EASY-GUIDE FOR JACKS OR BETTER VIDEO POKER

(presented in descending order of importance)

    OFF THE OPENING DEAL:


    1.  Break any winning combination of two pairs or better for a 4-card Royal Flush.

      EXCEPTION:  Hold a straight flush.


    2.  Only break a high pair for:

      a)  a 4-card Royal Flush.
      b)  a 4-card straight flush.
      c)  same-suit King/Queen/Jack IF the Royal pays more than 4700 coins.


    3.  Only break a low pair for:

      a)  a 4-card straight flush.
      b)  a 4-card flush.
      c)  a 3-card Royal Flush.
      d)  King/Queen/Jack/Ten (mixed suits).


    4.  Keep a 4-card flush or 4-card straight (open-ended).

      EXCEPTION:  Keep a 3-card Royal.  Draw two cards.


    5.  When faced with keeping a 4-card straight OR a 4-card flush - hold the flush.

    6.  Keep a 3-card straight flush UNLESS:

      a)  you have a winning combination.
      b)  you have a pair (high or low).
      c)  you have a 4-card flush.
      d)  you have a 4-card straight (open-ended).
      e)  you have one or two high cards AND the 3-card straight flush has NO high cards.  Draw to the high cards instead.


    7.  Only discard an Ace/King/Queen/Jack (mixed suits) in favor of:

      a)  same suit Jack/Queen.
      b)  3 same-suit high cards (whether consecutive or not).


    8.  If you have the Ace/King/Queen/Jack, throw away any 3 of them in favor of any 2 same-suit high cards.

    9.  Keep an inside straight IF it has three high cards.

    10.  Hold 1, 2, or 3 high cards.

      NOTE:  If an Ace is one of the three high cards, throw it away and keep the other two UNLESS the Ace is of the same suit as another high card.  In that case, keep the Ace and the other same-suit card.


    11.  Keep a Ten:

      a)  when you also have a Queen or Jack of the same suit.
      b)  when you have a King of the same suit AND there is NO "penalty" card (discard in the same suit).
      c)  you also have the Ace of that suit AND the Royal Flush pays over 5000 coins.




      If none of the above apply, draw 5 new cards.