of 3s maximizes expected value (about 0.824 credits per credit), outperforming alternatives like high cards or a 3-card flush draw.

Holding the pair of 5s gives the best expected value; the Jack kicker and other disconnected cards should be discarded to maximize draw chances.

Holding the pair of Queens guarantees at least a jacks-or-better payout and offers the best expected value through chances to improve to trips, two pair, or a full house; the inside straight draw is weaker because it requires a specific card and pays less on average.

With no flush or straight draw, the best play is to keep the low pair of 3s and draw three cards, maximizing chances for trips, two pair, or a full house.

Holding the pair of Aces is optimal; discarding the other three cards maximizes the chance to improve to three of a kind, a full house, or four of a kind while already guaranteeing a jacks-or-better payout.

With no pair or flush/straight draw, holding the two unsuited high cards J and Q maximizes expected value by giving the best chance at a paying pair or better.

Holding the pair of Aces gives the highest expected value: it already pays as Jacks or Better and has strong improvement chances to two pair, trips, full house, or four of a kind. The other cards offer no better draw potential.

Holding 7-8-9-10 gives an open-ended four-card straight with eight outs (four 6s and four Js) to a 20-credit straight, the highest-EV draw available; the 3 is unrelated.

Holding the pair of nines is optimal; it gives the highest expected value by drawing three cards to maximize chances of making trips, two pair, a full house, or four of a kind. Chasing the J-K high cards or minor flush/straight draws is lower EV.

With no made pair, no 4-card flush, and no 4-card straight, the only high card is the ace. Holding the ace alone gives the best chance at a paying jacks-or-better pair while preserving straight and flush possibilities.

With no pair, flush draw, or straight draw, the only paying potential comes from the lone high card King, so I keep Kh and discard the other four cards.