Video Poker Forum

in keeping K-T for FPDW i can't seem to find the logic to the following two hands. according to vpgenius i am dealt Kh-Th-9d-6s-3s--it tells me not to hold the K-T. i assume due to the 9. i analyzed the same hand but substituted a 4c for the 3s. so now i have Kh-Th-9d-6s-4c. it tells me to hold the K-T. how does the 4c make a difference.

EV of keeping KT doesn't vary with the 2 hands in question.  It is 1.6078 coins with either dealt hand.  The EV of drawing 5 new cards from the remaining 47 is what changes.  In the first hand, with 5 new cards you have a slightly better chance at getting straights, flushes, and straight flushes, so your average payoff will be 1.6158 coins, slightly better than the average payoff for holding KT; in the second, the average payoff with 5 new cards is 1.6062 coins, so holding KT edges out drawing 5 new cards.

When playing FPDW I usually hold KT only if I have no penalty cards at all. That keeps it simple.
You get into some of the same situations when dealt 3WildRF ace high. Again if you have no penalties you usually hold it, but there are some situations even without penalties where the EV is better to just hold the deuce. I also ignore these when playing the game and only check for normal penalty situations. The cost is negligible.