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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 | 490,731,540 | 0.000025 | 40,619.42 | 15.72 | 0.019695 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 2,072,016,600 | 0.000104 | 9,620.21 | 0.25 | 0.005197 |
| Four Aces with any J,Q,K | 160 | 1,156,663,176 | 0.000058 | 17,233.39 | 1.47 | 0.009284 |
| Four J's, Q's, K's with any J,Q,K,A | 80 | 3,483,702,744 | 0.000175 | 5,721.85 | 1.09 | 0.013981 |
| Four Aces | 80 | 2,749,593,048 | 0.000138 | 7,249.52 | 0.86 | 0.011035 |
| Four J's, Q's, K's | 40 | 8,232,650,532 | 0.000413 | 2,421.24 | 0.63 | 0.016520 |
| Four 2's through 10's | 20 | 31,482,126,984 | 0.001579 | 633.16 | 0.57 | 0.031588 |
| Full House | 8 | 229,546,969,236 | 0.011516 | 86.84 | 0.56 | 0.092126 |
| Flush | 5 | 214,742,072,220 | 0.010773 | 92.82 | 0.17 | 0.053865 |
| Straight | 4 | 223,208,109,252 | 0.011198 | 89.30 | 0.10 | 0.044791 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 1,484,620,890,024 | 0.074480 | 13.43 | 0.30 | 0.223439 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 2,578,036,087,728 | 0.129334 | 7.73 | 0.13 | 0.258667 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 4,307,242,733,640 | 0.216084 | 4.63 | 0.00 | 0.216084 |
| Nothing | 0 | 10,846,166,170,476 | 0.544125 | 1.84 | 0.54 | 0.000000 |
| Totals | 19,933,230,517,200 | 1.000000 | 2.19 | 22.39 | 0.996274 | |
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 | 490,344,540 | 0.000025 | 40,651.48 | 15.70 | 0.019679 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 2,079,310,776 | 0.000104 | 9,586.46 | 0.25 | 0.005216 |
| Four Aces with any J,Q,K | 160 | 1,157,473,296 | 0.000058 | 17,221.33 | 1.47 | 0.009291 |
| Four J's, Q's, K's with any J,Q,K,A | 80 | 3,481,149,576 | 0.000175 | 5,726.05 | 1.09 | 0.013971 |
| Four Aces | 80 | 2,750,732,376 | 0.000138 | 7,246.52 | 0.86 | 0.011040 |
| Four J's, Q's, K's | 40 | 8,228,129,856 | 0.000413 | 2,422.57 | 0.63 | 0.016511 |
| Four 2's through 10's | 20 | 31,481,699,220 | 0.001579 | 633.17 | 0.57 | 0.031587 |
| Full House | 8 | 229,516,690,356 | 0.011514 | 86.85 | 0.56 | 0.092114 |
| Flush | 5 | 215,165,872,824 | 0.010794 | 92.64 | 0.17 | 0.053972 |
| Straight | 4 | 223,496,063,052 | 0.011212 | 89.19 | 0.10 | 0.044849 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 1,484,303,177,472 | 0.074464 | 13.43 | 0.30 | 0.223391 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 2,577,449,392,632 | 0.129304 | 7.73 | 0.13 | 0.258608 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 4,306,114,179,720 | 0.216027 | 4.63 | 0.00 | 0.216027 |
| Nothing | 0 | 10,847,516,301,504 | 0.544193 | 1.84 | 0.54 | 0.000000 |
| Totals | 19,933,230,517,200 | 1.000000 | 2.19 | 22.38 | 0.996257 | |
The following table shows the basic strategy:
| Basic Strategy | |
|---|---|
| Type of Play | Play Details |
| Pat Hand | (more)Full House; Four J's, Q's, K's with any J,Q,K,A; Four Aces with an... |
| 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 | 8TJ; 9TJ; 9TQ; 9JK; 9QK |
| 2 to a Royal Flush | JA; JQ; JK; QK |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 456; 567; 678; 789; 89J |
| 2 to a Royal Flush | QA |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 89T |
| 2 to a Royal Flush | 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; 79J; 7TJ; 89Q; 8TQ |
| 2 to a Straight | JK; QK |
| 2 to a Straight | QA |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 578; 689; 78J; 9TK |
| 2 to a Straight | JA; KA |
| 2 to a Royal Flush | TJ |
| Single Card | an Ace |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 234; 235; 245; 346; 356; 457; 467; 568; 679 |
| Single Card | a Jack |
| 3 to a Straight Flush | 78T; 79T |
| 2 to a Royal Flush | TQ |
| Single Card | 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) |
| Single Card: a Queen | 2 to a Royal Flush: TQ | |
| 2 to a Royal Flush: TJ | 2 to a Straight: JA | |
| 2 to a Royal Flush: JQ | 4 to a Straight: JQKA | |
| 2 to a Royal Flush: JQ | 3 to a Straight Flush: 8JQ | |
| 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: 568 | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 679 | Single Card: an Ace | |
| 2 to a Straight: JA | 3 to a Straight Flush: A23 | |
| 2 to a Straight: QA | 3 to a Straight Flush: A23 | |
| 2 to a Straight: KA | 3 to a Straight Flush: A23 | |
| 2 to a Straight: JA | 3 to a Straight Flush: A24 | |
| 2 to a Straight: QA | 3 to a Straight Flush: A24 | |
| 2 to a Straight: KA | 3 to a Straight Flush: A24 | |
| 2 to a Straight: JA | 3 to a Straight Flush: A34 | |
| 2 to a Straight: QA | 3 to a Straight Flush: A34 | |
| 2 to a Straight: KA | 3 to a Straight Flush: A34 | |
| 2 to a Straight: JA | 3 to a Straight Flush: A25 | |
| 2 to a Straight: QA | 3 to a Straight Flush: A25 | |
| 2 to a Straight: KA | 3 to a Straight Flush: A25 | |
| 2 to a Straight: JA | 3 to a Straight Flush: A35 | |
| 2 to a Straight: QA | 3 to a Straight Flush: A35 | |
| 2 to a Straight: KA | 3 to a Straight Flush: A35 | |
| 2 to a Straight: JA | 3 to a Straight Flush: A45 | |
| 2 to a Straight: QA | 3 to a Straight Flush: A45 | |
| 2 to a Straight: KA | 3 to a Straight Flush: A45 | |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 346 | |
| Single Card: a Queen | 3 to a Straight Flush: 346 | |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 356 | |
| Single Card: a Queen | 3 to a Straight Flush: 356 | |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 457 | |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 467 | |
| Single Card: an Ace | 3 to a Straight Flush: 578 | |
| Single Card: an Ace | 3 to a Straight Flush: 689 | |
| 2 to a Straight: JA | 3 to a Straight Flush: 78J | |
| 2 to a Straight: JK | 3 to a Straight Flush: 79J | |
| 2 to a Straight: JA | 3 to a Straight Flush: 79J | |
| 2 to a Straight: JK | 3 to a Straight Flush: 7TJ | |
| 2 to a Straight: JA | 3 to a Straight Flush: 7TJ | |
| Single Card: a Queen | 3 to a Straight Flush: 457 | |
| Single Card: a Queen | 3 to a Straight Flush: 467 | |
| Single Card: a Jack | 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: 679 | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 78T | Single Card: a Jack | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 79T | Single Card: a Jack | |
| Single Card: a Queen | 3 to a Straight Flush: 568 | |
| Single Card: a Queen | 3 to a Straight Flush: 578 | |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 234 | |
| Single Card: a Queen | 3 to a Straight Flush: 234 | |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 235 | |
| Single Card: a Queen | 3 to a Straight Flush: 235 | |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 245 | |
| Single Card: a Queen | 3 to a Straight Flush: 245 | |
| Single Card: a Jack | 3 to a Straight Flush: 689 | |
| 2 to a Straight: QK | 3 to a Straight Flush: 89Q | |
| 2 to a Straight: QA | 3 to a Straight Flush: 89Q | |
| 2 to a Straight: QK | 3 to a Straight Flush: 8TQ | |
| 2 to a Straight: QA | 3 to a Straight Flush: 8TQ | |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 78J | 2 to a Straight: JK | 7♣ 8♣ J♣ K♦ A♥ |
| 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: 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: 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: 578 | 2 to a Straight: QA | 5♣ 7♣ 8♣ Q♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 679 | 2 to a Straight: QA | 6♣ 7♣ 9♣ Q♦ A♥ |
| 3 to a Straight Flush: 689 | 2 to a Straight: QA | 6♣ 8♣ 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 Queen | 3 to a Straight Flush: 679 | 5♣ 6♦ 7♦ 9♦ Q♥ |
| Single Card: a Queen | 3 to a Straight Flush: 689 | 5♣ 6♦ 8♦ 9♦ Q♥ |
| 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♦ |