Help w/this JOB hand: Bob dancer program.

[Shiny]

5dimond Qspade Adimond 7hrts 4dimonBob dancer program wants me to hold 5 A & 4I want to hold Q and A (what I think is basic strategy)Who's right?

[Eduardo]

Sometimes "right" is variable and depends on your goals.
But assuming 9/6 jacks or better, in this case 5A4 (going for the inside straight, flush or straight flush chance) has quite an edge over QA. You can also still hit on Jacks or better with that Ace. Pretty much the only thing you're missing out on a chance for is a rare full house or quad aces (unlikely holding one ace, but it happens).
 
Expected return is 2.7 instead of 2.39. So long term your hold will cost you a little bit. It is a low expectation hold either way so won't cost you a ton unless you make this hold a lot (if you play a lot). It probably doesn't come along too often that you actually have a straight flush and an ace in the mix against your queen. If that ace was off-suit so that you could get a straight but not a straight flush, the correct hold would be the QA and A45 wouldn't even be worth considering.
 
3 to a straight flush is easy to miss on for me in a lot of games.
 
If you are on 9/5 jacks or better, it's closer. 2.497 to 2.39.  Your chance at a flush is paying less.

[shadowman]

You end up winning almost 40% of the time holding AQ and only 20% of the time holding A45. This makes it appear like the AQ is a better hold. However, the larger payoff for the flush and SF makes the average return higher as Eduardo pointed out.


 
It's hands like there where having the software available is important and instinct often leads one astray. To understand this better go into the hand evaluation section and you can see all the possible winning hands for yourself.

[EDC1977]

Sometimes "right" is variable and depends on your goals.
But assuming 9/6 jacks or better, Pretty much the only thing you're missing out on a chance for is a rare full house or quad aces (unlikely holding one ace, but it happens). One minute error I caught here was that there's no bonus payout for quad A's on JoB but there often is with BP and other bonus games. Its playing that game when you get dealt quads with a kicker. GRRR!

[Shiny]

Yes, it is 9/6 JOB.  Thanks, I'll play this differently from now on.
 
From and old cheat card I had it said something like "draw to 1 or 2 hi cards rather than a dbl inside straight flsh with no hi cards." 

[bigsteve5273@yahoo.c]

For my own edification,  Shiny's old cheat sheet confirms the aforementioned. A,4,5 suited is a double inside straight flush with one high card and should be played like the strategy card and Bob Dancer's program indicate in that hand.  Though I've been at it a few years I'm still learning to understand the written vp strategy rules. 
Getting the math and the written strategy to jibe continue to challenge me.  Kudos to Eduardo and Shadowman.

[EDC1977]

  It's hands like there where having the software available is important and instinct often leads one astray. Bob Dancer is quick to point out to everyone who'll listen that the most commonly misplayed hand is the SF3. Possible rewards are Jacks or better, two pair, straight, flush and of course, straight flush. I've caught myself a few times misplaying this hold. I don't know the exact cost of this error in ER but I don't want to know since I've chunked it more than once.

[BOOPSAHOY]

For some reason I hate that play-maybe cause Ive NEVER connected with the straight flush?

[shadowman]

Boops, since you play a lot of jokers you'd think you would be used to making that play.  In my case playing OEJs is similar to jokers and I'd never hold unsuited AQ or even AK (like you would in jokers). So, holding SF3 with one high card is an easy play for me when I do play JOB. 

[EDC1977]

For some reason I hate that play-maybe cause Ive NEVER connected with the straight flush? C'mon Boops, NOBODY has that bad of luck. Practically everyone I know who plays VP has hit a SF at least once. I've seen them hold for the dealt SF with it being king high too! OOPS!