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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 | 850.12 | 496,441,080 | 0.000025 | 40,152.26 | 17.96 | 0.021172 |
| Straight Flush | 50.256 | 2,132,830,812 | 0.000107 | 9,345.90 | 0.26 | 0.005377 |
| Four Aces | 105.216 | 4,003,704,888 | 0.000201 | 4,978.70 | 2.18 | 0.021133 |
| Four 2's, 3's, 4's | 46.032 | 10,510,438,056 | 0.000527 | 1,896.52 | 1.07 | 0.024272 |
| Four 5's through K's | 26.344 | 32,672,571,492 | 0.001639 | 610.09 | 1.05 | 0.043180 |
| Full House | 6 | 227,405,305,044 | 0.011408 | 87.66 | 0.29 | 0.068450 |
| Flush | 5 | 217,187,503,548 | 0.010896 | 91.78 | 0.18 | 0.054479 |
| Straight | 4 | 224,654,171,388 | 0.011270 | 88.73 | 0.10 | 0.045081 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 1,485,932,134,776 | 0.074545 | 13.41 | 0.30 | 0.223636 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 2,576,829,000,672 | 0.129273 | 7.74 | 0.13 | 0.258546 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 4,287,123,622,224 | 0.215074 | 4.65 | 0.00 | 0.215074 |
| Nothing | 0 | 10,864,282,793,220 | 0.545034 | 1.83 | 0.52 | 0.000000 |
| Totals | 19,933,230,517,200 | 1.000000 | 2.20 | 24.05 | 0.980402 | |
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 | 850.12 | 497,480,820 | 0.000025 | 40,068.34 | 18.00 | 0.021217 |
| Straight Flush | 50.256 | 2,109,857,976 | 0.000106 | 9,447.66 | 0.26 | 0.005319 |
| Four Aces | 105.216 | 4,004,777,652 | 0.000201 | 4,977.36 | 2.18 | 0.021139 |
| Four 2's, 3's, 4's | 46.032 | 10,509,515,964 | 0.000527 | 1,896.68 | 1.07 | 0.024270 |
| Four 5's through K's | 26.344 | 32,662,292,772 | 0.001639 | 610.28 | 1.05 | 0.043167 |
| Full House | 6 | 227,383,162,452 | 0.011407 | 87.66 | 0.29 | 0.068443 |
| Flush | 5 | 216,697,435,644 | 0.010871 | 91.99 | 0.18 | 0.054356 |
| Straight | 4 | 224,131,061,940 | 0.011244 | 88.94 | 0.10 | 0.044976 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 1,485,644,801,724 | 0.074531 | 13.42 | 0.30 | 0.223593 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 2,576,635,452,684 | 0.129263 | 7.74 | 0.13 | 0.258527 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 4,292,344,324,980 | 0.215336 | 4.64 | 0.00 | 0.215336 |
| Nothing | 0 | 10,860,610,352,592 | 0.544849 | 1.84 | 0.52 | 0.000000 |
| Totals | 19,933,230,517,200 | 1.000000 | 2.20 | 24.09 | 0.980343 | |
The following table shows the basic strategy:
| Basic Strategy | |
|---|---|
| Type of Play | Play Details |
| Pat Hand | 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 Flush | TJQA; TJQK; TJKA; TQKA; JQKA |
| 3 of a Kind | AAA |
| Pat Hand | Straight; Flush; Full House |
| 3 of a Kind | 222; 333; 444; 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 |
| 4 to a Flush | (more)2347; 2348; 2349; 234T; 234J; 234Q; 234K; 2357; 2358; 2359; 235T; 235J... |
| 4 to a Straight | 9TJQ; TJQK |
| 1 Pair | 22; 33; 44; 55; 66; 77; 88; 99; TT |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 8JQ; 9JQ |
| 4 to a Straight | 2345; 3456; 4567; 5678; 6789; 789T; 89TJ; JQKA |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 89J; 8TJ; 9TJ; 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; TJKA; TQKA |
| 3 to a Straight | JQK |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 345; 79J; 7TJ; 9TK |
| 2 to a Straight | JQ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 578; 689; 78J; 89Q; 8TQ |
| 2 to a Straight | JK; QA |
| 2 to a Straight | KA |
| 2 to a Royal Flush | TJ |
| 2 to a Straight | JA |
| Single Card | an Ace |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 234; 235; 245; 346; 356; 457; 467; 568; 679; 78T; 79T |
| 2 to a Straight | QK |
| 2 to a Royal Flush | TQ; TK |
| 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 |
| 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: QK | 2 to a Straight: QA | |
| Single Card: a King | 2 to a Royal Flush: TK | |
| Single Card: an Ace | 2 to a Straight: KA | |
| Single Card: an Ace | 2 to a Straight: QA | |
| 2 to a Royal Flush: TJ | 2 to a Straight: JK | |
| 2 to a Royal Flush: TQ | 2 to a Straight: QA | |
| Single Card: an Ace | 2 to a Straight: JA | |
| 2 to a Straight: JA | 2 to a Royal Flush: TJ | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 78T | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 79T | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 346 | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 679 | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 356 | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 457 | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 467 | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 568 | Single Card: an Ace | |
| Single Card: an Ace | 3 to a Straight Flush: 578 | |
| Single Card: an Ace | 3 to a Straight Flush: 689 | |
| Single Card: an Ace | 2 to a Royal Flush: TJ | |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 78T | |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 79T | |
| 2 to a Straight: JK | 3 to a Straight Flush: 78J | |
| 2 to a Straight: JQ | 3 to a Straight Flush: 79J | |
| 2 to a Straight: JK | 3 to a Straight Flush: 79J | |
| 2 to a Straight: JQ | 3 to a Straight Flush: 7TJ | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 78J | 2 to a Straight: JQ | 7♣ 8♣ J♣ Q♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 234 | 2 to a Straight: JK | 2♣ 3♣ 4♣ J♦ K♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 235 | 2 to a Straight: JK | 2♣ 3♣ 5♣ J♦ K♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 245 | 2 to a Straight: JK | 2♣ 4♣ 5♣ J♦ K♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 346 | 2 to a Straight: JK | 3♣ 4♣ 6♣ J♦ K♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 356 | 2 to a Straight: JK | 3♣ 5♣ 6♣ J♦ K♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 457 | 2 to a Straight: JK | 4♣ 5♣ 7♣ J♦ K♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 467 | 2 to a Straight: JK | 4♣ 6♣ 7♣ J♦ K♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 568 | 2 to a Straight: JK | 5♣ 6♣ 8♣ J♦ K♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 679 | 2 to a Straight: JK | 6♣ 7♣ 9♣ J♦ K♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 346 | 2 to a Straight: JA | 3♣ 4♣ 6♣ J♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 356 | 2 to a Straight: JA | 3♣ 5♣ 6♣ J♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 457 | 2 to a Straight: JA | 4♣ 5♣ 7♣ J♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 467 | 2 to a Straight: JA | 4♣ 6♣ 7♣ J♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 568 | 2 to a Straight: JA | 5♣ 6♣ 8♣ J♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 679 | 2 to a Straight: JA | 6♣ 7♣ 9♣ J♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 78T | 2 to a Straight: JA | 7♣ 8♣ 10♣ J♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 79T | 2 to a Straight: JA | 7♣ 9♣ 10♣ J♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 346 | 2 to a Straight: QA | 3♣ 4♣ 6♣ Q♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 356 | 2 to a Straight: QA | 3♣ 5♣ 6♣ Q♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 457 | 2 to a Straight: QA | 4♣ 5♣ 7♣ Q♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 467 | 2 to a Straight: QA | 4♣ 6♣ 7♣ Q♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 568 | 2 to a Straight: QA | 5♣ 6♣ 8♣ Q♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 679 | 2 to a Straight: QA | 6♣ 7♣ 9♣ Q♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 78T | 2 to a Straight: QA | 7♣ 8♣ 10♣ Q♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 79T | 2 to a Straight: QA | 7♣ 9♣ 10♣ Q♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 346 | 2 to a Straight: KA | 3♣ 4♣ 6♣ K♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 356 | 2 to a Straight: KA | 3♣ 5♣ 6♣ K♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 457 | 2 to a Straight: KA | 4♣ 5♣ 7♣ K♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 467 | 2 to a Straight: KA | 4♣ 6♣ 7♣ K♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 568 | 2 to a Straight: KA | 5♣ 6♣ 8♣ K♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 679 | 2 to a Straight: KA | 6♣ 7♣ 9♣ K♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 78T | 2 to a Straight: KA | 7♣ 8♣ 10♣ K♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 79T | 2 to a Straight: KA | 7♣ 9♣ 10♣ K♦ A♥ |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 234 | 2♣ 3♣ 4♣ 6♦ J♥ |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 235 | 2♣ 3♣ 5♣ 6♦ J♥ |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 245 | 2♣ 4♣ 5♣ 6♦ J♥ |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 346 | 2♣ 3♦ 4♦ 6♦ J♥ |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 356 | 2♣ 3♦ 5♦ 6♦ J♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 234 | Single Card: an Ace | 2♣ 3♣ 4♣ 10♦ A♦ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 235 | Single Card: an Ace | 2♣ 3♣ 5♣ 10♦ A♦ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 245 | Single Card: an Ace | 2♣ 4♣ 5♣ 10♦ A♦ |
| 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♦ |