Video Poker Forum

Does everyone go for a low card straight?
Example: 4567A
 
I'm sure the correct answer is go for the straight, but if I hit it 1 in 10 tries, that's a lot.  I've changed my strategy last couple times playing and have had much more success.  I play mostly SDB and SDDB so straights pay 4-1.
 
If it's 45679, then I'll hold the 4.
 
Guess I just think it's a lousy payoff for something that hits so seldom.

Which game 7come11?  DDB DB JOB DW?  The pay table makes a difference and game does make a difference.In DDB where the straight pays 4 instead of 5, the correct hold is the straight if the odd card is unpaired But deuce through Ten.  If it is Jack through Ace then the correct hold is the singleton Paint.In DB, where the straight pays 5 instead of 4, you always hold for the straight.

As Mike indicated the paytable is the decision point for holds in all games. In SDB or SDDB four consecutive cards, called an open ST4 hold, is always preferable to any single card hold. There are 8 cards our of 47 draw cards that fill the straight, approximate hit rate of one in six and a return of around 3.4 credits. A single ace hold in SDB returns less that 2.3 credits on average.
For an inside straight draw the single card is a better hold since only 4 cards make the straight. You can find this information at vpgenius.com under the hand analyzer for each specific game.

THANK'S SHADOWMAN FOR MENTION OF THE VPGENIUS SITE AS THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST HELPFUL OF ALL SITE'S.

7come11, the paytable is paramount. The open ended or sequential straight draw is the better hold and most tutorials will recommend this over the single card hold but I'm just repeating what the others already told you! I'd hold the sequential though. Inside straight draws are lower in ER unless you're talking 4SF.

i'm a newbie to video poker.  if i have the queen, jack & ten of clubs and the king of hearts and an odd 5 of hearts do i go for the straight or the royal flush?
thanks
 

Q J 10 of clubs is correct play

That's the simple answer, which sometimes is best.

 Another simple factor - going for the straight turns a winning hand into a losing one. $1 9/6 JOB returns $4.36 for the straight draw and $7.48 for the royal draw.