Video Poker table

Hold the pair of threes. Although it's below jacks, holding the pair gives the best expected value by maximizing the chance to improve to three of a kind, full house, or four of a kind on the draw.

The Jack of spades is the only card worth keeping from this hand. Holding it gives a chance to pair jacks on the draw for a minimum payout, while discarding the other four cards provides the best expected value. No other combinations (straights, flushes) are close enough to pursue.

Holding Ts and Kd gives the best expected value. We have two high cards (ten and king) which can form a pair of jacks or better, and discarding the three low cards (7c, 3s, 2s) maximizes the probability of improving to a paying hand like a pair, two pair, or straight.

Hold the pair of fives. While there's a small chance of improving to three of a kind or a full house, the guaranteed pair (even though it doesn't pay on its own) gives us the best expected value compared to drawing five new cards or holding other combinations like the king.

Holding Q-J-K-T gives four cards to a royal flush (needing an Ace) and multiple straight possibilities. This is stronger than keeping the 6, which offers no immediate value. The four high cards (Q, J, K, T) maximize the chance of hitting premium hands.

Hold the pair of fours. This guarantees at least a jacks-or-better payout (1 credit) if a fourth four is drawn, and offers the best expected value by keeping a made pair rather than discarding it for speculative draws with the 7, 6, and Q.

Dealt Jc-9d-Tc-6h-Th. Holding J-T-T (pair of tens plus jack kicker) gives a guaranteed jacks-or-better payout of 5 credits. Discarding 9d and 6h opens the possibility of hitting a second ten for three of a kind (15 credits), or a jack for two pair (10 credits), while keeping the strong high-card draws intact. This maximizes expected value against drawing random cards.

Hold the Jack (Jd) for a guaranteed payout of 5 credits. The other four cards (Tc, 7c, 6d, 5h) are all low cards with poor draw prospects; keeping only the Jack maximizes expected value by securing a jacks-or-better win while discarding the worst cards.

Keep the two queens for a pair of jacks or better (worth 5 credits). Discarding 2h, 9s, and 3s gives best chance to improve to two pair, trips, or a straight while maintaining the guaranteed payout.

Hold the pair of aces (Ac, Ad) for a guaranteed jacks-or-better payout of 5 credits. Discarding Td, 2d, 6c gives the best chance to improve to a three-of-a-kind, full house, or better while securing the minimum winning hand.

Holding the pair of 6s gives expected value from potential three-of-a-kind, full house, or two pair improvements. The 6s, 5s creates flush draw potential via the three spades (8s, 6s, 5s). Discarding 8s, 2h maximizes flexibility for completing a flush or improving the pair while keeping modest draw odds.

Dealt 3c 7c 9c Jc Ts. Four clubs (3c, 7c, 9c, Jc) gives a strong flush draw with one card to the royal (Jc). Holding 9c and Jc keeps the two highest clubs and the jack (which also qualifies as jacks-or-better). This maximizes the probability of hitting a flush or better while maintaining a backup jacks-or-better win if the draw fails.

Hold the pair of aces (Ah, Ac). This is a guaranteed payout of 5 credits and offers the best expected value by keeping the high-value pair while discarding low cards (2h, 3c, Ks) that don't contribute to any strong draw. Three new cards will be drawn, giving chances to improve to three of a kind, full house, or four of a kind.

Holding only the 5c gives the best expected value. This is the only card with potential (part of a straight draw 2-3-4-5-6), while 9-3-6-2 are scattered low cards that offer no synergy. Discarding four cards maximizes the probability of catching a premium hand.

Keep the Ace and Queen for a potential high pair (jacks or better). Discarding 3c, 5s, and 6s gives the best chance to improve to a premium hand like a straight or flush, or retain the guaranteed 5 credits from a pair of aces.

Holding the pair of 8s gives an expected value of approximately 7.5 credits. This is the strongest current hand and the best strategy is to discard the 4c, Ts, and 7c to attempt to improve to three of a kind, full house, or four of a kind. Discarding all other cards maximizes expected return.

Hold the three diamonds (5d, 4d, 2d) to pursue a flush draw with 9 outs. Discarding Qh and 8h removes low-value cards. This gives strong expected value: a flush pays 30 credits, and even with non-flush outcomes, we may catch a straight or pair. Holding all five returns nothing, making the flush draw clearly superior.

Hold the As (Ace of spades). This gives the best EV by drawing to a royal flush (As, Ks suited on draw), while maintaining a strong pair of aces as a fallback if the draw doesn't complete the royal or other premium hand.

Hold the Ace and the pair of 6s. The pair of 6s is below the jacks-or-better threshold, but keeping it gives a chance to improve to three of a kind (15 credits), full house (45 credits), or four of a kind (125 credits). Discarding all three non-pair cards and the 9 maximizes the draw potential while the Ace is a high kicker that could contribute to rare straights or straight flushes on the redraw.

Hold Queen and Ace (both high cards that can form a jacks or better pair). Discarding 3, 6, and 4 maximizes the probability of hitting a paying hand since we have no made hand and these low cards offer no straight potential with the Q and A.

Holding K-J-Q-J gives a strong two pair (Jacks and Kings). Discarding the 9c maximizes chances to draw a full house, straight, or three of a kind while keeping the premium pair holdings.

Holding the pair of tens (Ts, Th) gives a guaranteed payout of 5 credits and provides the best expected value. The two tens are already a paying hand (jacks or better), and discarding the 9h, 3d, and Ad gives the best chance to improve to three of a kind, full house, or four of a kind while maintaining the pair value if no improvement occurs.

Hold the pair of Queens and Jack to maximize expected value. Discarding 9c and 5h gives the best chance to improve to three of a kind, full house, or potentially a straight. The pair of Queens guarantees at least 5 credits (jacks or better), and we have strong draw potential with three high cards remaining.

Holding the pair of Kings and Ace gives the best expected value. This preserves three high cards (K-K-A) which can form a pair of jacks or better (guaranteed 5 credits), while the draw offers chances to improve to two pair, three of a kind, or a full house. Discarding the 5 and 10 maximizes upside potential.

Holding the pair of 8s (positions 3 and 4) gives expected value from three-of-a-kind, full house, or four-of-a-kind possibilities. Discarding Ah, Td, 2s leaves three cards to draw, and the 8s are the strongest current asset. This beats drawing to the weak high card (Ah) with no flush or straight draws available.

King of clubs is the only card worth keeping from this weak hand. Holding just the K gives the best expected value by maximizing chances to draw into a pair of jacks or better, three of a kind, or a straight/flush draw. Discarding 4c, 2h, 8c, 5h optimizes for the paytable's requirement of jacks or better for any payout.

Hold Q♣ and 5♦ (pair of fives) to aim for three of a kind or better. Discarding 5♣, 3♣, and 2♦ gives the best EV. The pair has some potential, and holding just the Queen is too weak given the low kicker.

Hold the pair of kings (Kc, Ks). This gives a guaranteed 5-credit payout for jacks or better. Discarding 2d, 4h, 8s offers three ways to improve: draw to a full house, three of a kind, or potentially hit another king. The other cards offer no synergy and the pair is the best foundation for this hand.

Holding only the Ace gives the best expected value. The Ace can pair to make jacks or better, or contribute to straights and flushes. The other cards (6, 5, 10, 3) are disconnected and weak; discarding all but the Ace maximizes draw potential for a paying hand.

The dealt hand contains a pair of deuces (2c, 2s) which does not qualify for payment. Holding only the 2c and discarding 3d, Tc, 8s, 2s gives the best expected value by drawing three cards to potentially improve to a paying hand (trips, two pair, etc.). All other patterns (such as holding three cards or keeping the unpairing low cards) have lower expected returns.

Hold Ks and 8s for a four-flush draw to the flush (6 credits). This has strong positive EV compared to breaking up the pair of 8s or holding three spades without the K. The flush probability is approximately 35%, offering better expected value than any other hold pattern.

Holding only the Ace gives the best expected value. The Ace can form a royal flush with broadway cards, a pair of aces, or an ace-high straight. Discarding 8-7-6-3 (weak cards with no immediate synergy) maximizes the likelihood of drawing into a premium hand.

Hold the pair of 6s and pair of 3s (two pair). This is currently worth 10 credits. Discarding the Ten gives us 4 cards toward a full house and retains the two-pair base hand, maximizing expected value with strong draw potential to improve to a full house or better.

Holding the pair of 8s (jacks or better) guarantees a 5-credit payout. Discarding 4c, 3d, 7s gives the best chance to improve to three of a kind, full house, or four of a kind while retaining the guaranteed hand value.

Hold the Tc and Qc (two-card royal draw). Discarding the unpaired low cards (5d, Kd, 5c) gives the best expected value by pursuing the royal flush and maintaining draws to high-pair and flush possibilities.

Holding J-Q-K-A gives four cards to a royal flush (any club completes it) with strong backup value if a club doesn't come. Discarding the 7h maximizes expected value versus holding it or any other combination.

Hold the three spades (3s, 4s, 2s) for a flush draw with 9 outs, discarding 8c and Qh. This maximizes expected value by pursuing the flush (30 credits) while the Queen is isolated and low-value.

Hold the pair of Kings (Kh, Kc) for jacks or better payout (5 credits). Discarding the three unsuited cards (3h, 6d, 4c) maximizes expected value by giving the best chance to improve to two pair, three of a kind, or full house while guaranteeing at least the jacks or better payout of 5 credits.

Hold the pair of jacks (Js, Jh) for a guaranteed 5-credit payout. Discarding 6s, 3d, and Td gives the best expected value on the draw, with chances to make three of a kind, full house, or even four of a kind.

Hold the pair of fours and the ace. This gives the best chance of improving to three of a kind, full house, or four of a kind. Discarding 3d, 4d, and 8c leaves us with the strongest foundation for a paying hand.