Video Poker table

With only a low pair and no flush or open straight draw, holding the pair of sevens maximizes expected value by giving the best chance to improve to two pair, trips, or better.

Holding both pairs (5s and 9s) locks in a guaranteed two-pair payout and gives four outs to improve to a full house, which is the optimal play for this Jacks or Better hand.

Holding the pair of queens is the optimal Jacks or Better play; it already pays and gives the best chance to improve to two pair, trips, or better.

Holding the pair of queens is the optimal Jacks or Better play; it guarantees a paying hand and maximizes expected value over discarding the king kicker.

Holding the pair of 5s gives the best chance to improve to three of a kind, two pair, a full house, or four of a kind, and in 9/6 Jacks or Better a low pair has higher expected value than holding a single high card like the queen.

Holding the pair of Jacks guarantees a paying jacks-or-better hand and gives the best chance to improve to trips, two pair, or better; the other cards add no stronger draw than the high pair.

Holding the pair of jacks is the strongest play: it already pays and gives many chances to improve to trips, two pair, full house, or four of a kind. Other holds with kickers reduce the draw count and lower expected value.

Holding the pair of 9s gives the best expected value; there is no flush or straight draw, and the 10 is not a paying high card, so drawing three to the low pair is optimal.

Four clubs to a flush with 9 outs; drawing one card gives the highest expected value compared to other holds.

Holding the pair of nines is optimal; it maximizes expected value by giving the best chances for three of a kind, full house, and four of a kind, while discarding the ace and other low cards avoids reducing draw potential.

Holding the pair of Aces gives the highest expected value; drawing three cards maximizes chances to improve to trips, full house, or four of a kind while keeping the guaranteed jacks-or-better payout.

Holding both pairs (Kings and Tens) secures a guaranteed two-pair payout and gives four outs to a full house, maximizing expected value compared to holding a single pair or any other combination.

Holding the low pair of sixes gives the best expected value here; discarding the other three cards maximizes chances to improve to trips, quads, or two pair.

Holding the pair of jacks is the highest-EV play: it guarantees at least a jacks-or-better payout and gives three draws to improve to two pair, trips, a full house, or four of a kind. Adding the ace or other kickers reduces the number of draw combinations and lowers expected value.

Holding the pair of Kings secures a paying jacks-or-better hand and gives the best chance to improve to two pair, trips, or better; no flush or straight draw is strong enough to override it.

Holding the four spades gives a one-card flush draw with 9 spade outs, plus three queen outs for a paying pair; this maximizes expected value versus other holds.

Holding the pair of Queens (Qc and Qh) is optimal because it is a high pair that already pays and has the highest expected value, with chances to improve to two pair, three of a kind, full house, or four of a kind.

With no flush or straight draw, the optimal play is to hold the low pair of 3s and draw three cards, giving the best chance to improve to two pair, trips, or better.