Jacks or Better: Intermediate Method

Introduction

The following technique is my "intermediate technique" for jacks or much better video poker. Utilizing the strategy on a complete pay maker will lead to an
anticipated return of 99.52%. Compared to the optimum strategy return of 99.54%, mistakes in the easy method will cost 0.03%, or one overall bet every 3,805 hands.

The following strategy is not revealed in the typical order of value. Rather, this is a list of all the common conflict hands. I believe the sort of list below is better matched to the method individuals actually consider video poker. The list is in the order of the hand strength of the much better play.

1.9 T J Q K-- Pat straight flush or 4 to a royal: Keep the straight flush

2.2 T J Q A-- Pat flush or 4 to a royal: Choose the royal.

3. T J Q K A-- Pat straight or 4 to a royal: Go for the royal.

4. T J Q K-- High set or 4 to a royal: Choose the royal.

5. J Q K-- 3 of a kind or 3 to a royal: Keep the 3 of a kind.

6.2 6 J Q K-- Pat flush or 3 to a royal: Keep the flush

7.3 4 6 7 Q Pat flush or 4 to a straight flush: Keep the flush.

8. T J Q K A-- Pat straight or 3 to a royal: Keep the straight

9.4 5 6 7 8-- Pat straight or 4 to a straight flush: Keep the straight

10. T Q A A-- 2 set or 3 to a royal: Keep the 2 set.

11.7 8 9 J J-- 4 to a straight flush vs. any set: Opt for straight flush

12.2 5 7 J J-- High set vs. 4 to a flush: Keep high set

13.8 9 T J J-- High set vs. 4 to a straight: Keep high pair

14.3 T J Q Q-- High pair vs. 3 to a royal flush: Keep high set

15.3 9 J Q Q-- High set vs. 3 to a straight flush: Keep high pair

16.4 T Q A-- 3 to a royal vs. Low pair: Opt for the royal

17.2 5 T Q A-- 3 to a royal vs. 4 to a flush: Go for the royal

18.2 T J Q K-- 3 to a royal vs. 4 to a straight: Go for the royal.

19.3 3 5 7 9-- 4 to a flush vs low set: Go for the flush

20.4 5 6 7 Q-- 4 to a flush vs. 4 to a straight: Go for the flush

21.2 6 7 8 K-- 4 to a flush vs. 3 to a straight flush: Go for the flush

22.2 7 8 Q K-- 4 to a flush vs. 2 to a royal flush: Go for the flush

23.5 6 7 7 8-- Low set vs. 4 to a straight: Keep the low pair

24.7 8 8 9 K-- Low pair vs. 3 to a straight flush: Keep the low pair

25.3 6 6 J Q-- Low pair vs. 2 to a royal:-- Keep the low pair

26.2 7 8 9 T-- 4 to an outside straight vs. 3 to a straight flush: Go for the straight

27.2 9 T J Q-- 4 to an outdoors straight vs. 2 to a royal flush: Choose the straight

28.4 5 6 J Q-- 3 to a straight flush (type 1) vs. 2 to a royal flush: Go for the straight flush

29.2 9 J Q K-- 3 to a straight flush (type 1) vs. 4 to a within straight with 3-4 high cards: Choose the straight flush

30.2 T J Q A-- 2 to a royal flush (both high) vs. 4 to a within straight with 3-4 high cards: Go for the royal

31.2 4 J Q K-- 2 to a royal flush (both high) vs. any 3 inadequate high cards: Opt for the royal

32.5 6 8 K A-- 2 to a royal flush (both high) vs. 3 to a straight flush (type 2): Opt for the royal

33.7 T J K A-- 4 to a within straight with 3-4 high cards vs. 3 to a straight flush (type 2): Choose the straight

34.7 T J K A-- 4 to a within straight with 3-4 high cards vs. 2 to a royal (ten low): Choose the straight

35.2 4 7 T J-- 3 to a straight flush (type 2) vs. 2 to a royal flush (10 low): Choose the straight flush

36.7 8 T J A-- 3 to a straight flush (type 2) vs. 1-3 high cards: Opt for the straight flush

37.2 5 J Q K-- KQJ vs. QJ: Play KQJ

38.4 6 T J Q-- QJ vs 2 to a royal flush (ten low): Keep QJ

39.2 4 6 J Q-- QJ vs 3 to a straight flush (type 3): Keep QJ

40.3 5 J Q A-- QJ vs 3 high cards A high: Keep QJ

41.2 3 T J A-- JT fit vs 2-3 inadequate high cards K or A high: Keep JT

42.2 4 6 T J-- JT fit vs 3 to a straight flush (type 3): Keep JT

43.2 4 T J K-- KJ vs JT matched: Keep JT matched

44.2 4 6 J K-- KQ or KJ vs. 3 to a straight flush (type 3): Keep KQ or KJ

45.3 4 5 T K-- KT fit vs. K: Play KT matched

46.2 4 6 T K-- KT suited vs. 3 to a straight flush (type 3): Keep KT matched

47.3 5 7 8 J-- Single high card vs. 3 to a straight flush (type 3): Keep high card only

If you prefer to find out the usual way, here is a list of possible plays inning accordance with the strength of the hand. To use the method search for all viable ways to play an initial hand on the following list and choose that which is greatest on the list. A "high card" means a jack or higher.

1. Four of a kind, straight flush, royal flush

2.4 to a royal flush

3. 3 of a kind, straight, flush, full house

4.4 to a straight flush

5. Two set

6. High set

7.3 to a royal flush

8.4 to a flush

9. Low pair

10.4 to an outside straight

11.3 to a straight flush (type 1).

12. AKQJ inadequate.

13.2 matched high cards.

14.4 to a within straight with 3 high cards.

15.3 to a straight flush (type 2).

16. KQJ inadequate.

17. QJ unsuited.

18. JT fit.

19. KQ, KJ inadequate.

20. QT fit.

21. AK, AQ, AJ unsuited.

22. KT matched.

23. One high card.

24.3 to a straight flush (type 3).

25. Dispose of whatever.

Terms:.

High card: A jack, queen, king, or ace. These cards are retained more frequently since if paired up they return the initial bet.

Outdoors straight: An open ended directly that can be completed at either end, such as the cards 7,8,9,10.

Inside straight: A straight with a missing out on inside card, such as the cards 6,7,9,10. In addition A,2,3,4 and J, Q, K, An also count as within straights since they are at a severe end.

High Card: J to A.

Straight Flush draw (type 1): Straight flush attract which the variety of high cards equals or surpasses variety of gaps.

Straight Flush draw (type 2): One of the following straight flush draws.

- One space and no high cards.

- 2 spaces and one high card.

- Ace low.

- 2-3-4.

Straight Flush draw (type 3): Straight flush draw with 2 gaps and no high cards.

Example: Suppose you have the following hand.

The top two plays are (1) keep the 3 to a straight flush and (2) keep 2 to a royal flush. The number of gaps to the straight flush is 2 and the number of high cards is also 2, so it is a type 1 straight flush draw. The table reveals that 3 to a straight flush (type 1), beats two matched high cards, so keep the 3 cards to the straight flush.

Comparison to Ideal Technique.

The following table compares the likelihood and return of each hand under both the simple method and the ideal method.

Simple Strategy to Optimal Strategy Comparison

HAND	PAYS	------------PROBABILITY------------		--------------RETURN--------------
		INTERM.	OPTIMAL	INTERM.	OPTIMAL
Royal flush	800	0.000025	0.000025	0.020204	0.019807
Straight flush	50	0.000114	0.000109	0.005696	0.005465
Four of a kind	25	0.002362	0.002363	0.059039	0.059064
Full house	9	0.011507	0.011512	0.103565	0.10361
Flush	6	0.011171	0.011015	0.067029	0.066087
Straight	4	0.011122	0.011229	0.04449	0.044917
Three of a kind	3	0.074421	0.074449	0.223263	0.223346
Two pair	2	0.129261	0.129279	0.258523	0.258558
Pair	1	0.213368	0.214585	0.213368	0.214585
Nothing	0	0.546648	0.545435	0	0
Total		1	1	0.995176	0.995439

The next table is a frequency circulation of the mistake, or difference in expected return, between the easy method and the optimal strategy.

Error Frequency

ERROR	NUMBER	PROBABILITY
0	2576244	99.125958%
.01% to .99%	5064	0.194847%
1% to 1.99%	1872	0.072029%
2% to 2.99%	2820	0.108505%
3% to 3.99%	5496	0.211469%
4% to 4.99%	4656	0.179149%
5% to 5.99%	2376	0.091421%
6% to 6.99%	432	0.016622%
7% to 7.99%	0	0%
8% to 8.99%	0	0%
9% to 9.99%	0	0%
10% to 10.99%	0	0%
11% to 11.99%	0	0%
12% to 12.99%	0	0%
13% to 13.99%	0	0%
14% to 14.99%	0	0%
15% to 15.99%	0	0%
Total	2598960	100%