Pick 'em Poker, also known as Pick a Pair Poker, offers a simplified gameplay compared to traditional video poker, presenting the player with only two options instead of the usual 2 to 32. This variant is commonly available on Bally Game Maker machines under the name Pick 'em Poker, while standalone games can also be found from Action Gaming/IGT under the title Pick a Pair Poker. You can also find it in various online casinos.5Here are the detailed rules that govern the game of Pick 'em Poker. Playtech software.
Rules
The game utilizes a single standard 52-card deck.
Initially, the player is dealt two cards, which we will refer to as A and B.
The player makes a bet
Next, two more cards are dealt, designated as C and D.
The player must choose which one of the cards, either C or D, should be combined with cards A and B.
Two additional cards are then dealt from the remaining 48 cards in the deck to finalize a five-card stud hand, and the player's payout is determined based on the poker hand's value.
In the actual gameplay, you will see two cards placed face down beneath C and D, which are predetermined for the player to receive. Yet, statistically, this does not differ from drawing two random cards from the rest of the deck.
This strategy is built upon the \"Full Pay\" pay table, which demonstrates a 99.95% return rate when employing optimal strategy. To implement the strategy, compare the possible hands and select the superior option from the list. For instance, if the player's fixed cards are 4♣ and 6♣, and he can choose between 8♣ or 4♠.
Strategy
3 to a straight flush with one gap or 5 to a Q high or suited 234.. The two hands the player must choose from are 3 to a straight flush, with two gaps, and zero high cards; or a low pair. We see the former has an expected value of 1.0949, and the latter of 1.1418. Thus choosing the 4, for the low pair, is the better play.
Pick \"em Poker - Full Pay Strategy
EV
Hand
10.5869
Three of a Kind
3.1729
Q,J,10 suited
2.8271
3 to a royal, king high
2.6312
High Pair, 99-AA
2.4362
3 to a royal, ace high
2.0027
3 to a straight flush, no gaps, 5 to J high
1.5372
Here’s a presentation of the strategy for those familiar with standard video poker abbreviations.
1.3936
3 to a straight flush, 2 gaps, 2 or 3 high cards
1.359
3 to a flush with 3 high cards
1.2287
3 to a straight, 0 gaps, 3 high cards
1.1968
3 to a straight flush, 2 gaps, 1 high card
1.1622
3 to a flush with 2 high cards
1.1418
Low Pair, 22-88
1.0949
3 to a straight flush, 2 gaps, 0 high cards
1.039
3 to a straight, 1 gap, 3 high cards
0.9929
3 to a straight, 0 gaps, 2 high cards
0.9654
3 to a flush with 1 high card
0.922
3 to a straight, 2 gaps, 3 high cards
0.8759
3 to a straight, 1 gap, 2 high cards
0.8404
3 to a straight, 0 gaps, 1 high card
0.7686
3 to a flush with 0 high cards
0.766
3 high cards
0.7199
3 to a straight, 2 gaps, 2 high cards
0.6791
3 to a straight, 1 gap, 1 high card
0.5993
3 to a straight, 0 gaps, 5 to 8 high
0.5691
2 high cards
0.523
3 to a straight, 2 gaps, 1 high card
0.4823
3 to a straight, 1 gap, 0 high cards
0.3723
1 high card
0.3262
3 to a straight, 2 gaps, 0 high cards
0.1755
trash
I appreciate Tom for allowing me to share the table above.
Pick \"em Poker - Full Pay Strategy
EV
Hand
10.5869
Three of a Kind
3.1729
QJTs
2.8271
KQJs, KQTs, KJTs
2.6312
High Pair, 99-AA
2.4362
Royal, Ace Hi
2.0027
STFL, Open, 345s-9TJs
1.5372
STFL, 1 Gap, 235s-9TQs, +234s
1.3936
STFL, 2 Gaps, 2 or 3 Hi Cards
1.3590
FL, 3 Hi Cards
1.2287
ST, Open, 3 Hi Cards
1.1968
STFL, 2 Gaps, 1 Hi Card
1.1622
FL, 2 Hi Cards
1.1418
Low Pair, 22-88
1.0949
STFL, 2 Gaps, 0 Hi Cards
1.0390
ST, 1 Gap, 3 Hi Cards
0.9929
ST, Open, 2 Hi Cards
0.9654
FL, 1 Hi Card
0.9220
ST, 2 Gaps, 3 Hi Cards
0.8759
ST, 1 Gap, 2 Hi Cards
0.8404
ST, Open, 1 Hi Card
0.7686
FL, 0 Hi Cards
0.7660
3 Hi Cards
0.7199
ST, 2 Gaps, 2 Hi Cards
0.6791
ST, 1 Gap, 1 Hi Card
0.5993
ST, Open, 0 Hi Cards
0.5691
2 Hi Cards
0.5230
ST, 2 Gaps, 1 Hi Card
0.4823
ST, 1 Gap, 0 Hi Cards
0.3723
1 Hi Card
0.3262
ST, 2 Gaps, 0 Hi Cards
0.1755
0 Hi Cards
Strategy created by Video Poker Strategy Master by TomSki.
The following tables illustrate how the returns are generated based on different pay tables. Each pay table reflects the return per coin when the maximum number of coins are played. The reason a straight flush frequently pays out 239.8 is because betting five coins at a $1 denomination results in a payout of $1199, which then requires a W2G form for payouts at $1200 or more.
Return Tables
You can find the following pay table available at internet casinos that operate on Playtech software.
"Full Pay\" Pick \"em Poker
Hand
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
Royal Flush
1200
5208
0.000003
0.003411
Straight Flush
239.8
47652
0.000026
0.006237
Four of a kind
120
776112
0.000424
0.05083
Full House
18
4317408
0.002356
0.042414
Flush
15
5842860
0.003189
0.047833
Straight
11
9281412
0.005066
0.055721
Three of a kind
5
54994848
0.030015
0.150073
Two pair
3
113761152
0.062088
0.186263
Nines of better
2
418444104
0.228375
0.45675
Nonpaying hand
0
1224796044
0.668459
0
Total
1832266800
1
0.999531
Pick \"em Poker
Hand
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
Royal Flush
2000
5640
0.000003
0.006156
Straight Flush
239.8
47652
0.000026
0.006237
Four of a kind
120
775680
0.000423
0.050801
Full House
18
4313520
0.002354
0.042376
Flush
15
5861868
0.003199
0.047989
Straight
10
9287892
0.005069
0.050691
Three of a kind
5
54960720
0.029996
0.14998
Two pair
3
113687280
0.062047
0.186142
Nines of better
2
418227240
0.228257
0.456513
Nonpaying hand
0
1225099308
0.668625
0
Total
1832266800
1
0.996885
Pick \"em Poker — 99.45%
Hand
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
Royal Flush
1200
434
0.000003
0.003411
Straight Flush
239.8
3,971
0.000026
0.006237
Four of a kind
120
64,676
0.000424
0.050830
Full House
18
359,784
0.002356
0.042414
Flush
15
486,905
0.003189
0.047833
Straight
10
773,451
0.005066
0.050655
Three of a kind
5
4,582,904
0.030015
0.150073
Two pair
3
9,480,096
0.062088
0.186263
Nines of better
2
34,870,342
0.228375
0.456750
Nonpaying hand
0
102,066,337
0.668459
0.000000
Total
152,688,900
1.000000
0.994466
standard deviation calculations for n-play video poker.
100 % up to
120 % up to
. The two hands the player must choose from are 3 to a straight flush, with two gaps, and zero high cards; or a low pair. We see the former has an expected value of 1.0949, and the latter of 1.1418. Thus choosing the 4