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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 | 498,501,468 | 0.000025 | 39,986.30 | 15.96 | 0.020007 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 1,953,390,780 | 0.000098 | 10,204.43 | 0.23 | 0.004900 |
| Four Aces | 260.22 | 4,332,847,872 | 0.000217 | 4,600.49 | 14.59 | 0.056564 |
| Four 2's, 3's, 4's | 161.94 | 10,965,247,680 | 0.000550 | 1,817.86 | 14.22 | 0.089083 |
| Four 5's through K's | 86.87 | 32,728,004,340 | 0.001642 | 609.06 | 12.05 | 0.142630 |
| Full House | 7 | 223,131,537,108 | 0.011194 | 89.33 | 0.38 | 0.078358 |
| Flush | 5 | 198,851,352,732 | 0.009976 | 100.24 | 0.15 | 0.049879 |
| Straight | 4 | 216,695,436,408 | 0.010871 | 91.99 | 0.09 | 0.043484 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 1,513,221,798,396 | 0.075915 | 13.17 | 0.25 | 0.227744 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 2,604,107,721,996 | 0.130642 | 7.65 | 0.09 | 0.261283 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 4,212,713,161,620 | 0.211341 | 4.73 | 0.01 | 0.211341 |
| Nothing | 0 | 10,914,031,516,800 | 0.547529 | 1.83 | 0.77 | 0.000000 |
| Totals | 19,933,230,517,200 | 1.000000 | 2.21 | 58.77 | 1.185273 | |
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 | 499,521,600 | 0.000025 | 39,904.64 | 15.99 | 0.020048 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 1,955,352,096 | 0.000098 | 10,194.19 | 0.23 | 0.004905 |
| Four Aces | 260.22 | 4,337,975,364 | 0.000218 | 4,595.05 | 14.60 | 0.056630 |
| Four 2's, 3's, 4's | 161.94 | 10,965,125,904 | 0.000550 | 1,817.88 | 14.22 | 0.089082 |
| Four 5's through K's | 86.87 | 32,719,599,216 | 0.001641 | 609.21 | 12.05 | 0.142594 |
| Full House | 7 | 223,115,617,476 | 0.011193 | 89.34 | 0.38 | 0.078352 |
| Flush | 5 | 199,020,176,064 | 0.009984 | 100.16 | 0.15 | 0.049922 |
| Straight | 4 | 217,013,334,720 | 0.010887 | 91.85 | 0.09 | 0.043548 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 1,513,028,385,084 | 0.075905 | 13.17 | 0.25 | 0.227714 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 2,603,751,842,988 | 0.130624 | 7.66 | 0.09 | 0.261247 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 4,210,127,704,404 | 0.211212 | 4.73 | 0.01 | 0.211212 |
| Nothing | 0 | 10,916,695,882,284 | 0.547663 | 1.83 | 0.77 | 0.000000 |
| Totals | 19,933,230,517,200 | 1.000000 | 2.21 | 58.82 | 1.185254 | |
The following table shows the basic strategy:
| Basic Strategy | |
|---|---|
| Type of Play | Play Details |
| 4 of a Kind | 2222; 3333; 4444; 5555; 6666; 7777; 8888; 9999; TTTT; JJJJ; QQQQ; KKKK |
| Pat Hand | Four Aces; Straight Flush; Royal Flush |
| 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 | 555; 666; 777; 888; 999; TTT; JJJ; QQQ; KKK |
| 2 Pair | (more)2233; 2244; 2255; 2266; 2277; 2288; 2299; 22TT; 22JJ; 22QQ; 22KK; 22AA... |
| 4 to a Straight Flush | (more)A234; A235; A245; A345; 2345; 2346; 2356; 2456; 3456; 3457; 3467; 3567... |
| 1 Pair | JJ; QQ; KK; AA |
| 3 to a Royal Flush | TJA; TJQ; TJK; TQA; TQK; TKA; JQA; JQK; JKA; QKA |
| 1 Pair | 22; 33; 44 |
| 4 to a Flush | (more)234J; 234Q; 234K; 235J; 235Q; 235K; 236A; 236J; 236Q; 236K; 237A; 237J... |
| 1 Pair | 55; 66; 77; 88; 99; TT |
| 4 to a Flush | (more)2347; 2348; 2349; 234T; 2357; 2358; 2359; 235T; 2367; 2368; 2369; 236T... |
| 4 to a Straight | 2345; 3456; 4567; 5678; 6789; 789T; 89TJ; 9TJQ; TJQK |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 8JQ; 9TJ; 9JQ |
| 4 to a Straight | JQKA |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 9JK; 9QK |
| 2 to a Royal Flush | JA; JQ; JK; QA; QK; KA |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 345; 456; 567; 678; 789; 89T; 89J; 8TJ; 9TQ |
| 4 to a Straight | 9JQK; TJQA; TJKA; TQKA |
| Single Card | an Ace |
| 3 to a Straight | JQK |
| 2 to a Straight | JQ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | A23; A24; A34; 79J; 7TJ; 89Q; 8TQ |
| 2 to a Straight | JK; QK |
| 2 to a Royal Flush | TJ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 78J; 9TK |
| Single Card | a Jack |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 234; 235; 245; 78T; 79T |
| 2 to a Royal Flush | TQ |
| Single Card | a Queen |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 346; 356; 457; 467; 568; 578; 679; 689 |
| Single Card | a King |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 236; 246; 256; 347; 357; 367; 458; 468; 478; 569; 579; 589; 67T; 68T; 69T |
| Garbage | Discard everything |
The following table shows the exceptions to the basic strategy:
| Basic Strategy Exceptions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Right Play | Wrong Play | Pattern(s) |
| Single Card: a Queen | 2 to a Royal Flush: TQ | |
| 2 to a Straight: JQ | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 2 to a Royal Flush: TJ | 2 to a Straight: JK | |
| 2 to a Royal Flush: JQ | 3 to a Straight Flush: 8JQ | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 78J | 2 to a Straight: JK | |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 78J | |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 79J | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 679 | Single Card: a Queen | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 689 | Single Card: a Queen | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 346 | Single Card: a Queen | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 356 | Single Card: a Queen | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 568 | Single Card: a Queen | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 578 | Single Card: a Queen | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 457 | Single Card: a Queen | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 467 | Single Card: a Queen | |
| Single Card: a King | 3 to a Straight Flush: 346 | |
| Single Card: a King | 3 to a Straight Flush: 356 | |
| Single Card: a King | 3 to a Straight Flush: 457 | |
| Single Card: a King | 3 to a Straight Flush: 467 | |
| Single Card: a King | 3 to a Straight Flush: 568 | |
| Single Card: a King | 3 to a Straight Flush: 578 | |
| 2 to a Straight: JK | 3 to a Straight Flush: 79J | |
| 2 to a Straight: JK | 3 to a Straight Flush: 7TJ | |
| Single Card: a Queen | 3 to a Straight Flush: 234 | |
| Single Card: a Queen | 3 to a Straight Flush: 235 | |
| Single Card: a Queen | 3 to a Straight Flush: 245 | |
| Single Card: a King | 3 to a Straight Flush: 679 | |
| Single Card: a King | 3 to a Straight Flush: 689 | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 568 | Single Card: a Jack | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 578 | Single Card: a Jack | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 234 | Single Card: a Jack | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 679 | Single Card: a Jack | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 689 | Single Card: a Jack | |
| Single Card: a King | 3 to a Straight Flush: 234 | |
| Single Card: a King | 3 to a Straight Flush: 235 | |
| Single Card: a King | 3 to a Straight Flush: 245 | |
| Single Card: a Queen | 3 to a Straight Flush: 78T | |
| Single Card: a King | 3 to a Straight Flush: 78T | |
| Single Card: a Queen | 3 to a Straight Flush: 79T | |
| Single Card: a King | 3 to a Straight Flush: 79T | |
| 2 to a Straight: QK | 3 to a Straight Flush: 89Q | |
| 2 to a Straight: QK | 3 to a Straight Flush: 8TQ | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 235 | Single Card: a Jack | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 245 | Single Card: a Jack | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 346 | Single Card: a Jack | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 356 | Single Card: a Jack | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 78T | 2 to a Straight: QK | 7♣ 8♣ 10♣ Q♦ K♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 79T | 2 to a Straight: QK | 7♣ 9♣ 10♣ Q♦ K♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 457 | Single Card: a Jack | 4♣ 5♣ 7♣ 9♦ J♦ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 467 | Single Card: a Jack | 4♣ 6♣ 7♣ 9♦ J♦ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 346 | 2 to a Royal Flush: TQ | 3♣ 4♣ 6♣ 10♦ Q♦ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 356 | 2 to a Royal Flush: TQ | 3♣ 5♣ 6♣ 10♦ Q♦ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 457 | 2 to a Royal Flush: TQ | 4♣ 5♣ 7♣ 10♦ Q♦ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 467 | 2 to a Royal Flush: TQ | 4♣ 6♣ 7♣ 10♦ Q♦ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 568 | 2 to a Royal Flush: TQ | 5♣ 6♣ 8♣ 10♦ Q♦ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 578 | 2 to a Royal Flush: TQ | 5♣ 7♣ 8♣ 10♦ Q♦ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 689 | 2 to a Royal Flush: TQ | 6♣ 8♣ 9♣ 10♦ Q♦ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 89T | 2 to a Royal Flush: KA | 8♣ 9♣ 10♣ K♦ A♦ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 89J | 2 to a Royal Flush: KA | 8♣ 9♣ J♣ K♦ A♦ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 8TJ | 2 to a Royal Flush: KA | 8♣ 10♣ J♣ K♦ A♦ |