Video Poker Forum

I tried the DW Test Your Skills here. Hand: Ac, 5s, 4d, 5h, 4c. Hold: 4d, 4c. Software advised that 5s, 5h is correct. Is this just an arbitrary choice? 

I'm not sure it matters.  As I'm sure you know, the hand strategy varies with pay schedule.  In the Deuces Wild games that we play, the following rule applies: If a full house and 4-of-a-kind both pay 4 coins, take both pair. If a full house only pays 3 coins, take only one pair not both. I always take the highest pair.  Of course Deuces Bonus would be the low pair choice. Others may have a different view.  The strategy also varies with the amount of coins you are betting.  There are a dozens of different Deuces pay schedules and the strategy is slightly different for each.  VPW does a great job with this.

I tried the DW Test Your Skills here. Hand: Ac, 5s, 4d, 5h, 4c. Hold: 4d, 4c. Software advised that 5s, 5h is correct. Is this just an arbitrary choice? 

Looks like a bug from here. Both holds should produce 20 5oaK, 615 4oaK, 385 FH and 4572 3K (per WinPoker). I'd make 'em give you that accomplishment if that's the only one you "missed."

It's arbitrary here for a 3 for 1 full house game. I pick 5s here so I get less annoyed if I make natural quads.   

I'm not sure it matters.  As I'm sure you know, the hand strategy varies with pay schedule.  In the Deuces Wild games that we play, the following rule applies: If a full house and 4-of-a-kind both pay 4 coins, take both pair. If a full house only pays 3 coins, take only one pair not both. I always take the highest pair.  Of course Deuces Bonus would be the low pair choice. Others may have a different view.  The strategy also varies with the amount of coins you are betting.  There are a dozens of different Deuces pay schedules and the strategy is slightly different for each.  VPW does a great job with this.



Phil,
Right on. This is one of the first things I tell people who are learning DW. Funny how people will decide to hold different pairs when the call is to just hold one. I settled on holding the first pair dealt (usually but not always)   


I am curious which pair do people hold when dealt two pair when playing Spin Poker and one of pairs holds the "center card" position?

If a full house only pays 3 coins, take only one pair not both. I always take the highest pair.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Phil, as Vman stated, the Test pay table is 3 coins full house. They must agree w your highest pair preference! The traditional poker mind set is to go as high as possible, so that must be their rationale. Of course, that mentality must be suspended on the DDB type games. 

If a full house only pays 3 coins, take only one pair not both. I always take the highest pair.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Phil, as Vman stated, the Test pay table is 3 coins full house. They must agree w your highest pair preference! The traditional poker mind set is to go as high as possible, so that must be their rationale. Of course, that mentality must be suspended on the DDB type games. 



I do like the perspective Vman brought out for picking the higher pair out of the dealt 2 pairs on a 3 for 1 full house payout deuces wild game. If you get natural quads on 3s or 4s, or even 5 of a kind of 3s, 4s, and 5s, you will not be kicking yourself with regret that "I should have played DDB or Bonus Deuces Wild".

Then again, when I see many natural full houses, I tend to regret not playing Jacks or Better.

Now there's an idea for a new machine: you get an initial deal and then pick not only which cards you want to hold but which game you want to play...

I tried the DW Test Your Skills here. Hand: Ac, 5s, 4d, 5h, 4c. Hold: 4d, 4c. Software advised that 5s, 5h is correct. Is this just an arbitrary choice? 

Not sure if I'm correct, but I believe the software advises you to hold the 5s because that gives you one more chance at a straight. A 5 can be the high card in a straight while a 4 cannot.

Not sure if I'm correct, but I believe the software advises you to hold the 5s because that gives you one more chance at a straight. A 5 can be the high card in a straight while a 4 cannot.
But, you're holding a pair - a straight is not possible.