VIDEO POKER PALEV TRAINER
EXACT ANSWERS

The classic video poker dilemmas, solved exactly

Every answer below is computed by full enumeration — the same exact solver behind the trainer — not simulation or folklore. Click through for the numbers and the why.

Low pair or 4 to a flush — which do you keep?
Keep the four to a flush.
Low pair or 4 to an outside straight?
Keep the low pair.
Should you ever keep a kicker with a pair?
No — never in Jacks or Better.
A-K-Q-J unsuited — keep all four or just two?
Keep all four.
High pair or 4 to a flush?
Keep the high pair.
High pair or 4 to an outside straight?
Keep the high pair — it isn't close.
Break a made flush for 4 to a royal?
Yes — break it.
Q-J-10 suited or the pair of jacks? (It depends on the game)
On 9/6 Jacks or Better keep the jacks (1.5365 vs 1.4820).
3 to a royal or 4 to a flush?
Keep the three to a royal.
Break a pat straight for 4 to a royal?
Yes, always.
Aces full on Double Bonus — keep the full house or the aces?
On 10/7 Double Bonus, break it: three aces alone are worth 10.1147 per coin vs 10.0000 for the pat full house — quad aces pay 160.
Two pair in Double Bonus — keep both pairs when it only pays 1?
Yes — keep both pairs.
Two suited high cards or a low pair?
Keep the low pair.
Is a suited 10 with a face card worth holding?
Yes — hold both.
A lone ace or a lone king — which do you keep?
Keep both when you have both: A♥ K♦ is worth 0.4783 per coin.
3 to a straight flush or a low pair?
Keep the low pair.
4 to an inside straight with two high cards — keep it?
No — keep the two high cards.
Four aces in Double Double Bonus — do you throw the fifth card?
Yes — discard it.
Aces and eights in Double Double Bonus — do you break two pair?
Break it — throw the eights.
Aces full in Double Double Bonus — keep the full house or the aces?
Break it.
Low pair or 4 to a straight in Double Double Bonus?
Keep the straight draw.
Three aces and a deuce — do you hold the kicker in Double Double Bonus?
Drop the deuce.
K-Q-J suited or the pair of kings in Double Double Bonus?
Break the kings.
Joker Wild: break a made flush for 4 to a wild royal?
Break the flush.
Joker plus two suited cards, or the joker plus an ace?
Keep the two suited close cards.
Joker plus an ace, or the joker plus two far suited cards?
Keep W + the ace: 1.7148 per coin on 20/7/5 Joker Wild vs 1.5691 for W + 3♠ 6♠.
Joker and nothing else — what do you keep with it?
Keep the joker with a middle card.
A pair of jacks pays nothing in Joker Wild — still keep it?
Keep the jacks.
Low pair or 4 to an outside straight in Double Bonus?
Keep the straight draw.
Deuces full in Double Bonus — break it for the quad-deuce draw?
Keep the full house.
Aces and eights in Double Bonus — both pairs, or just the aces?
Keep both pairs — barely.
K-Q-J suited or the pair of kings in Double Bonus?
Break the pair.
A-K-Q suited or the pair of aces in Double Bonus?
Keep the aces.

Where to go next

Want the whole decision list instead of one-off answers? The interactive strategy charts cover every hand, and each game has its own page: 9/6 Jacks or Better in 18 lines (99.500% exact), 10/7 Double Bonus in 36, and the two-list 20/7/5 Joker Wild chart.

To settle a hand that isn’t on this list, drop the five cards into the hand analyzer — it ranks all 32 holds and gives you a permalink to paste into the argument. To stop making the mistake in the first place, the trainer prices every misplay the moment you make it and names the chart line you missed.

New to the game? Start with what video poker is and where the edge comes from, then browse the guides and research library — odds, bankroll, paytables, and the studies behind the charts.