Video Poker table

Hold the Queen (only paying card). Discarding 9-2-5-3 gives the best expected value by replacing four low cards with potential to make a paying hand, while the lone Q can't complete any strong draw (flush, straight).

Holding only the 8h gives the best expected value by keeping a single card with flush potential (three hearts: 7h, 6h, 8h). Discarding four cards and drawing four new ones maximizes the chance of completing a flush or hitting a high pair, which outperforms holding weak cards like T, Q, 6, 7.

The dealt hand has no made hand (no pair, no straight, no flush). The Ace is a high card, and we need jacks or better for the lowest payout. The optimal strategy is to discard the weak cards (3h, 7h, 8d, Qh) and keep the Ace, which has the best chance to form a paying hand on the draw (pair of aces, straight with A-K-Q-J-T, or ace-high combinations).

No paying hand currently exists (no pair of jacks or better, no straight, no flush). Discarding all five cards gives the best expected value by allowing a complete redraw from the remaining 47 cards, maximizing the chance of hitting a high-value hand like a pair of jacks or better, a straight, or better.

Current hand has three tens (three of a kind, pays 15 credits). Holding the three tens while discarding the Ace and King gives the best expected value. Drawing two cards provides chances to improve to a full house, four of a kind, or keep the three of a kind payout while minimizing risk.

Hold the pair of Queens and Ace (high card). Discarding 7h and 5d gives the best expected value by keeping three cards with potential (two high pairs and the Ace), while the 7 and 5 are weak and unlikely to improve the hand significantly.

Holding only the King of spades. The other cards (4c, 8s, 6h, 5s) are low and disconnected, offering poor draw prospects. Keeping the K gives a chance at jacks-or-better or better combinations (pair of kings, straight, flush, etc.) on the redraw, maximizing expected value.

Hold Q♥, J♠, K♠ to pursue a straight (with Q-K-J already in place, drawing for the A or T on the left end). This three-card holding targets the 20-credit straight while keeping the three high cards (Q, J, K) intact for potential Jacks or Better backup. Discarding T♣ and 3♥ gives the best expected value.

Current hand has a pair of aces and a pair of fours (two pair, worth 10 credits). Holding the aces and fours (positions 1, 3, 4) gives the best expected value by keeping the made two pair while discarding the 6h and 4h, maximizing chances to improve to a full house or four of a kind on the draw.

Hold the two high cards (Js and Ks). Discarding 2c, 5h, 4h gives us three chances to improve to a pair of jacks or better, or hit a straight/flush. This maximizes expected value compared to holding the low cards or the mixed three-card possibilities.

Hold the pair of 3s and Jh. The pair of 3s does not pay (below jacks), but holding 3-3-J gives the best expected value by drawing to two pair, three of a kind, or full house. Discarding 9-2 and trying to draw two more cards optimizes the payout potential.

Hold the pair of 3s (3h, 3d). This gives the best EV by keeping a made hand and drawing three cards to potentially improve to three of a kind, full house, or better. The Ace kicker is secondary to securing the pair.

Hold J-A-K to work toward a royal flush, straight, or high pair. Discard 9d and 5h. In Jacks or Better, keeping three to a royal (J♣A♠K♣) maximizes expected value despite the low cards, as we retain the high-card payoff of jacks-or-better and have draws to broadway straights and a royal.

Hold the Ten of diamonds. The three diamonds (7d, 9d, Td) offer a flush draw with 9 outs remaining (13 diamonds minus 4 already seen). The pair of sevens is unlikely to improve and holding just Td gives approximately 0.54 EV per credit, better than holding the pair (0.48) or any other single-card hold. Discarding the weak cards maximizes flush potential.

Hold the Ace, which has the highest potential value. The Ace can contribute to a royal flush, straight flush, or a winning pair (jacks or better). Discarding the low cards 7d, 2d, 3c, and Qd maximizes the chance of drawing high cards that complement the Ace.

No pair of jacks or better, no straight, no flush draw with sufficient potential. Discarding all five cards gives the best expected value by allowing a completely fresh draw from the remaining 47 cards.

Holding only the King gives the best expected value. The dealt hand has no current winners and no strong draws (no pairs, no flush draws, no straight draws). Discarding four cards to draw toward a pair of jacks or better, a straight, or a flush maximizes EV compared to other patterns like holding the King-Ten or drawing five fresh cards.

Hold the pair of 6s. This gives a guaranteed 5 credits (jacks or better equivalent), with potential to improve to three of a kind, full house, or two pair on the draw. Discarding 5s, 8c, and Th maximizes expected value by removing low cards that don't contribute to strong hand improvements.

Hold the Jack and King (both pay as Jacks or Better if they pair). Discarding 8c, 9s, and 4s gives the best chance to improve to a higher-paying hand or at minimum secure the guaranteed Jacks or Better payout.

Hold Tc and Qc for a potential flush draw (two clubs) with a queen-high kicker. Discarding 2d, 8s, 5c gives five outs to complete a flush (five remaining clubs) and preserves the queen for a high-card possibility, offering better expected value than holding the low cards or the entire hand.

Hold the Jack for a guaranteed jacks-or-better payout (5 credits). The other cards are all low unpaired cards with no flush or straight potential. Drawing four cards gives the best chance to improve to a paying hand.

Hold the Jack of spades only. The current hand has no pairs or draws to premium hands. Discarding the other four cards gives the best chance to hit a high pair, straight, or flush, maximizing expected value.

Hold Jc and Ad for high-card potential (can make a pair of jacks or aces), discarding 2s, 5s, and the second 5d. While the pair of 5s has no value, holding the jack and ace gives more ways to improve to jacks or better (worth 5 credits) or other paying hands on the draw.

Holding the King (only honor card) gives the best expected value. This hand has no made hand or strong draw, so keeping the highest-ranked card (which can make a pair of jacks or better) maximizes our chances of a paying outcome on the draw.

Hold the three high cards (Th, Ks, Qs) which form a strong foundation for pairs, straights, or three-of-a-kind. Discard the weak 3h and 8c to maximize expected value on the draw.

Hold Kd and Jc (both high cards paying jacks or better). Discarding 3h, 5h, 7s gives a reasonable chance at pairing the king or jack, or drawing to a straight. This maximizes expected value versus the alternatives of holding small cards or three-card draws to weak combinations.

Holding Q♠ and J♦ (jacks or better pair) provides a guaranteed payout of 5 credits and improves drawing chances for a full house (9 credits), two pair, or trips. Discarding 7♥, 4♠, and 4♥ keeps the door open for high-value hands while minimizing the risk of busting.

Holding the pair of tens (Th, Tc) is the optimal play. This gives a guaranteed payout of 5 credits for a pair of jacks or better. Discarding 7s, 2c, and 5c maximizes the chance of improving to three of a kind, full house, or four of a kind while keeping the made hand value.

Holding the Queen of spades gives the best expected value. The Queen is a high card with potential to make a pair (jacks or better pays 1x). Discarding 7d, Td, 2s, 9c maximizes chances for improvement while keeping the guarantee of a qualifying pair if a matching card appears.

Hold the Queen (jacks or better pay 1 credit). Discarding 9s, 2c, 4h, 5s gives the best expected value. The remaining three cards (9, 2, 4, 5) are all below jacks and have low probability of forming a paying hand, while the Queen guarantees at least a 5-credit return.

Hold the Queen of spades only. The pair of deuces doesn't pay (below jacks). Discarding four cards and drawing to the queen gives the best expected value by chasing higher-paying hands like straights, flushes, or quads while avoiding the 0-credit bust.

Hold only the Queen (high card jacks or better). The other four cards (2d, 3h, 8d, Th) are low and disconnected, with no flush or straight draws. Discarding four cards maximizes the probability of hitting a paying hand (pair of jacks or better, straight, or flush) on the draw.

Holding 9d and 8d gives a four-card diamond flush draw with two high-ranked diamonds, offering strong expected value. Discarding 3d, Ts, and 6c maximizes the probability of completing a flush (9 outs) while maintaining potential for straights and pairs.

Hold Jc and Ks (pair of high cards, at least jacks). Discard 3d, 3c, 4s to pursue flush possibilities or improve toward a better hand. This maximizes expected value against the 9/6 paytable.

Hold the two kings (Kd and Kh) for a guaranteed pair of jacks or better worth 5 credits. Discarding 5c, 9c, and 2h gives the best chance to improve to three of a kind, full house, or four of a kind.

Hold the King of spades as it's the only high card (Jack or better). Discarding the 5d, 7d, 8h, and Td gives the best expected value by maximizing chances for a pair of jacks or better, three of a kind, or better draws from the remaining deck.

Holding Jack and Queen gives a guaranteed pair of jacks or better (5 credits). Discarding 3, 4, 6 aims to draw toward a straight, flush, or three-of-a-kind. This balanced play maximizes expected value by keeping the certain payout while pursuing higher-paying combinations.

Dealt As Ac (pair of aces) with Qh Tc 5c. Holding the pair of aces is optimal; it guarantees payment and improves to three-of-a-kind, full house, or four-of-a-kind with reasonable probability. Discarding Qh Tc 5c gives the best expected value.

Hold the pair of 9s. This is a made hand worth 5 credits. Discarding three cards to chase straights or other combinations has lower expected value than keeping the guaranteed pair, especially with only one hand remaining in the session.

With 4d, 7c, 6s, 8d, Ks—no pairs, no draw to a straight or flush—the only card with any value is the King (a paying hand). Holding only the King gives the best expected value, as it guarantees a 5-credit win and offers a chance to draw into a pair of Kings or better.