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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 | 495,430,236 | 0.000025 | 40,234.18 | 15.87 | 0.019884 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 2,132,733,288 | 0.000107 | 9,346.33 | 0.26 | 0.005350 |
| Four Aces | 80 | 3,903,635,460 | 0.000196 | 5,106.32 | 1.22 | 0.015667 |
| Four 2's, 3's, 4's | 40 | 10,509,856,008 | 0.000527 | 1,896.62 | 0.80 | 0.021090 |
| Four 5's through K's | 25 | 32,673,298,536 | 0.001639 | 610.08 | 0.95 | 0.040978 |
| Full House | 7 | 229,459,754,916 | 0.011511 | 86.87 | 0.42 | 0.080580 |
| Flush | 5 | 216,946,473,756 | 0.010884 | 91.88 | 0.18 | 0.054418 |
| Straight | 4 | 224,617,025,580 | 0.011268 | 88.74 | 0.10 | 0.045074 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 1,483,756,110,144 | 0.074436 | 13.43 | 0.30 | 0.223309 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 2,576,626,215,768 | 0.129263 | 7.74 | 0.13 | 0.258526 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 4,291,056,995,796 | 0.215272 | 4.65 | 0.00 | 0.215272 |
| Nothing | 0 | 10,861,052,987,712 | 0.544872 | 1.84 | 0.52 | 0.000000 |
| Totals | 19,933,230,517,200 | 1.000000 | 2.20 | 20.75 | 0.980147 | |
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 | 497,439,540 | 0.000025 | 40,071.66 | 15.93 | 0.019964 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 2,110,941,576 | 0.000106 | 9,442.81 | 0.25 | 0.005295 |
| Four Aces | 80 | 3,910,380,096 | 0.000196 | 5,097.52 | 1.22 | 0.015694 |
| Four 2's, 3's, 4's | 40 | 10,509,497,388 | 0.000527 | 1,896.69 | 0.80 | 0.021089 |
| Four 5's through K's | 25 | 32,662,720,536 | 0.001639 | 610.27 | 0.95 | 0.040965 |
| Full House | 7 | 229,456,578,420 | 0.011511 | 86.87 | 0.42 | 0.080579 |
| Flush | 5 | 216,606,911,184 | 0.010867 | 92.02 | 0.18 | 0.054333 |
| Straight | 4 | 224,181,885,876 | 0.011247 | 88.92 | 0.10 | 0.044987 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 1,483,676,406,720 | 0.074432 | 13.44 | 0.30 | 0.223297 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 2,576,663,776,440 | 0.129265 | 7.74 | 0.13 | 0.258529 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 4,292,524,773,792 | 0.215345 | 4.64 | 0.00 | 0.215345 |
| Nothing | 0 | 10,860,429,205,632 | 0.544840 | 1.84 | 0.52 | 0.000000 |
| Totals | 19,933,230,517,200 | 1.000000 | 2.20 | 20.82 | 0.980078 | |
The following table shows the basic strategy:
| Basic Strategy | |
|---|---|
| Type of Play | Play Details |
| Pat Hand | Full 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 Flush | TJQA; TJQK; TJKA; TQKA; JQKA |
| 3 of a Kind | 222; 333; 444; 555; 666; 777; 888; 999; TTT; JJJ; QQQ; KKK; AAA |
| Pat Hand | Straight; 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 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; QK |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 456; 567; 678; 789; 89T |
| 2 to a Royal Flush | QA; KA |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 345 |
| 4 to a Straight | 9JQK; TJQA; TJKA; TQKA |
| 3 to a Straight | JQK |
| 2 to a Straight | JQ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | A23; A24; A25; A34; A35; A45; 568; 578; 689; 78J; 79J; 7TJ; 89Q; 8TQ; 9TK |
| 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; 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 | |
| 2 to a Royal Flush: TJ | 2 to a Straight: JK | |
| 2 to a Straight: JA | 2 to a Royal Flush: TJ | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 7TJ | 2 to a Straight: JQ | |
| 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: 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: 679 | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 234 | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 235 | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 245 | Single Card: an Ace | |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 346 | |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 356 | |
| Single Card: an Ace | 3 to a Straight Flush: 568 | |
| Single Card: an Ace | 3 to a Straight Flush: 578 | |
| Single Card: an Ace | 3 to a Straight Flush: 689 | |
| 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: JK | 3 to a Straight Flush: 79J | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 78J | 2 to a Straight: JQ | 7♣ 8♣ J♣ Q♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 79J | 2 to a Straight: JQ | 7♣ 9♣ 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 457 | 3♣ 4♦ 5♦ 7♦ J♥ |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 467 | 3♣ 4♦ 6♦ 7♦ J♥ |
| 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♦ |