Video Poker table

Holding the Ace and Jack (positions 2 and 4) offers the best expected value. The Ace can form a high pair (paying 1x) or contribute to straights and other hands. The Jack provides an immediate pair of jacks or better if matched. Discarding the 4, 2, and 6 removes low cards that don't contribute to valuable combinations.

Hold only the Ace. This hand has no made hand or promising multi-card draw (no pairs, no four-card straights, no four-card flushes). The Ace is the most valuable single card—it can form a Royal Flush, straight, or high pair. Discarding all others maximizes expected value in the draw.

Hold Ah and Jh for a four-flush with broadway components (Ah-Jh). This draw has strong potential for a flush (6 credits) or a pair of jacks (5 credits), with reasonable EV from the 47-card draw. Holding only the jacks is weaker since it leaves many draw cards unused.

Only the Queen of clubs qualifies as a high card (Jacks or better). Holding only the Qc gives a 1-in-5 chance of pairing it, while the other four cards (2, 4, 9, 6) are all low and unlikely to form winning combinations. This maximizes expected value by preserving the only paying card and giving maximum flexibility on the draw.

Holding the Ace gives the best expected value. The only other card with potential is the Ten, but an Ace is more valuable as it can form a straight (A-2-3-4-5 or 10-J-Q-K-A) and a pair of Aces pays out. Discarding the 7, 2, 6, and 10 maximizes draw opportunities for high-value hands.

Hold the 4d as a single card draw to a straight. With 3-7-2-4-3, the 4d can make A-2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-6 straights on the draw, while discarding the low pair of 3s and three unconnected cards gives the best expected value.

Hold the pair of 3s and the Jack. This gives the best chance to improve to three of a kind, full house, or four of a kind. Discarding the low cards (Ten, 3♥, Queen) maximizes expected value for this weak starting hand.

Hold the pair of threes. While the ace and queen are high cards, they don't work together productively (no royal or straight potential). Keeping the 3d and 3h gives us a guaranteed pair payout and reasonable draw potential (three of a kind, full house, or two pair) at 15+ credits expected value.

Pair of fives is below the Jacks or Better threshold, so I'm breaking it to pursue the better EV opportunity of drawing three cards. Holding the Jack gives a chance at making a flush, straight, or three of a kind with the two fives, which has higher expected value than keeping the low pair.

Hold the Ace. This is the only card with immediate value (potential for a pair of aces) and offers the best expected return. Discarding 8c, 6h, 4c, 9d gives maximum opportunity to draw cards that form paying hands (pair of aces, straight, or flush possibilities).

Holding Jc and Qs keeps two high cards (both jacks-or-better eligible) with good potential for a pair, three-of-a-kind, or better. Discarding 5s, Tc, and 3c removes low cards that don't contribute to premium hands. This maximizes expected value by pursuing high-card combinations.

Hold the Queen of spades, King of diamonds, and Queen of clubs. This keeps two high cards (pair of queens worth 5 credits) and positions for a potential flush draw if the King and other cards work out. Discarding the 9 and 10 gives the best expected value against the draw, as the two queens guarantee at least jacks or better while maximizing remaining draw opportunities.

The Jack of spades is the only card with immediate value in this hand. Holding only the Jack gives the best expected value by maximizing the probability of drawing to a paying hand (pair of jacks or better, or a straight/flush draw). Discarding three cards to a pair of threes or eights is suboptimal in Jacks or Better strategy.

Hold the pair of eights (positions 2 and 3) for three-of-a-kind draw potential. This is a mid-strength hand with a reasonable probability of improving to trips (15 credits) or better, significantly outperforming a discard-all approach.

Hold the jack (high pair) and ten (broadway card for straight/royal potential). The current hand has Ts-Jd with four spades nearby (Ts, 4s, 9s), creating potential for straights or additional flush draws. Discarding 4s, 5h, and 9s maximizes expected value by aiming for jacks or better while keeping options for stronger hands.

With 3d, 8c, 9h, Ad, 7c, holding only the Ace gives the best expected value. The Ace is the only card that can contribute to a paying hand (jacks or better), and discarding the four unqualified cards maximizes the probability of drawing cards that complete a high pair or better.

Holding the two kings (Jd=false, Kc=true, Ks=true) gives a guaranteed pair of kings (5 credits) with potential draws to make a full house (45), three of a kind (15), or two pair (10). Discarding 6h, 8c, and Jd maximizes expected value since these low cards reduce draw potential.

Only the Jack of clubs offers potential value. Holding just the Jc gives a 1 in 47 chance of pairing it for jacks or better (5 credits), while the other four cards (4, 7, 6, 3 of mixed suits) are uncoordinated and unlikely to form any paying hand. Discarding four weak cards maximizes expected value by focusing on the single high card.

Holding Ac-Ah-Qh gives three to a royal flush (A-Q-K of hearts) plus a pair of aces. This maximizes EV by balancing the high-value royal flush possibility against the guaranteed jacks-or-better payout.

The hand 6s 9s 2c Ks 3c contains only one paying card (Ks, jacks or better). Holding just the Ks maximizes expected value by drawing four fresh cards with the best chance to form a strong hand like a straight, flush, or three of a kind, rather than chasing unlikely combinations from the current weak holdings.

Hold Ks, Jd, Ad (three cards to a royal flush with Ks-Ad). This maximizes expected value by pursuing the high-paying royal flush draw while keeping the pair of high cards as backup. Discarding 6d and 4s gives the best chance at a premium payout.

Hold the Queen of spades for a potential pair of jacks or better. The remaining cards (2d, 6s, 3h, 5c) offer no strong combinations and draw inefficiently. Keeping only the high card maximizes expected value by targeting the high-paying jacks-or-better category.

Holding As and 8s offers the best expected value by pursuing a spade flush (9 remaining spades in 47-card deck) or an ace pair. Discarding 6h, 2s, and 3d maximizes draw potential. This is superior to holding the ace alone or attempting other patterns.

Hold Js and Qh for a pair of jacks or better (guaranteed 5 credits). Discarding 2s, 8h, and 6c gives the best chance to improve to a straight (A-K-Q-J-T) or higher while keeping the high-card pair as a floor.

Hold Qd and Ad. The Queen and Ace are both high cards that could improve to jacks-or-better, a royal flush (if diamonds cooperate), or other strong hands. Discarding 3d, 2h, and 8c maximizes potential for pair/straight/flush improvements on the draw.

Holding Ah and Js gives the best expected value. The ace provides flexibility for both high straights and pairs, while the jack is already a paying hand (jacks or better). Discarding 3c, 6d, and 5d maximizes the chance of completing a straight, flush, or improving to a better pair.

Holding the two aces (As, Ac) gives the best expected value. This pair of aces (jacks or better) is guaranteed 5 credits, and drawing three cards offers excellent potential for a full house, three of a kind, or even a four of a kind. Discarding the weak kicker cards (Th, 7h, 6d) maximizes the chance of improvement on the draw.

Keep the Jack and Ten of diamonds to pursue a royal flush draw. Discarding 8d, 7c, 6c leaves three cards (two royal candidates plus one draw) for the best expected value. This maximizes upside potential in the remaining hands.

Holding the Jack of hearts gives the best expected value. This is a gutshot straight possibility (any 8 completes 5-7-8-9-J) plus potential for a pair of jacks. Discarding the 7, 4, 5, and 9 offers the highest EV path in Jacks or Better strategy.

Hold the Queen (Qd) as it's the only high card (jacks or better). Discarding 3d, 9c, 8s, Tc gives the best chance to improve to a paying hand (pair of queens or better) while avoiding a net loss on this hand.

With 3d-Td-9s-7c-8h, there are no pairs and no flush or straight draws that are sufficiently strong. Discarding all five cards gives the best expected value by maximizing the probability of drawing a paying hand (pair of jacks or better, straight, flush, or better) compared to any single-card hold which would leave four cards unlikely to combine into a winner.

Hold the pair of jacks (Jh, Jd) for a guaranteed jacks-or-better payout of 5 credits. Discarding 9c, Ts, and 3h gives the best chance to improve to three of a kind, full house, or four of a kind while maintaining the sure win.

Holding the two kings and queen gives a pair of kings (5 credits guaranteed) with three cards to improve to a full house, three of a kind, or two pair. The 8s and 4s are weak kickers with poor straight/flush potential from this combination.

Hold the four-card flush (4c, 3c, 5c, As). Discarding the 3h gives a strong draw to a flush (9 outs) while retaining flexibility for a straight or pair of aces. This maximizes expected value compared to other patterns.

Hold J-K: keeping the high cards (Jack and King) gives multiple chances to hit jacks-or-better (1 credit minimum) or stronger hands on the draw. Discarding the pair of 9s and low cards (7) maximizes expected value, as a low pair doesn't pay and we have reasonable hope for a paying hand with two high cards.

Jack of spades is the only high card with winning potential. Discarding all other cards maximizes EV by drawing up to four new cards for a chance at premium hands like jacks-or-better, straight, flush, or better. Holding only Js gives the best expected return versus holding multiple low cards or attempting a weak draw.

Hold the pair of fours. While the hand contains three diamonds (9d, Ad, 2d), a flush draw with only three cards to the same suit is weak. Keeping the pair of fours gives a guaranteed 5-credit payout and a chance to improve to three of a kind, full house, or four of a kind on the draw. Discarding to chase the flush would sacrifice the guaranteed value of the pair.

The dealt hand is 7s-9s-Ah-5c-Td with no made hand. Holding only the Ace gives the best expected value by keeping a premium card (ace-high hands and potential pair of aces on the draw) while discarding the weak unpaired cards. This maximizes the probability of making a paying hand (jacks or better, straight, flush, or better).

Hold Js and Kd (pair of high cards with kept honor cards). This offers a guaranteed payout of 5 credits (jacks or better) while maximizing EV by keeping two honor cards that could draw to a high pair, straight, or flush. Discarding 3d, 7s, and 3c optimizes the remaining draws.

With 9c, 7s, 2c, 3h, Kh—no pairs, no draws to straights or flushes—discarding all five cards gives the best expected value. The King alone cannot win (needs pair of Jacks or better), so holding it offers no advantage over a fresh draw.