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8/6 Jacks or Better 10-Play Ultimate X Strategy

Introduction

 

This page shows my strategy for the 10-hand version of 8/6 Ultimate X Jacks or Better. With perfect play, which requires knowing more than one correct play for many hands based on the average multiplier, the expected return of this game is 99.42%. If you use the following single strategy at all times, the expected return is 99.38%. So you are giving up 0.04% in long-term return in exchange for a single, simple strategy.

Please note this strategy is not appropriate for the single-line Ultimate X game.

Below the strategy are some exceptions based on the average multiplier, which will boost the return slightly above 99.38%.

Basic Strategy

  • Full house or better
  • 4 to a royal flush
  • Flush
  • Straight
  • 3 of a kind
  • 2 pair
  • 4 to a straight flush
  • 4 to a flush with 3 high cards
  • 1 pair, jacks or better
  • 4 to a flush with 0, 1, or 2 high cards
  • 3 to a royal flush
  • 4 to a straight — 89TJ; 9TJQ; TJQK
  • 1 pair, tens or lower
  • 4 to a straight — 2345; 3456; 4567; 5678; 6789; 789T
  • 3 to a straight flush — 345; 456; 567; 678; 789; 89T; 89J/8TJ; 8JQ; 9TJ; 9TQ; 9JQ; 9JK/9QK
  • 4 to a straight — JQKA
  • 3 to a flush — 2JA to 9KA
  • 4 to a straight — TJKA/TQKA
  • 2 to a royal flush — JQ; JK/QK
  • 4 to a straight — 9JQK; TJQA
  • 2 to a royal flush — JA/QA/KA
  • 3 to a straight flush — Ace-low; 234/235/245; 346/356; 457/467; 568/578; 679/689; 78T/79T; 78J/79J/7TJ; 89Q/8TQ; 9TK
  • 4 to a straight — 89JQ/8TJQ; 9TJK/9TQK
  • 3 to a straight — TJQ; JQK
  • 2 to a straight — JQ
  • 3 to a flush — 23J to 6TJ; 23Q to 7TQ; 28K to 8TK; 29A to 9TA
  • 2 to a royal flush — TJ
  • 3 to a flush — 23K to 67K; 26A to 68A
  • 2 to a straight — JK/QK
  • 2 to a straight — JA
  • 2 to a royal flush — TQ
  • a Jack
  • 3 to a straight flush — 236/246/256; 347/357/367; 458/468/478; 569/579/589; 67T/68T/69T
  • 2 to a straight — QA/KA
  • 2 to a royal flush — TK
  • a Queen, King, or Ace
  • 3 to a flush — 237 to 59T
  • 4 to a straight — 2346/2356/2456; 3457/3467/3567; 4568/4578/4678; 5679/5689/5789; 678T/679T/689T
  • Discard everything

Exceptions

The exceptions listed below will bring the above strategy a little closer to perfect strategy. This list of exceptions is not a complete list.

If the hand has this and this and the average
multiplier is
less than or
equal to this		 then hold this otherwise hold this
suited 2TJQ to 7TJQ a pair of 2s through 7s 1.1 4 to a flush TJQ
suited 2TJQ to 7TJQ a pair of 10s 1.2 4 to a flush TJQ
suited 2JQK to 8JQK a pair of 2s through 8s 1.6 4 to a flush JQK
suited 2TJK to 8TJK a pair of 2s through 8s 2.3 4 to a flush TJK
suited 2TQK to 8TQK a pair of 2s through 8s 2.3 4 to a flush TQK
suited 2TJK to 8TJK a pair of 10s 2.6 4 to a flush TJK
suited 2TQK to 8TQK a pair of 10s 2.6 4 to a flush TQK
suited 2JQA to 9JQA a pair of 2s through 9s 5.5 4 to a flush JQA
suited 2JKA to 9JKA a pair of 2s through 9s 5.5 4 to a flush JKA
suited 2QKA to 9QKA a pair of 2s through 9s 5.5 4 to a flush QKA

 

 

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Written by: Michael Shackleford