Wizard Recommends Cards

Wizard of Odds Approved

On this page

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 Flush800495,244,4760.00002540,249.2715.860.019876
Straight Flush502,113,095,3600.0001069,433.190.250.005300
Four Aces803,903,811,9320.0001965,106.091.220.015668
Four J's, Q's, K's4011,700,286,5840.0005871,703.650.890.023479
Four 2's through 10's2531,500,020,8320.001580632.800.910.039507
Full House8229,529,928,8520.01151586.840.570.092120
Flush5216,478,112,4240.01086092.080.170.054301
Straight4223,486,509,8280.01121289.190.100.044847
Three of a Kind31,484,505,645,0360.07447413.430.300.223422
Two Pair22,577,731,083,7400.1293187.730.130.258637
Jacks or Better14,293,595,533,1320.2153994.640.000.215399
Nothing010,858,191,245,0040.5447281.840.540.000000
Totals19,933,230,517,2001.0000002.2020.950.992555

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

Basic Strategy Analysis
HandPayoffCombinationsProbabilityHit FrequencyVarianceReturn
Royal Flush800492,283,1520.00002540,491.3915.770.019757
Straight Flush502,093,114,2920.0001059,523.240.250.005250
Four Aces803,906,600,9120.0001965,102.451.220.015679
Four J's, Q's, K's4011,707,858,3680.0005871,702.550.890.023494
Four 2's through 10's2531,498,421,7480.001580632.830.910.039505
Full House8229,562,343,9720.01151786.830.570.092133
Flush5215,739,980,6160.01082392.390.170.054116
Straight4222,967,670,7960.01118689.400.100.044743
Three of a Kind31,484,841,065,6760.07449113.420.300.223472
Two Pair22,578,159,074,7800.1293407.730.130.258680
Jacks or Better14,299,761,018,9880.2157084.640.000.215708
Nothing010,852,501,083,9000.5444431.840.540.000000
Totals19,933,230,517,2001.0000002.2020.850.992536

The following table shows the basic strategy:

Basic Strategy
Type of Play Play Details
Pat HandFull House; Straight Flush; Royal Flush
4 of a Kind
(more)2222; 3333; 4444; 5555; 6666; 7777; 8888; 9999; TTTT; JJJJ; QQQQ; KKKK...
4 to a Royal FlushTJQA; TJQK; TJKA; TQKA; JQKA
3 of a Kind222; 333; 444; 555; 666; 777; 888; 999; TTT; JJJ; QQQ; KKK; AAA
Pat HandStraight; Flush
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 PairJJ; QQ; KK; AA
3 to a Royal FlushTJA; 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 StraightTJQK
1 Pair22; 33; 44; 55; 66; 77; 88; 99; TT
4 to a Straight2345; 3456; 4567; 5678; 6789; 789T; 89TJ; 9TJQ
3 to a Straight Flush8TJ; 8JQ; 9TJ; 9TQ; 9JQ
4 to a StraightJQKA
3 to a Straight Flush9JK; 9QK
2 to a Royal FlushJA; JQ; 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
3 to a Straight Flush345
4 to a Straight9JQK; TJQA; TJKA; TQKA
3 to a StraightJQK
2 to a StraightJQ
3 to a Straight FlushA23; A24; A25; A34; A35; A45; 689; 78J; 79J; 7TJ; 89Q; 8TQ; 9TK
2 to a StraightJK; QK
2 to a Royal FlushTJ
2 to a StraightJA; QA; KA
Single Cardan Ace
3 to a Straight Flush234; 235; 245; 346; 356; 457; 467; 568; 578; 679; 78T; 79T
2 to a Royal FlushTQ
Single Carda Jack; a Queen; a King
3 to a Straight Flush236; 246; 256; 347; 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♥
2 to a Royal Flush: TJ2 to a Straight: JK
(more)2♣ 3♣ 10♦ J♦ K♣
2 to a Straight: JA2 to a Royal Flush: TJ
(more)2♣ 7♦ 10♣ J♣ A♦
2 to a Royal Flush: JQ3 to a Straight Flush: 8JQ
(more)2♣ 8♦ 9♣ J♦ Q♦
3 to a Straight Flush: 7TJ2 to a Straight: JQ
(more)2♣ 7♦ 10♦ J♦ Q♣
Single Card: a Queen2 to a Royal Flush: TQ
(more)2♣ 8♦ 9♦ 10♣ Q♣
3 to a Straight Flush: 78TSingle Card: an Ace
(more)2♣ 7♦ 8♦ 10♦ A♣
3 to a Straight Flush: 79TSingle Card: an Ace
(more)2♣ 7♦ 9♦ 10♦ A♣
3 to a Straight Flush: 346Single Card: an Ace
(more)2♣ 3♦ 4♦ 6♦ A♣
3 to a Straight Flush: 356Single Card: an Ace
(more)2♣ 3♦ 5♦ 6♦ A♣
3 to a Straight Flush: 457Single Card: an Ace
(more)2♣ 4♦ 5♦ 7♦ A♣
3 to a Straight Flush: 467Single Card: an Ace
(more)2♣ 4♦ 6♦ 7♦ A♣
3 to a Straight Flush: 568Single Card: an Ace
(more)2♣ 5♦ 6♦ 8♦ A♣
3 to a Straight Flush: 578Single Card: an Ace
(more)2♣ 5♦ 7♦ 8♦ A♣
3 to a Straight Flush: 679Single Card: an Ace
(more)2♣ 6♦ 7♦ 9♦ 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♣
2 to a Straight: JK3 to a Straight Flush: 78J
(more)7♣ 8♣ 9♦ J♣ K♦
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♣
Single Card: a Jack3 to a Straight Flush: 568
(more)4♣ 5♦ 6♦ 8♦ J♣
3 to a Straight Flush: 234Single Card: an Ace
(more)2♣ 3♣ 4♣ 7♦ A♦
3 to a Straight Flush: 235Single Card: an Ace
(more)2♣ 3♣ 5♣ 7♦ A♦
3 to a Straight Flush: 245Single Card: an Ace
(more)2♣ 4♣ 5♣ 7♦ 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 Jack3 to a Straight Flush: 578
(more)4♣ 5♦ 7♦ 8♦ J♥
Single Card: an Ace3 to a Straight Flush: 689
(more)5♣ 6♦ 8♦ 9♦ A♥
Single Card: a Jack3 to a Straight Flush: 234
(more)2♣ 3♣ 4♣ 6♦ J♦
Single Card: a Jack3 to a Straight Flush: 235
(more)2♣ 3♣ 5♣ 6♦ J♦
Single Card: a Jack3 to a Straight Flush: 245
(more)2♣ 4♣ 5♣ 6♦ J♦
Single Card: a Jack3 to a Straight Flush: 78T
(more)6♣ 7♦ 8♦ 10♦ J♣
Single Card: a Jack3 to a Straight Flush: 79T
(more)6♣ 7♦ 9♦ 10♦ 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: 78J2 to a Straight: JQ7♣ 8♣ J♣ Q♦ 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♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 3462 to a Straight: JA3♣ 4♣ 6♣ J♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 3562 to a Straight: JA3♣ 5♣ 6♣ J♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 4572 to a Straight: JA4♣ 5♣ 7♣ J♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 4672 to a Straight: JA4♣ 6♣ 7♣ J♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 5682 to a Straight: JA5♣ 6♣ 8♣ J♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 5782 to a Straight: JA5♣ 7♣ 8♣ J♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 6792 to a Straight: JA6♣ 7♣ 9♣ J♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 78T2 to a Straight: JA7♣ 8♣ 10♣ J♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 79T2 to a Straight: JA7♣ 9♣ 10♣ J♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 3462 to a Straight: QA3♣ 4♣ 6♣ Q♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 3562 to a Straight: QA3♣ 5♣ 6♣ Q♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 4572 to a Straight: QA4♣ 5♣ 7♣ Q♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 4672 to a Straight: QA4♣ 6♣ 7♣ Q♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 5682 to a Straight: QA5♣ 6♣ 8♣ Q♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 5782 to a Straight: QA5♣ 7♣ 8♣ Q♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 6792 to a Straight: QA6♣ 7♣ 9♣ Q♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 78T2 to a Straight: QA7♣ 8♣ 10♣ Q♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 79T2 to a Straight: QA7♣ 9♣ 10♣ Q♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 3462 to a Straight: KA3♣ 4♣ 6♣ K♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 3562 to a Straight: KA3♣ 5♣ 6♣ K♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 4572 to a Straight: KA4♣ 5♣ 7♣ K♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 4672 to a Straight: KA4♣ 6♣ 7♣ K♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 5682 to a Straight: KA5♣ 6♣ 8♣ K♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 5782 to a Straight: KA5♣ 7♣ 8♣ K♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 6792 to a Straight: KA6♣ 7♣ 9♣ K♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 78T2 to a Straight: KA7♣ 8♣ 10♣ K♦ A♥
3 to a Straight Flush: 79T2 to a Straight: KA7♣ 9♣ 10♣ K♦ A♥
Single Card: a Queen3 to a Straight Flush: 2342♣ 3♣ 4♣ 6♦ Q♥
Single Card: a Queen3 to a Straight Flush: 2352♣ 3♣ 5♣ 6♦ Q♥
Single Card: a Queen3 to a Straight Flush: 2452♣ 4♣ 5♣ 6♦ Q♥
Single Card: a Queen3 to a Straight Flush: 5684♣ 5♦ 6♦ 8♦ Q♥
Single Card: a Queen3 to a Straight Flush: 5784♣ 5♦ 7♦ 8♦ Q♥
Single Card: a Jack3 to a Straight Flush: 6795♣ 6♦ 7♦ 9♦ J♥
Single Card: a Jack3 to a Straight Flush: 6895♣ 6♦ 8♦ 9♦ J♥
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♦