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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
HandPayoffCombinationsProbabilityHit FrequencyVarianceReturn
Royal Flush800499,479,0600.00002539,908.0416.000.016705
Straight Flush502,050,898,2920.0001039,719.270.250.004287
Four Aces1004,198,382,9160.0002114,747.842.060.017552
Four 2's, 3's, 4's6024,260,272,0560.001217821.644.240.060854
Four 5's through K's4695,160,932,4840.004774209.479.670.183003
Full House8215,327,009,6400.01080292.570.530.072016
Flush5196,543,103,7480.009860101.420.160.041084
Straight4218,788,333,3200.01097691.110.100.036587
Three of a Kind31,370,336,618,8560.06874614.550.280.171866
Two Pair22,593,167,713,2800.1300937.690.130.216821
Jacks or Better14,179,309,331,2840.2096654.770.000.174721
Nothing011,033,588,442,2640.5535271.810.550.000000
Totals19,933,230,517,2001.0000002.2433.960.995495

The following table shows the results when following basic strategy only (not its exceptions):

Basic Strategy Analysis
HandPayoffCombinationsProbabilityHit FrequencyVarianceReturn
Royal Flush800497,070,3720.00002540,101.4315.920.016625
Straight Flush502,044,153,1400.0001039,751.340.250.004273
Four Aces1004,198,773,5280.0002114,747.392.060.017553
Four 2's, 3's, 4's6024,254,431,9680.001217821.844.240.060839
Four 5's through K's4695,125,975,0320.004772209.559.670.182936
Full House8215,311,959,9840.01080292.580.530.072011
Flush5195,824,782,7280.009824101.790.160.040933
Straight4218,568,661,8000.01096591.200.100.036550
Three of a Kind31,371,065,045,7360.06878314.540.280.171957
Two Pair22,593,293,705,0000.1300997.690.130.216832
Jacks or Better14,184,199,107,2440.2099114.760.000.174926
Nothing011,028,846,850,6680.5532891.810.550.000000
Totals19,933,230,517,2001.0000002.2433.880.995435

The following table shows the basic strategy:

Basic Strategy
Type of Play Play Details
4 of a KindAAAA
Pat HandFour 5's through K's; Four 2's, 3's, 4's; Straight Flush; Royal Flush
4 to a Royal FlushTJQA; TJQK; TJKA; TQKA; JQKA
3 of a Kind + 1 Kicker222A; 3332; 333A; 4442; 4443; 444A
Pat HandStraight; Flush; Full House
3 of a Kind + 1 Kicker
(more)5552; 5553; 5554; 555A; 6662; 6663; 6664; 6665; 666A; 7772; 7773; 7774...
3 of a Kind222; 333; 444; 555; 666; 777; 888; 999; TTT; JJJ; QQQ; KKK; AAA
1 Pair + 2 Kickers332A; 443A
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; 3456; 3567; 4567; 4568; 4578; 4678; 5678...
1 Pair + 2 Kickers
(more)5523; 554A; 6624; 665A; 7725; 7734; 776A; 8826; 8835; 887A; 9927; 9936...
4 to a Straight Flush2346; 2356; 2456; 3457; 3467
1 PairJJ; QQ; KK; AA
3 to a Royal FlushTJA; TJQ; TJK; TQA; TQK; TKA; JQA; JQK; JKA; QKA
1 Pair + 1 Kicker332; 33A; 443; 44A
4 to a Flush
(more)2347; 234J; 234Q; 234K; 235J; 235Q; 235K; 236A; 23JA; 23JQ; 23JK; 23QA...
1 Pair77; 88; 99; TT
4 to a Flush
(more)2348; 2349; 234T; 237A; 237J; 237Q; 237K; 238A; 238J; 238Q; 238K; 239A...
1 Pair33; 44; 55; 66
4 to a Flush
(more)236J; 236Q; 236K; 2457; 2458; 2459; 245J; 245Q; 245K; 2467; 2468; 2469...
1 Pair + 1 Kicker22A; 552; 553; 554; 55A
4 to a Flush245T; 345T
1 Pair22
4 to a Flush
(more)2357; 2358; 2359; 235T; 2367; 2368; 2369; 236T; 2378; 2379; 237T; 2389...
4 to a Straight2345; 3456; 4567; 5678; 6789; 789T; 89TJ; 9TJQ; TJQK
3 to a Straight FlushA23; A34; A45; 8TJ; 8JQ; 9TJ; 9TQ; 9JQ
4 to a StraightJQKA
2 to a Royal FlushJQ
3 to a Straight Flush235; 9JK; 9QK
2 to a Royal FlushJA; JK; QK
3 to a Straight Flush456; 567; 678; 789; 89J
2 to a Royal FlushQA
3 to a Straight Flush89T
2 to a Royal FlushKA
4 to a Straight9JQK; TJQA; TJKA; TQKA
3 to a Flush56A; 67A; 78A; 89A; 9TA
3 to a StraightJQK
3 to a Straight Flush246; 345; 347
2 to a StraightJQ
Single Cardan Ace
3 to a Straight FlushA24; A25; A35; 689; 78J; 79J; 7TJ; 89Q; 8TQ; 9TK
2 to a StraightJK; QK
2 to a Royal FlushTJ
3 to a Straight Flush234; 245; 346; 356; 457; 467; 568; 578; 679
Single Carda Jack
3 to a Straight Flush78T; 79T
2 to a Royal FlushTQ
Single Carda Queen; a King
3 to a Flush257; 268; 279; 28T; 358; 369; 37T; 459; 46T
3 to a Straight Flush236; 256; 357; 367; 458; 468; 478; 569; 579; 589; 67T; 68T; 69T
GarbageDiscard everything

The following table shows the exceptions to the basic strategy:

Basic Strategy Exceptions
Right Play Wrong Play Pattern(s)
2 to a Royal Flush: TKSingle Card: a King
(more)2♣ 3♣ 4♦ 10♥ K♥
Single Card: an Ace2 to a Straight: JQ
(more)7♣ 8♣ J♣ Q♦ A♥
2 to a Royal Flush: TJ2 to a Straight: JK
(more)2♣ 3♣ 10♦ J♦ K♣
3 to a Straight Flush: A35Single Card: an Ace
(more)3♣ 5♣ 7♦ 10♦ A♣
3 to a Straight Flush: A24Single Card: an Ace
(more)2♣ 4♣ 6♦ J♦ A♣
3 to a Straight Flush: A25Single Card: an Ace
(more)2♣ 5♣ 6♦ J♦ A♣
1 Pair + 1 Kicker: 5541 Pair: 55
(more)5♣ 5♦ 2♣ 4♣ 10♣
1 Pair + 1 Kicker: 55A1 Pair: 55
(more)5♣ 5♦ 2♣ 10♣ A♦
Single Card: a Queen2 to a Royal Flush: TQ
(more)5♣ 6♦ 9♣ 10♦ Q♦
2 to a Royal Flush: JQ3 to a Straight Flush: 8JQ
(more)2♣ 8♦ 9♣ J♦ Q♦
1 Pair + 1 Kicker: 5521 Pair: 55
(more)5♦ 5♣ 2♥ 4♣ 10♣
1 Pair + 1 Kicker: 5531 Pair: 55
(more)5♦ 5♣ 3♥ 4♣ 10♣
3 to a Straight Flush: 7TJ2 to a Straight: JQ
(more)2♣ 7♦ 10♦ J♦ Q♣
Single Card: an Ace3 to a Straight Flush: 246
(more)2♣ 3♦ 4♣ 6♣ A♦
Single Card: a Jack3 to a Straight Flush: 346
(more)2♣ 3♦ 4♦ 6♦ J♣
Single Card: a Jack3 to a Straight Flush: 356
(more)2♣ 3♦ 5♦ 6♦ J♣
Single Card: an Ace3 to a Straight Flush: 347
(more)3♣ 4♣ 5♦ 7♣ A♦
Single Card: a Jack3 to a Straight Flush: 457
(more)3♣ 4♦ 5♦ 7♦ J♣
Single Card: a Jack3 to a Straight Flush: 467
(more)3♣ 4♦ 6♦ 7♦ J♣
2 to a Straight: JK3 to a Straight Flush: 78J
(more)7♣ 8♣ 9♦ J♣ K♦
Single Card: a Jack3 to a Straight Flush: 568
(more)4♣ 5♦ 6♦ 8♦ J♣
Single Card: a Jack3 to a Straight Flush: 578
(more)4♣ 5♦ 7♦ 8♦ J♣
Single Card: a Jack3 to a Straight Flush: 679
(more)5♣ 6♦ 7♦ 9♦ J♣
3 of a Kind + 1 Kicker: 66623 of a Kind + 1 Kicker: 6663
(more)6♣ 6♦ 6♥ 2♣ 3♣
3 to a Straight Flush: 78TSingle Card: a Jack
(more)2♣ 7♦ 8♦ 10♦ J♣
3 to a Straight Flush: 79TSingle Card: a Jack
(more)2♣ 7♦ 9♦ 10♦ J♣
3 to a Straight Flush: 79JSingle Card: an Ace
(more)2♣ 7♦ 9♦ J♦ A♣
3 to a Straight Flush: 7TJSingle Card: an Ace
(more)2♣ 7♦ 10♦ J♦ A♣
3 to a Straight Flush: 8TQSingle Card: an Ace
(more)2♣ 8♦ 10♦ Q♦ A♣
Single Card: a Queen3 to a Straight Flush: 346
(more)2♣ 3♦ 4♦ 6♦ Q♥
Single Card: a Queen3 to a Straight Flush: 356
(more)2♣ 3♦ 5♦ 6♦ Q♥
Single Card: a Queen3 to a Straight Flush: 457
(more)3♣ 4♦ 5♦ 7♦ Q♥
Single Card: a Queen3 to a Straight Flush: 467
(more)3♣ 4♦ 6♦ 7♦ Q♥
Single Card: a Queen3 to a Straight Flush: 568
(more)4♣ 5♦ 6♦ 8♦ Q♥
Single Card: a Queen3 to a Straight Flush: 578
(more)4♣ 5♦ 7♦ 8♦ Q♥
2 to a Royal Flush: TJSingle Card: an Ace
(more)2♣ 6♣ 10♦ J♦ A♣
Single Card: a Jack3 to a Straight Flush: 234
(more)2♣ 3♣ 4♣ 6♦ J♦
Single Card: a Jack3 to a Straight Flush: 245
(more)2♣ 4♣ 5♣ 6♦ J♦
2 to a Straight: JK3 to a Straight Flush: 79J
(more)7♣ 8♦ 9♣ J♣ K♦
2 to a Straight: JK3 to a Straight Flush: 7TJ
(more)7♣ 8♦ 10♣ J♣ K♦
3 to a Straight Flush: 78JSingle Card: an Ace
(more)3♣ 7♦ 8♦ J♦ A♣
3 to a Straight Flush: 89QSingle Card: an Ace
(more)3♣ 8♦ 9♦ Q♦ A♣
3 to a Straight Flush: 9TKSingle Card: an Ace
(more)3♣ 9♦ 10♦ K♦ A♣
3 to a Straight Flush: 79J2 to a Straight: JQ7♣ 9♣ J♣ Q♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 6792 to a Straight: JK6♣ 7♣ 9♣ J♦ K♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 6792 to a Straight: QK6♣ 7♣ 9♣ Q♦ K♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 78T2 to a Straight: QK7♣ 8♣ 10♣ Q♦ K♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 79T2 to a Straight: QK7♣ 9♣ 10♣ Q♦ K♥
Single Card: a Queen3 to a Straight Flush: 2342♣ 3♣ 4♣ 6♦ Q♥
Single Card: a Queen3 to a Straight Flush: 2452♣ 4♣ 5♣ 6♦ Q♥
Single Card: a Queen3 to a Straight Flush: 6795♣ 6♦ 7♦ 9♦ Q♥
Single Card: a Jack3 to a Straight Flush: 6895♣ 6♦ 8♦ 9♦ J♥
Single Card: a Queen3 to a Straight Flush: 6895♣ 6♦ 8♦ 9♦ Q♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 5782 to a Royal Flush: TJ5♣ 7♣ 8♣ 10♦ J♦
3 to a Straight Flush: 4562 to a Royal Flush: JA4♣ 5♣ 6♣ J♦ A♦
3 to a Straight Flush: 5672 to a Royal Flush: JA5♣ 6♣ 7♣ J♦ A♦
3 to a Straight Flush: 6782 to a Royal Flush: JA6♣ 7♣ 8♣ J♦ A♦
4 to a Flush: 245J1 Pair: 555♣ 5♦ 2♣ 4♣ J♣
4 to a Flush: 245Q1 Pair: 555♣ 5♦ 2♣ 4♣ Q♣
4 to a Flush: 245K1 Pair: 555♣ 5♦ 2♣ 4♣ K♣
1 Pair: 334 to a Flush: 345J3♣ 3♦ 4♣ 5♣ J♣
1 Pair: 334 to a Flush: 345Q3♣ 3♦ 4♣ 5♣ Q♣
1 Pair: 334 to a Flush: 345K3♣ 3♦ 4♣ 5♣ K♣
3 of a Kind + 1 Kicker: 44433 of a Kind + 1 Kicker: 44424♦ 4♥ 4♣ 2♠ 3♣
3 of a Kind + 1 Kicker: 444A3 of a Kind + 1 Kicker: 44424♦ 4♥ 4♣ 2♠ A♣
3 of a Kind + 1 Kicker: 66643 of a Kind + 1 Kicker: 66636♦ 6♥ 6♣ 3♠ 4♣
3 of a Kind + 1 Kicker: 66653 of a Kind + 1 Kicker: 66636♦ 6♥ 6♣ 3♠ 5♣
3 of a Kind + 1 Kicker: 666A3 of a Kind + 1 Kicker: 66636♦ 6♥ 6♣ 3♠ A♣