Video Poker table

Holding the three 9s locks in a guaranteed three-of-a-kind payout and gives the best chance to improve to four of a kind or a full house by drawing two cards.

With no made pair and no strong multi-card draw, holding the single Ace maximizes expected value; the three-card spade flush draw is not enough to outweigh the Ace's higher return.

Holding A,2,3,5 keeps a four-card straight draw (any 4 completes A-2-3-4-5) while also giving a chance to pair the ace for a paying jacks-or-better hand; this has higher EV than the alternative 2,3,5,6 straight draw.

Holding the Jack alone maximizes expected value; the 4-card inside straight (7-8-9-J) has lower EV because it only pays on a Ten, while holding the Jack gives more chances for high pairs, trips, and other payouts.

Holding the three sixes maximizes expected value by preserving a made three-of-a-kind while drawing for the fourth six or a pair to improve to four of a kind or a full house.

Keeping the pair of Kings gives the highest expected return; the three-card diamond flush draw is much weaker than a paying high pair in Jacks or Better.

No pairs or strong draws are present; holding the lone high card (Qd) gives the best chance at a paying pair or better.

Holding the low pair of 9s maximizes expected value; the 3-card flush draw is weaker and no other hold offers better prospects.

Holding the three high cards K, Q, J maximizes expected value: each can form a paying pair, and they retain straight possibilities without sacrificing much compared to weaker two-card holds.

Holding the three hearts (9h, Jh, 7h) gives a 3-card flush draw with straight possibilities, yielding higher expected value than the 4-card inside straight or high-card holds.

Holding the 5-6-7-8 four-card open-ended straight gives eight outs (any 4 or 9) to complete a straight, the highest expected value for this hand. The Jack is discarded since it offers no pair or draw improvement.

Holding the low pair of nines gives the highest expected value, with chances to improve to two pair, three of a kind, a full house, or four of a kind.

Holding the four hearts gives a 4-card flush draw with 9 flush outs plus 3 Jack outs for a paying pair, yielding higher EV than holding the low pair of 6s.

With no high cards or strong straight/flush draw, the optimal play is to keep the low pair of sixes and draw three cards, maximizing chances to improve to trips, two pair, or better.

Holding the suited K♠ and J♠ gives a two-card royal flush draw and the highest expected value among the available holds.

With no high cards or strong draws, the optimal Jacks or Better play is to keep the low pair of sixes and draw three cards, maximizing the chance to improve to trips, two pair, or a full house.

Holding the lone Jack gives higher expected value than the 3-card flush or inside straight draws, as it maximizes chances of a paying pair or better.

With no pair, flush draw, or straight draw, the best play is to keep the two unsuited high cards Q and K, maximizing chances at a high pair or better.

Hold the pair of sevens; with no high cards, flush, or straight draw, a low pair gives the best chance to improve to a paying hand.

Holding the four hearts gives a four-card flush draw, which has the highest exact expected value here; the 3d is the only discard.

Holding the suited Jack-Ten gives the best draw: it keeps a two-card royal flush draw and chances at straights, flushes, and high pairs, which is stronger than holding the lone Jack or any other combination in this no-pair hand.

With no made pair, flush draw, or straight draw, the best play is to keep the two high cards (Jh and Qd) to maximize chances of pairing a jack or better and improving to two pair or trips.

Holding the lone queen maximizes expected value; the 6-7-8-10 inside straight draw has lower EV than drawing four cards to a high card.

Holding the two Aces gives the highest expected return (about 7.85 credits) versus alternatives like the 3-card straight flush (about 2.45 credits). The pair of Aces is a guaranteed jacks-or-better payout with strong chances to improve to two pair, trips, full house, or four of a kind.

Holding the two unsuited high cards (Jh and Ac) maximizes expected value in Jacks or Better when there is no pair, flush draw, or straight draw.

Holding the low pair of 3s maximizes expected value; it offers chances to improve to three of a kind, two pair, full house, or four of a kind, and no flush or straight draw is present.

Holding the three-card royal flush draw (A♥ J♥ T♥) maximizes expected value, as it has higher EV than the 4-card inside straight draw.

Holding the three Jacks gives a guaranteed paying hand and the best chance to improve to four of a kind or a full house, which is the optimal Jacks or Better play here.

Holding the three clubs (Kc, 9c, 4c) gives a 3-card flush draw, which has higher expected value than holding the single high card or the K-T combination in 9/6 Jacks or Better.

No pair or four-card flush/straight is available; the only paying high card is Kh, so the optimal Jacks or Better play is to hold the lone king and draw four.

With no pair and only one high card (Kh), the optimal Jacks or Better play is to hold the lone high card and draw four new cards; no flush or straight draw is strong enough to justify holding additional cards.

Holding the low pair of 7s maximizes expected value, as it offers the best chance to improve to three of a kind, two pair, full house, or four of a kind, outperforming the 3-card diamond flush draw or any single high card.

Holding the three spades (2s,6s,9s) maximizes expected value as a 3-card flush draw with additional chances for three of a kind, two pair, and high pairs; the off-suit 4c and 8c are discarded.

Holding both pairs and discarding the 8 keeps a guaranteed two-pair payout while giving four outs to a full house, which has higher expected value than holding all five cards or drawing to a single pair.

Holding the pair of Jacks guarantees at least a jacks-or-better payout and maximizes chances to improve to two pair, trips, full house, or quads; keeping the Ace as a kicker reduces the number of draw combinations and lowers expected value.

Holding the pair of Kings gives the highest expected value, as it already pays and has strong chances to improve to two pair, trips, full house, or four of a kind.

With no made pair, flush draw, or straight draw, the best play is to keep the two unsuited high cards (J and K) to maximize chances of a paying pair or better.