Questions and Answers - Video Poker Strategy Calculator

Introduction

This section addresses frequent inquiries, issues, and feedback regarding the video poker strategy calculator .

• An important strategy may be overlooked in the play analysis
• A less profitable hand is ranked higher than a more profitable hand
• What leads to differing strategies between the strategy calculator and those crafted by hand?
• I cannot locate a specific play within the strategy guidelines
• Can you explain the list of exceptions?

An important strategy may be overlooked in the play analysis

This is likely a result of a meticulously designed methodology rather than a mistake.

A notable example of this is the Suited King-Ten in 8/5 Bonus Poker . This play isn't included in the basic strategy, which would suggest you always hold just the King. However, in certain scenarios, the Suited King-Ten can prove to be a more advantageous hold than just the King, and this scenario is included in the exceptions list along with examples of hands where this applies.

To grasp why this happens, one must consider the intention behind the basic strategy: The aim of the basic strategy is to maximize accuracy when exceptions are not factored in . However, there are two approaches to achieve this:

1. To design the basic strategy to yield the maximum returns, regardless of how many exceptions may be included; or

2. To limit the number of exceptions in the basic strategy, regardless of the returns it may provide.

The video poker strategy calculator adheres to the first approach, generating a strategy that aims to deliver the best return for players who choose not to consider the exceptions. In the context of 8/5 Bonus Poker, having the basic strategy exclude Suited King-Ten results in better long-term returns than a strategy that includes it as a superior option over simply holding the King.

If it seems that a play isn't included in the basic strategy, it's wise to look at the exceptions list — the absence could be based on a legitimate rationale.

A less profitable hand is ranked higher than a more profitable hand

If you look at the strategy for 9/6 Jacks or Better You will see that the first line lists Full House, Straight Flush, and Royal Flush, while the second line provides the variations of Four of a Kinds.

Several factors contribute to this situation. First, the video poker strategy calculator treats Four of a Kind (when no kicker is present) as a 'partial' hand intentionally, since in certain games (for instance, Double Double Bonus), a kicker may enhance the payout. Second, the strategy calculator reviews the basic strategy and combines similar plays that do not interfere with hands found in between. An example can clarify this process further.

In the case of 9/6 Jacks or Better, prior to combining plays, the upper section of the basic strategy might look like this:

• Pat Hand (Royal Flush)
• Pat Hand (Straight Flush)
• Four of a Kind (AAAA)
• Four of a Kind (KKKK)
• Four of a Kind (QQQQ)
• Four of a Kind (JJJJ)
• Four of a Kind (TTTT)
• Four of a Kind (9999)
• Four of a Kind (8888)
• Four of a Kind (7777)
• Four of a Kind (6666)
• Four of a Kind (5555)
• Four of a Kind (4444)
• Four of a Kind (3333)
• Four of a Kind (2222)
• Pat Hand (Full House)
• etc.

As the software examines the list from the beginning to the end, it first identifies that Royal Flush and Straight Flush belong to the same category, attempting to merge them. For two plays to combine, there must be no conflicting plays in between. Here, they are adjacent (Royal Flush and Straight Flush), and it is impossible to have both in a single hand, leading to a successful grouping into one line.

Next, it will attempt to merge this new line with each Four of a Kind, but it won’t even attempt this as they belong to different categories ('Pat Hand' encompasses all cards, whereas 'Four of a Kind' holds solely four cards, marking them as distinct and hence, non-combinable). Upon reaching the Full House, it will again evaluate if merging the SF/RF line with the Full House would alter the strategy's returns. Four of a Kind does not conflict with Full House, as you cannot possess both in the same hand. The software recognizes this and successfully merges the Full House into the line containing the Straight Flush and Royal Flush.

Ultimately, the software will review all Four of a Kind plays and recognize that they can be combined into a single line. This results in the first two lines of the 9/6 Jacks or Better strategy, where the first line features Full House, Straight Flush, and Royal Flush, and the second line lists all variations of Four of a Kinds.

This might suggest that a Full House trumps a Four of a Kind; however, such a comparison is invalid since you can never face the scenario of deciding between keeping a Four of a Kind or a Full House in one hand. Hence, the positioning of Full House relative to Four of a Kind is inconsequential.

What leads to differing strategies between the strategy calculator and those crafted by hand?

There are two explanations for the distinctions between computer-generated strategies and the hand-crafted strategies featured on my primary site. video poker page.

To start, the hand-written strategies boast greater detail, frequently showcasing the expected returns of each action.

Additionally, the hand-crafted strategies are specifically designed for the exact game they pertain to, whereas the strategy generator aims to cover a broader array of games as accurately and succinctly as possible.

For example, in the optimal 9/6 Jacks or Better strategy , there are dedicated lines for retaining solely an Ace, only a King, only a Queen, and only a Jack. This method allows you to observe the anticipated return of each individual action.

In contrast, the automatically generated strategy aggregates all four of these plays into a single line, as they do not conflict. If you hold more than one high card in a hand, a superior play obviously exists (such as JQ, JK, QK, JA, QA, or KA at the very least), enabling all four options to be grouped together safely on the same line.

I cannot locate a specific play within the strategy guidelines

If you cannot find a specific play in either the basic strategy or the exceptions list, it indicates that such a play should never be pursued. For instance, Suited Ace-Ten is never the right move in 9/6 Jacks or Better, which is why it’s absent from both the basic strategy and exceptions.

Can you explain the list of exceptions?

As outlined in the initial inquiry, the strategy generator focuses on crafting the basic strategy to be as precise as possible, regardless of the number of exceptions that may arise. Thus, if you stick solely to the basic strategy while ignoring the exceptions, it aims to yield the best return over time. This can lead to an extensive exceptions list in some scenarios, although each individual exception typically represents minimal added value. The exceptions are organized such that the initial exception in the list occurs the most frequently, while the final exception is applicable the least.

The structure of the exceptions list is as follows: if the basic strategy suggests that Play X surpasses Play Y (or Play Y is entirely omitted from the basic strategy), yet there are instances where Play Y indeed outperforms Play X, an entry will be recorded in the exceptions list indicating that 'Play Y occasionally trumps Play X' along with a detailed account of every unique hand pertinent to this concern.

For example, in 9/6 Jacks or Better , the second exception notes that holding only a King sometimes surpasses holding Suited King-Ten. If you delve into the exceptions list, you’ll find an enumeration of 80 unique hand patterns where this situation holds. The initial unique hand within this list is2♣3♦9♣T♦ K♦. Viewing this hand’s suits in relative terms rather than absolute terms reveals that the combination of 3-10-K can feature any of the four suits, while 2-9 can take on any of the remaining three suits, amounting to 4*3 = 12 similar combinations. The exceptions list reflects only one suit arrangement for each unique hand, in this case showcasing clubs and diamonds.

It's your role to interpret the exceptions; developing computer algorithms to precisely define the rules governing each exception can prove incredibly complex. If you're dedicated enough to video poker to be concerned about these exceptions, chances are you'll decode when or why each exception applies by analyzing the unique hands list. Regarding this particular exception in 9/6 Jacks or Better, it’s commonly understood that the King prevails over Suited King-Ten during scenarios involving a Flush penalty discard alongside a 9; every unique hand in the exceptions list satisfies this condition.

Written by: Michael Shackleford