Video Poker Strategy

Below is a proper basic strategy chart for a video poker machine with a minimum payout for three of a kind which pays 3 coins for a full house and 2 coins for a flush with two's as wild cards. The Expected Value column on the right is the mathematically computed number that represents what you can expect to win in the long run based on the initial five cards dealt when playing five coins. Players should always choose the highest expected value for every hand and draw replacement cards accordingly.

Cards Held

Discard

Hand

Expected Value

5

0

Royal Flush

4000.00

4

1

4 Card Royal

97.66

5

0

Straight Flush

45.00

4

1

4 of a Kind

29.25

5

0

Full House

15.00

3

2

3 of a Kind

10.09

5

0

Flush

10.00

5

0

Straight

10.00

4

1

4 Card Straight Flush - open both ends

8.08

4

1

4 Card Straight Flush - inside draw

6.91

3

2

3 Card Royal

6.58

2

3

One Pair

2.81

4

1

4 Card Flush

2.55

4

1

4 Card Straight - open both ends

2.55

3

2

3 Card Straight Flush - open

2.49

3

2

Four, Five and Six of same suit

2.16

3

2

Three, Four and Five of same suit

2.02

2

3

2 Card Royal

1.88

3

2

Three, Four and Six of same suit

1.75

3

2

Three, Five and Six of same suit

1.75

4

1

Three, Four, Five and Six of same suit

1.70

4

1

4 Card Straight - inside draw

1.70

0

5

Nothing

1.61

One Deuce Strategy

Hand

Expected Value

5

0

Royal Flush with Deuce

125.00

5

0

Five of a Kind

75.00

5

0

Straight Flush

45.00

4

1

4 of a Kind

29.25

4

1

4 Card Royal with Deuce

18.19

5

0

Full House

15.00

4

1

4 Card Straight Flush - open both ends

11.17

3

2

3 of a Kind

10.09

5

0

Flush

10.00

5

0

Straight

10.00

4

1

Three, Four and Five of same suit with Deuce

9.79

4

1

Four, Five and Six of same suit with Deuce

9.79

4

1

Ace, Three and Four of same suit with Deuce

7.13

4

1

Ace, Three and Five of same suit with Deuce

7.13

4

1

Ace, Four and Five of same suit with Deuce

7.13

4

1

Four, Five and Six of same suit with Deuce

9.79

3

2

2 Card Royal Flush with Deuce

6.58

3

2

Ace-King, Ace-Queen, Ace-Jack, Ace-Ten same suit with Deuce

5.23

1

4

Deuce Only

5.21

Two Deuce Strategy

Hand

Expected Value

5

0

Royal Flush

125.00

5

0

Five of a Kind

75.00

5

0

Straight Flush

45.00

4

1

4 of a Kind

29.25

4

1

4 Card Royal

23.08

4

1

4 Card Straight Flush - open both ends

16.60

2

3

Two Deuces Only

16.21

Three Deuce Strategy

Hand

Expected Value

5

0

Royal Flush

125.00

5

0

Five of a Kind - Tens through Aces

75.00

3

2

Three Deuces Only

74.70

Four Deuce Strategy

Hand

Expected Value

4

1

Four Deuces

1000.00