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Video Poker Strategy Calculator
Introduction
The following table shows the results when following perfect strategy (basic strategy and all of the exceptions):
| Perfect Strategy Analysis | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand | Payoff | Combinations | Probability | Hit Frequency | Variance | Return |
| Royal Flush | 800 | 495,381,996 | 0.000025 | 40,238.10 | 15.87 | 0.019882 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 2,079,698,256 | 0.000104 | 9,584.67 | 0.25 | 0.005217 |
| Four Aces with any 2,3,4 | 400 | 1,200,597,888 | 0.000060 | 16,602.75 | 9.59 | 0.024092 |
| Four Aces with any J,Q,K | 320 | 1,262,863,008 | 0.000063 | 15,784.16 | 6.45 | 0.020273 |
| Four 2's, 3's, 4's with any A,2,3,4 | 160 | 2,924,257,092 | 0.000147 | 6,816.51 | 3.71 | 0.023472 |
| Four J's, Q's, K's with any J,Q,K,A | 160 | 3,877,419,972 | 0.000195 | 5,140.85 | 4.92 | 0.031123 |
| Four Aces | 160 | 2,212,545,036 | 0.000111 | 9,009.19 | 2.81 | 0.017760 |
| Four 2's, 3's, 4's | 80 | 7,875,009,384 | 0.000395 | 2,531.20 | 2.47 | 0.031606 |
| Four 5's through K's | 50 | 27,742,898,004 | 0.001392 | 718.50 | 3.34 | 0.069590 |
| Full House | 7 | 210,660,445,152 | 0.010568 | 94.62 | 0.38 | 0.073978 |
| Flush | 5 | 217,370,594,808 | 0.010905 | 91.70 | 0.18 | 0.054525 |
| Straight | 4 | 251,283,743,892 | 0.012606 | 79.33 | 0.11 | 0.050425 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 1,510,088,006,484 | 0.075757 | 13.20 | 0.31 | 0.227272 |
| Two Pair | 1 | 2,458,639,855,260 | 0.123344 | 8.11 | 0.00 | 0.123344 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 4,256,638,841,736 | 0.213545 | 4.68 | 0.00 | 0.213545 |
| Nothing | 0 | 10,978,878,359,232 | 0.550783 | 1.82 | 0.54 | 0.000000 |
| Totals | 19,933,230,517,200 | 1.000000 | 2.23 | 50.91 | 0.986103 | |
The following table shows the results when following basic strategy only (not its exceptions):
| Basic Strategy Analysis | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand | Payoff | Combinations | Probability | Hit Frequency | Variance | Return |
| Royal Flush | 800 | 498,195,228 | 0.000025 | 40,010.88 | 15.96 | 0.019995 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 2,090,525,484 | 0.000105 | 9,535.03 | 0.25 | 0.005244 |
| Four Aces with any 2,3,4 | 400 | 1,210,872,480 | 0.000061 | 16,461.87 | 9.67 | 0.024299 |
| Four Aces with any J,Q,K | 320 | 1,270,691,760 | 0.000064 | 15,686.91 | 6.49 | 0.020399 |
| Four 2's, 3's, 4's with any A,2,3,4 | 160 | 2,926,112,112 | 0.000147 | 6,812.19 | 3.71 | 0.023487 |
| Four J's, Q's, K's with any J,Q,K,A | 160 | 3,854,004,924 | 0.000193 | 5,172.08 | 4.89 | 0.030935 |
| Four Aces | 160 | 2,234,025,600 | 0.000112 | 8,922.56 | 2.83 | 0.017932 |
| Four 2's, 3's, 4's | 80 | 7,874,798,856 | 0.000395 | 2,531.27 | 2.47 | 0.031605 |
| Four 5's through K's | 50 | 27,746,164,284 | 0.001392 | 718.41 | 3.34 | 0.069598 |
| Full House | 7 | 210,700,253,520 | 0.010570 | 94.60 | 0.38 | 0.073992 |
| Flush | 5 | 218,404,749,108 | 0.010957 | 91.27 | 0.18 | 0.054784 |
| Straight | 4 | 251,826,145,032 | 0.012633 | 79.15 | 0.11 | 0.050534 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 1,510,479,407,964 | 0.075777 | 13.20 | 0.31 | 0.227331 |
| Two Pair | 1 | 2,458,422,803,988 | 0.123333 | 8.11 | 0.00 | 0.123333 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 4,236,907,892,868 | 0.212555 | 4.70 | 0.00 | 0.212555 |
| Nothing | 0 | 10,996,783,873,992 | 0.551681 | 1.81 | 0.54 | 0.000000 |
| Totals | 19,933,230,517,200 | 1.000000 | 2.23 | 51.13 | 0.986022 | |
The following table shows the basic strategy:
| Basic Strategy | |
|---|---|
| Type of Play | Play Details |
| Pat Hand | (more)Four J's, Q's, K's with any J,Q,K,A; Four 2's, 3's, 4's with an... |
| 4 of a Kind | (more)2222; 3333; 4444; 5555; 6666; 7777; 8888; 9999; TTTT; JJJJ; QQQQ; KKKK... |
| 4 to a Royal Flush | TJQA; TJQK; TJKA; TQKA; JQKA |
| 3 of a Kind | 222; 333; 444; AAA |
| Pat Hand | Straight; Flush; Full House |
| 3 of a Kind + 1 Kicker | JJJQ; JJJK; JJJA; QQQJ; QQQK; QQQA; KKKJ; KKKQ; KKKA |
| 3 of a Kind | 555; 666; 777; 888; 999; TTT; JJJ; QQQ; KKK |
| 4 to a Straight Flush | (more)A234; A235; A245; A345; 2345; 2346; 2356; 2456; 3456; 3457; 3467; 3567... |
| 1 Pair | AA |
| 2 Pair | (more)2233; 2244; 2255; 2266; 2277; 2288; 2299; 22TT; 22JJ; 22QQ; 22KK; 3344... |
| 1 Pair | JJ; QQ; KK |
| 3 to a Royal Flush | TJA; TJQ; TJK; TQA; TQK; TKA; JQA; JQK; JKA; QKA |
| 4 to a Flush | (more)2347; 2348; 2349; 234T; 234J; 234Q; 234K; 2357; 2358; 2359; 235T; 235J... |
| 4 to a Straight | 89TJ; 9TJQ; TJQK |
| 1 Pair | 22; 33; 44; 55; 66; 77; 88; 99; TT |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 8TJ; 9TJ; 9JQ |
| 4 to a Straight | 2345; 3456; 4567; 5678; 6789; 789T; JQKA |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 89J; 8JQ; 9TQ; 9JK; 9QK |
| 2 to a Royal Flush | JA; JQ; JK; QA; QK |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | A23; A24; A25; A34; A35; A45; 456; 567; 678; 789; 89T |
| 2 to a Royal Flush | KA |
| 4 to a Straight | 9JQK; TJQA |
| 4 to a Straight | 89JQ; 8TJQ; 9TJK; 9TQK; TJKA; TQKA |
| 3 to a Straight | JQK |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 345; 79J; 7TJ; 8TQ; 9TK |
| Single Card | an Ace |
| 2 to a Straight | JQ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 234; 235; 245; 346; 356; 457; 467; 568; 578; 679; 689; 78J; 79T; 89Q |
| 2 to a Straight | JK |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 78T |
| 2 to a Straight | JA; QK |
| 2 to a Royal Flush | TJ; TQ |
| Single Card | a Jack; a Queen; a King |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 236; 246; 256; 347; 357; 367; 458; 468; 478; 569; 579; 589; 67T; 68T; 69T |
| 4 to a Straight | (more)2346; 2356; 2456; 3457; 3467; 3567; 4568; 4578; 4678; 5679; 5689; 5789... |
| Garbage | Discard everything |
The following table shows the exceptions to the basic strategy:
| Basic Strategy Exceptions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Right Play | Wrong Play | Pattern(s) |
| 2 to a Straight: JQ | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 2 to a Straight: JQ | 4 to a Straight: 89JQ | |
| 2 to a Straight: JK | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 2 to a Straight: QK | Single Card: an Ace | |
| Single Card: a Queen | 2 to a Royal Flush: TQ | |
| 2 to a Straight: JA | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 2 to a Straight: QA | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 2 to a Straight: KA | Single Card: an Ace | |
| Single Card: an Ace | 3 to a Straight Flush: A23 | |
| Single Card: an Ace | 3 to a Straight Flush: A24 | |
| Single Card: an Ace | 3 to a Straight Flush: A25 | |
| Single Card: an Ace | 3 to a Straight Flush: A34 | |
| Single Card: an Ace | 3 to a Straight Flush: A35 | |
| Single Card: an Ace | 3 to a Straight Flush: A45 | |
| 4 to a Straight: TJKA | 2 to a Royal Flush: JA | |
| 4 to a Straight: TQKA | 2 to a Royal Flush: QA | |
| 4 to a Straight: TJKA | 2 to a Royal Flush: KA | |
| 4 to a Straight: TQKA | 2 to a Royal Flush: KA | |
| 4 to a Straight: TJQA | 2 to a Royal Flush: JA | |
| 4 to a Straight: TJQA | 2 to a Royal Flush: QA | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 89Q | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 78J | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 346 | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 356 | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 457 | Single Card: an Ace | |
| Single Card: an Ace | 3 to a Straight Flush: 79J | |
| Single Card: an Ace | 3 to a Straight Flush: 7TJ | |
| 2 to a Straight: JK | 3 to a Straight Flush: 78J | |
| 2 to a Straight: JK | 3 to a Straight Flush: 79J | |
| Single Card: an Ace | 3 to a Straight Flush: 8TQ | |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 78T | 6♣ 7♦ 8♦ 10♦ J♥ |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 79T | 6♣ 7♦ 9♦ 10♦ J♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 79T | 4 to a Straight: 9TQK | 7♣ 9♣ 10♣ Q♦ K♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 789 | 2 to a Royal Flush: QK | 7♣ 8♣ 9♣ Q♦ K♦ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 456 | 2 to a Royal Flush: JA | 4♣ 5♣ 6♣ J♦ A♦ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 567 | 2 to a Royal Flush: JA | 5♣ 6♣ 7♣ J♦ A♦ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 678 | 2 to a Royal Flush: JA | 6♣ 7♣ 8♣ J♦ A♦ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 456 | 2 to a Royal Flush: QA | 4♣ 5♣ 6♣ Q♦ A♦ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 567 | 2 to a Royal Flush: QA | 5♣ 6♣ 7♣ Q♦ A♦ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 678 | 2 to a Royal Flush: QA | 6♣ 7♣ 8♣ Q♦ A♦ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 789 | 2 to a Royal Flush: QA | 7♣ 8♣ 9♣ Q♦ A♦ |