Face Cards

Discuss proper hold strategies and "advantage play" and ask questions about how to improve your play.
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ks-vp
Forum Newbie
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Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2012 11:46 pm

Face Cards

Post by ks-vp »

I was playing a game of video poker today and got a hand that was  J A Q Q K.  I kept the Q and threw the J A K, but had to think for a while about that because this is the closes I have ever come to a royal flush     .


davidearl
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Post by davidearl »



    Welcome to Video Poker Forum!! I assume you had 3 to a Royal, not 4? 

onemoretry
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Post by onemoretry »



It would be helpful to know what game and pay table you were playing. For some, keeping the queens is a better play, but for others, drawing to three to a royal is superior.

ks-vp
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Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2012 11:46 pm

Post by ks-vp »

I'm new to all this even though I've played a bit of video poker--I lose more than I win.davidear1, I'm not sure what you're asking but the hand was as I describe above.  I had J A Q Q K. 


ks-vp
Forum Newbie
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Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2012 11:46 pm

Post by ks-vp »

onemoretry, are you saying a superior play would be  A Q  K  superior to A K Q J or QQ with this hand?


onemoretry
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Post by onemoretry »



You haven't indicated which cards are suited with each other, nor the game and pay table you are playing. Without that information, it is not possible to determine the "best play".

shadowman
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Post by shadowman »

onemoretry, are you saying a superior play would be  A Q  K  superior to A K Q J or QQ with this hand?
 


It could be. It depends on what suits are involved and what game you were playing. That is what was meant above when they asked for more detail.

kjohn
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Post by kjohn »

Hi ks-vp...Welcome to the site.

I'm going to assume you are a new player so I'll try to make it easy. You may already know this. When Shadowman asks if the cards were suited what he means is which cards where the Same suit. For instance, if the JAQand K were all the hearts that would be called 4 to a royal...If any of the three high cards were of the same suit that would be Three to a royal. Always hold 4 to a Royal even if it means you have to throw a winning pair.

When it comes to holding three to a royal and throwing a winning pair there are a few more variables. You can go to the Training format on this site and it will let you pick which game you were playing such as Jacks or Better, Double Bonus, Double Double Bonus. Then you can pick the exact hand you had and play it and the trainer will show you if it's the correct play.

Personally I usually hold three to a royal and throw the winning high pair. I've hit the Royal twice in the last year doing that. Sometimes if I'm playing $$$ I'll take the pair and be glad for it. Hope that was helpful..

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