Optimum Video Poker Strategy

The Optimum Video Poker Strategy is designed to be the most consistent for the frequent player who is not playing long enough per session to seriously chase the big jackpots. The profitability for a given session will vary greatly, but over time should average out to the upper limits of the expected return for a game.

The optimum strategy is listed in a table format below. Feel free to print it out and follow along while playing online.

There are six hands that if you are dealt that you should keep. The payouts on them are high enough to keep the hand. Those hands are:

Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight

Where you see High Cards listed below that means one or more of the following cards - Ace, King, Queen or Jack. When you see Gap that means two non-consecutive cards for example a 7 and a 9.

You are dealt the following Hands - Number to Draw

Four Cards to a Royal Flush - 1

Three of a kind - 2

Four Card Straight Flush - 1

Two Pair - 1

Three Cards to a Royal Flush - 2

High Pair - 3

Four Card Flush - 1

Open Ended Straight with 3 High Cards - 1

Low Pair - 3

Open Ended Straight Draw - 1

Three to a Straight Flush - 2

Two to a Royal Flush but no 10 - 3

Inside Straight with at least 3 high Cards - 1

Two Cards to a Royal Flush with a 10 - 3

Three High Cards - 2

Three to a Straight Flush with a gap - 2

Two High Cards - 3

One High Card - 4

Mixed Low Cards - 5

Using this chart is very easy. All you do is start at the top of the list and work your way down until you find the very first draw that fits your hand and use it.

For example if you are dealt a pair of Kings you start at the top and look for the hand that fits yours. As you go down the list you come to "High Pairs" which exactly fits your hand. You would keep the pair of Kings and draw three new cards.

Another hand that you might get could be six of hearts, seven of hearts, eight of hearts, two of clubs and six of diamonds. As you look down the list you come to "Three to a Straight Flush". You would keep the six of hearts, seven of hearts, eight of hearts and draw two new cards to replace the two of clubs and six of diamonds.

As you can see using this chart is very easy.