Video Poker Strategy Question

[Styles]

I've been playing some video poker clearing some bonuses and I have a strategy question.

Say I draw: 3 3 Q 7 9 and I have only the low-pair no SF draws.

I know I should keep the pair of 3's but since it's Jacks or better, I'm confused about whether I should keep the Q also.

I understand that it's two draws at 5 outs vs 3 draws at 2 outs. However, I noticed that in the strategy they tell you never to draw to an inside straight that doesn't have high cards (above Jacks) so wouldn't it also be correct to keep a high card with a low pair?

Thanks for any insight into this.

[XlgJoe]

You can't really look at this in terms of outs like you do for hold-em. You have to look at all possible outcomes, what the probability is and what the payback would be. Don't forget you get more for hitting 3K than you do for 2-pair.

Also on the inside ST draw you need 3 high cards to make it a profitable draw. Even if you do miss the ST almost any high card shoud help get your money back.

[Homer]

Use this (http://casinogambling.about.com/library/blfeatures/jacks.pdf) strategy chart while you play. It is for 9/6 JOB, so it is not an optimal strategy if you are playing a version with a different payscale, but it will be fairly close. If you want an exact strategy for the specific payout schedule of your machine, you need a program like VPSM (http://www.zamzone.com/tomski/VPSM.asp).

-- Homer

[Ed Miller]

It is never correct to hold a kicker with a pair in Jacks or Better.

Once you keep the small pair, any additional pair you make (i.e. Queens) will make you two pair. Thus, the fact that a Queen is a big pair is now irrelevant... sevens up pays just as well as queens up.

Just hold the pair.