On the Subject of Video Poker

It’s like Silly Slots, but with a higher payback rate.

• This module consists of a video poker machine with a blue background and five yellow buttons on the bottom. If the background isn’t blue, you’re looking at a different module.
• To disarm this module, play five hands in a row using optimal strategy.
• Any nonoptimal play will result in a strike.
• Once disarmed, you can continue to play video poker without penalty.
• The module can also be disarmed with a single payout of 1200 credits or more (see the section on jackpots for more information).

Rules of Video Poker

• Video poker is played with a standard (virtual) 52-card deck.
• Play begins by betting between 1 and 5 credits using the BET ONE and BET MAX buttons, then pressing the DEAL button.
  • WARNING: Since jackpots pay more relative to a 5-credit bet than any other bet size, attempting to start a hand without a 5-credit bet is considered nonoptimal and will result in a strike, as well as resetting the streak of correctly played hands.
• The game deals the player five cards at random.
• The player chooses which cards to keep and which cards to discard. Tap a card to mark or unmark it as held. The play may hold any number of cards, including none or all five of them.
• After the player presses DRAW, the game replaces the discarded cards (if any) with new cards chosen at random from the same deck.
• The resulting poker hand is evaluated and the player is paid out according to the game’s pay table.

Jackpots

• Any payout of 1200 credits or more is considered a jackpot. Triggering a jackpot will cause the machine to display the message CALL ATTENDANT.
• If this happens, a CLAIM button will appear. Press it to receive your payout and disarm the module.
• You will still be able to play video poker freely afterwards.
• Jackpots earned after the module is disarmed are claimed in the same way.

Other Usage Instructions

• Press the GAME INFO button to view information about the variety of video poker you are playing (shown at the top of the module), including its pay table. This may be important when disambiguating different varieties with the same name, as different pay tables can call for different strategies.
• Use the SPEED button to control the speed at which cards are dealt.
• When not claiming a jackpot, hold any button for three seconds to return the module (and your bankroll) to its initial state. If the module is armed, this will also reset the number of correctly played hands. A disarmed module will remain disarmed.

The Rest of This Manual, and Miscellaneous Tips

• The rest of this manual consists of strategy guides for each possible video poker variety that can appear on this module, along with their pay tables.
• To determine the proper strategy for a given five-card hand, keep the cards corresponding to the first condition that applies. For example, in 9/6 Jacks or Better, if your cards are 3♣3♦7♦9♦K♦, the proper play is to hold the four diamonds and go for the flush instead of keeping the pair of 3s.
• Do not keep any kickers unless explicitly told to do so.
• If none of the conditions apply, discard your entire hand.
• Watch out for exceptions, which will be noted accordingly.
• In the event that a hand has multiple plays that result in the same highest expected payout, the rules will state as such, and either play is allowed. For example, if dealt a four of a kind in 9/6 Jacks or Better, both keeping all five cards and keeping only the four of a kind are allowed.
• All strategies assume a 5-credit bet.
• For variants with wild cards, the strategies are grouped by the number of wild cards in your hand. The hand names assume that the wild cards have already been evaluated. For example, W3377 is a full house, and W5679 is a straight.
• In Deuces Wild, the suits of all 2s are irrelevant. After all, a wild card is a wild card!
• The last section of this manual is a glossary of poker and video poker terms and concepts. It is highly recommended that you familiarize yourself with them before analyzing these strategies, especially the section on penalty cards.

Hand	Payouts with credits bet (1–5)
Royal Flush	250	500	750	1000	4000
Straight Flush	50	100	150	200	250
Four of a Kind	25	50	75	100	125
Full House	9	18	27	36	45
Flush	6	12	18	24	30
Straight	4	8	12	16	20
Three of a Kind	3	6	9	12	15
Two Pair	2	4	6	8	10
Jacks or Better	1	2	3	4	5

Hand	Payouts with credits bet (1–5)
Royal Flush	250	500	750	1000	4000
Straight Flush	50	100	150	200	250
Four of a Kind	25	50	75	100	125
Full House	9	18	27	36	45
Flush	5	10	15	20	25
Straight	4	8	12	16	20
Three of a Kind	3	6	9	12	15
Two Pair	2	4	6	8	10
Jacks or Better	1	2	3	4	5

Hand	Payouts with credits bet (1–5)
Royal Flush	250	500	750	1000	4000
Straight Flush	50	100	150	200	250
Four of a Kind	25	50	75	100	125
Full House	8	16	24	32	40
Flush	6	12	18	24	30
Straight	4	8	12	16	20
Three of a Kind	3	6	9	12	15
Two Pair	2	4	6	8	10
Jacks or Better	1	2	3	4	5

Hand	Payouts with credits bet (1–5)
Royal Flush	250	500	750	1000	4000
Straight Flush	50	100	150	200	250
Four of a Kind	25	50	75	100	125
Full House	8	16	24	32	40
Flush	5	10	15	20	25
Straight	4	8	12	16	20
Three of a Kind	3	6	9	12	15
Two Pair	2	4	6	8	10
Jacks or Better	1	2	3	4	5

Hand	Payouts with credits bet (1–5)
Royal Flush	250	500	750	1000	4000
Straight Flush	50	100	150	200	250
Four Aces	80	160	240	320	400
Four 2s, 3s, or 4s	40	80	120	160	200
Four 5s through Ks	25	50	75	100	125
Full House	8	16	24	32	40
Flush	5	10	15	20	25
Straight	4	8	12	16	20
Three of a Kind	3	6	9	12	15
Two Pair	2	4	6	8	10
Jacks or Better	1	2	3	4	5

Hand	Payouts with credits bet (1–5)
Royal Flush	250	500	750	1000	4000
Straight Flush	50	100	150	200	250
Four Aces	160	320	480	640	800
Four 2s, 3s, or 4s	80	160	240	320	400
Four 5s through Ks	50	100	150	200	250
Full House	10	20	30	40	50
Flush	7	14	21	28	35
Straight	5	10	15	20	25
Three of a Kind	3	6	9	12	15
Two Pair	1	2	3	4	5
Jacks or Better	1	2	3	4	5

Special Rules and Exceptions for Double Bonus Poker

1. You may either keep or discard the kicker.
2. If there is also a pair, it doesn’t matter which paired card you discard.
3. If the high cards are JK or QK and the other three cards have rank 8 or lower, keep the two high cards only.
4. Suited 78T and 79T always beat suited QK.
5. Suited JA always beats suited 78T and 79T.
6. Suited QA always beats unsuited 89JQ.
7. 3 to a flush (2TJ through 6TJ) beats suited TJ if the two cards not part of the flush draw are 7K, 8K, 8A, or 9A.
8. If this hand contains two high cards, neither of which is an Ace, and the other three cards have rank 8 or lower, keep the two high cards instead.
9. Suited TQ beats 3 to a flush if the flush draw’s high card is an Ace and its middle card is a 6, 7, or 8.
10. 3 to a straight flush always beats unsuited JK.
11. 3 to a flush of type 4 beats unsuited JK if the hand contains a 9, 10, or Ace.
12. If the hand also contains an Ace, a 9, and a card lower than a 9, keep the Ace as well.
13. Unsuited QK beats suited 78K if the fifth card is a 6 or lower.
14. Suited 569 and 579 both beat suited TQ.
15. Ace only beats these straight flush draws if the straight flush draw requires discarding a straight penalty card.
16. Jack only beats these straight flush draws if the straight flush draw requires discarding a straight penalty card that doesn’t match the suit of the Jack. There are a few special cases, which are listed below.
17. Unsuited QK beats these flush draws if the three non-high cards have rank 8 or lower.
18. Find all conditions in Table R that apply. If the sum of their corresponding values is greater than or equal to zero, keep the Ace only instead.
19. If there are two ways to play this hand as 4 to an inside straight, you may choose either one.

Hand	Payouts with credits bet (1–5)
Royal Flush	250	500	750	1000	4000
Straight Flush	50	100	150	200	250
Four Aces with any 2, 3, 4	400	800	1200	1600	2000
Four 2s, 3s, 4s w/ A, 2, 3, 4	160	320	480	640	800
Four Aces	160	320	480	640	800
Four 2s, 3s, or 4s	80	160	240	320	400
Four 5s through Ks	50	100	150	200	250
Full House	9	18	27	36	45
Flush	6	12	18	24	30
Straight	4	8	12	16	20
Three of a Kind	3	6	9	12	15
Two Pair	1	2	3	4	5
Jacks or Better	1	2	3	4	5

•  “High card” = Jack or higher. “Low card” = 10 or lower.

Special Rules and Exceptions for Double Double Bonus Poker

1. If you have four Aces, 2s, 3s, or 4s, always go for the A–4 kicker if you don’t have it already. If you have four 5s through Kings, it doesn’t matter whether you keep or discard the kicker.
2. A pair of Jacks, Queens, or Kings beats suited JQK if the hand contains a flush penalty card or a 10.
3. A pair of Jacks or Queens beats suited TJQ if the hand contains a flush penalty card, a 9, a King, or an Ace.
4. If you also have a low pair, it doesn’t matter which card in the pair you discard.
5. 4 to a straight with 3 high cards beats 2 suited high cards if the latter has a flush penalty card.
6. Ace only beats unsuited JQ if the remaining two cards’ ranks are 6 and 8, 7 and 8, or anything with a 9; and neither of them match the suit of the Ace.
7. Suited TJ beats Ace only in certain cases. If both plays are possible, find all conditions in Table G that apply. If the sum of their corresponding values is greater than zero, keep the suited TJ instead.
8. Unsuited JK and QK both beat Ace only if the remaining two cards both match the suit of the Ace; the lower of which is a 2, 3, or 4; and the higher of which is a 6, 7, or 8.
9. Unsuited JK beats suited TJ if the latter has a 9 or a flush penalty card.
10. If there are two ways to play this hand as 4 to an inside straight, you may choose either one.

Table G

Condition	Value
The lowest ranked card is a 4 or lower	+1
The lowest ranked card is a 6 or higher	-1
The second-lowest ranked card is a 7	-2
The second-lowest ranked card is an 8	-5
The second-lowest ranked card is a 9	-10
Another card in this hand matches the suit of the Ace	+3 per card
The suited TJ has a flush penalty card	-10

Hand	Payouts with credits bet (1–5)
Royal Flush	400	800	1200	1600	4000
Straight Flush	50	100	150	200	250
Four Aces with any 2, 3, 4	400	800	1200	1600	4000
Four 2s, 3s, 4s w/ A, 2, 3, 4	400	800	1200	1600	2000
Four Aces	160	320	480	640	800
Four 2s, 3s, or 4s	80	160	240	320	400
Four 5s through Ks	50	100	150	200	250
Full House	9	18	27	36	45
Flush	7	14	21	28	35
Straight	4	8	12	16	20
Three of a Kind	2	4	6	8	10
Two Pair	1	2	3	4	5
Jacks or Better	1	2	3	4	5

•  “High card” = Jack or higher. “Low card” = 10 or lower.

Special Rules and Exceptions for Triple Double Bonus Poker

1. If you have four Aces, 2s, 3s, or 4s, always go for the A–4 kicker if you don’t have it already. If you have four 5s through Kings, it doesn’t matter whether you keep or discard the kicker.
2. If you have multiple kickers that qualify, keep only one of them.
3. Suited TJQ beats 4 to a flush (2TJQ through 7TJQ) if the unsuited card’s rank is a 10 or between 2 and 7 inclusive.
4. A pair of Jacks, Queens, or Kings beats 3 to a royal flush if the latter contains a 10 and an Ace.
5. If there is also a pair of 5s through 10s, it doesn’t matter which paired card you discard.
6. A pair of 5s through 10s beats 3 to a straight flush under certain conditions:
   • If there are two high cards in the straight flush draw, keep the straight flush draw.
   • Otherwise, if there is one high card in the straight flush draw, keep the pair if its rank is one lower than the lowest card in the straight flush draw.
   • Otherwise, if one of the cards in the pair is part of the straight flush draw, keep the pair if the card that neither belongs to the pair nor the straight flush draw is a straight penalty card.
   • Otherwise, keep the pair if its rank is within two of any card in the straight flush draw.
7. Suited JQ beats three to a flush (2JQ through 7JQ) if the other two cards have rank 7 or lower.
8. If the remaining three cards form a straight flush draw of type 2B or 2C and they are all lower than the two suited high cards, keep the 3 to a straight flush instead.
9. Unsuited TQKA beats suited 9TK.
10. The following 3 to a flush draws beat Ace only when certain conditions apply:
    • 2TA, 3TA, and 4TA: The two unsuited cards’ ranks are both in this list: 2, 3, 4, Jack, Queen, King
    • Any other flush draw with an Ace: The lowest card in the flush draw is a 4 or lower, and the two unsuited cards are both high cards
    • Any other flush draw with a non-Ace high card: The hand contains a 2, 3, and 4; and the hand contains only two distinct suits
11. Suited TJ beats 3 to a flush with a King and two cards of rank 6 or lower.
12. Suited 569, 579, and 67T beat unsuited TJQ and JQ.
13. If there are two ways to play this hand as 4 to an inside straight, you may choose either one.
14. If the hand contains a 2 and a 7, or if it contains a 5, discard everything instead.

Hand	Payouts with credits bet (1–5)
Natural Royal Flush	250	500	750	1000	4000
Four Deuces	200	400	600	800	1000
Wild Royal Flush	25	50	75	100	125
Five of a Kind	16	32	48	64	80
Straight Flush	10	20	30	40	50
Four of a Kind	4	8	12	16	20
Full House	4	8	12	16	20
Flush	3	6	9	12	15
Straight	2	4	6	8	10
Three of a Kind	1	2	3	4	5

• Remember, since 2s are wild, 3456 is not considered an open-ended straight in Deuces Wild, since only one non-wild rank can complete it. That being said, 3456 still qualifies as “4 to a straight” under rule 18.

Rule C: When NOT to keep suited TK, JK, or QK:

If there is a 3 to a flush draw and the other two cards’ ranks are listed below, the proper play is to discard everything. Pairs of ranks in [brackets] have the added requirement that they share the same suit. (For example, if given the cards 3♣T♣K♣6♦Q♥, you should keep the TK. But if the Q♥ was a Q♦, you would discard everything instead.)

• 3TK: 4J, 4Q, 4A, 5Q, [6Q], 9A
• 4TK: 3J, 3Q, 3A, 9A
• 5TK: 3Q, 9A
• 6TK: [3Q], [9A]
• 3JK: 4T, 4Q, 4A, 5Q, 5A, 6Q, [7Q], [8Q], 9A
• 4JK: 3T, 3Q, 3A, 5Q, [6Q], 9A
• 5JK: 3Q, 3A, 4Q, 9A
• 6JK: 3Q, [4Q], 9A
• 7JK: [3Q], [9A]
• 8JK: 3Q, 9A
• 3QK: 4T, 4J, 4A, 5T, 5J, 5A, [6T], 6J, 6A, [7J], [8J], 9A
• 4QK: 3T, 3J, 3A, 5J, 5A, [6J], [6A], 9A
• 5QK: 3T, 3J, 3A, 4J, 4A, 9A
• 6QK: [3T], 3J, 3A, [4J], [4A], 9A
• 7QK: [3J], 9A
• 8QK: 3J, 9A

Rule D: When to keep suited 67, 78, 89, 9T, or TA:

These draws should only be kept if the other three cards’ ranks are listed below. The superscripts indicate the minimum number of distinct suits (including the suit of the cards you’re looking to keep) that must be in your hand. A star means that the two highest cards must also be of different suits.

• 67: 3JQ³, 3JK³, 9JQ³, 9JK³, 9JA⁴, TJQ⁴, TJK⁴, TJA³, TQK⁴, TQA³, TKA³, JQK⁴, JQA³, JKA³, QKA³
• 78: 3TQ⁴, 3JQ³, 3JK³, 3JA^3*, 3QK³, 3QA², 3KA², 4QK³, 4QA^3*, 4KA⁴, TQK⁴, TQA⁴, TKA⁴, JQK⁴, JQA³, JKA³, QKA³
• 89: 34Q⁴, 34K², 34A³, 35K⁴, 3QK⁴, 3QA⁴, 3KA², 45K³, 45A⁴, 4QK³, 4QA^3*, 4KA², 5KA^3*, QKA⁴
• 9T: 345³, 346³, 34A³, 356³, 35K³, 35A³, 36A³, 456³, 457⁴, 45K², 45A³, 46A², 4KA^3*, 56A², 57A³, 5KA³
• TA: 579⁴

Remember that in Deuces Wild, the suits of all 2s are irrelevant. For example, something like 2♦T♣Q♣K♣A♣ is still considered a wild royal flush.

General rule of thumb: Always keep any deuces you’re dealt.

Rule H: W45 straight flush draw vs. Deuce only

• If the straight flush draw has a flush penalty card:
  • If the fifth card is a 3, 6, 7, 8, or A, keep the deuce only.
  • Otherwise, if the hand contains a King but not a 10, keep the deuce only.
  • Otherwise, keep the straight flush draw.
• Otherwise, keep the deuce only if the remaining two cards are any of the following. Unless otherwise specified, their suits are irrelevant.
  • 38
  • Suited 39
  • Suited 3J
  • 3Q
  • 3K
  • 6A
  • 7A

Rule I: 4 to a straight with deuce vs. Deuce only

If the fifth card is in the applicable list below, keep the deuce only. Otherwise, keep the 4 to a straight draw. However, if the fifth card’s rank is marked with an asterisk and it doesn’t match the suit of at least one of the non-wild cards in the straight draw, keep the 4 to a straight.

• W567: Q, K, A
• W678: 3, K*, A
• W789: 3, 4*
• WTJQ: 3

W89T and W9TJ are always kept over deuce only.

Hand	Payouts with credits bet (1–5)
Natural Royal Flush	250	500	750	1000	4000
Four Deuces	500	1000	1500	2000	2500
Wild Royal Flush	25	50	75	100	125
Five of a Kind	15	30	45	60	75
Straight Flush	8	16	24	32	40
Four of a Kind	4	8	12	16	20
Full House	3	6	9	12	15
Flush	2	4	6	8	10
Straight	2	4	6	8	10
Three of a Kind	1	2	3	4	5

Rule J: When to keep suited TK, JK, or QK:

If your “2 to a royal flush” has a flush penalty card:

• If the ranks are 578TK and at least one of the conditions below applies, keep the suited TK.
  • The 5, 7, and 8 all have different suits.
  • The flush penalty card is NOT the 8.
• Otherwise, if the ranks are 678JK and the 6, 7, and 8 all have different suits, keep the suited JK.
• Otherwise, discard your entire hand.

If it doesn’t have a flush penalty card:

• If the ranks are 58TJK and no card shares its suit with the 8, keep the suited TK or JK, whichever one you have.
• Otherwise, look in the appropriate section below. The draw should only be kept if the other three cards’ ranks are listed below. The superscripts indicate the minimum number of distinct suits (including the suit of the cards you’re looking to keep) that must be in your hand.

Suited TK: 345², 346², 347², 348², 356², 357², 358², 359⁴, 367², 368², 369³, 378², 379², 389², 456², 457², 458², 459², 467², 468², 469², 478², 479², 47A⁴, 489², 48A⁴, 567², 568², 569², 56A⁴, 578², 579², 57J³, 57A², 589², 58J⁴, 58A², 67J³, 67Q⁴, 67A², 68B³, 68A², 78Q³, 78A²

Suited JK: 345², 346², 347², 348², 356², 357², 358², 367², 368², 378², 379³, 389³, 456², 457², 458², 459⁴, 467², 468², 469³, 478², 479², 489², 567², 568², 569³, 578², 579², 57T³, 57A⁴, 589³, 58T⁴, 58A⁴, 678², 679², 67T³, 67A³, 689³, 68T², 68A³, 78A²

Suited QK: 346², 356², 456², 347², 357², 457², 367², 467², 567², 348², 358², 458², 368², 468², 568², 378², 478², 578², 678², 569², 479³, 579², 679², 489³, 589², 689², 789², 67T⁴, 78T², 78A³

Remember that in Deuces Wild, the suits of all 2s are irrelevant. For example, something like 2♦T♣Q♣K♣A♣ is still considered a wild royal flush.

General rule of thumb: Always keep any deuces you’re dealt.

Hand	Payouts with credits bet (1–5)
Natural Royal Flush	250	500	750	1000	4000
Four Deuces	200	400	600	800	1000
Wild Royal Flush	25	50	75	100	125
Five of a Kind	15	30	45	60	75
Straight Flush	9	18	27	36	45
Four of a Kind	5	10	15	20	25
Full House	3	6	9	12	15
Flush	2	4	6	8	10
Straight	2	4	6	8	10
Three of a Kind	1	2	3	4	5

Rule H: Suited TQ/JQ versus 4 to an inside straight

What is meant by “some possible straight with no penalty cards discarded?”

If there is a possible straight containing both of your suited royal cards but none of the cards that you’re discarding, play the suited TQ/JQ. Otherwise, play 4 to a straight.

For example, with 5♣10♦Q♦K♥A♠, you would keep the two diamonds, since you have a full chance at an 89TJQ straight. However, with 5♣9♠10♦Q♦K♥, you would keep the 9TQK, since the King and 9 block off the full potential for any additional straights.

Rule J: Suited TK/JK/QK versus discarding everything:

• If there is a flush penalty card, discard everything.
• Otherwise, if there is a straight penalty card, discard everything unless your hand appears in the list of exceptions below, in which case, keep the royal flush draw.
• Otherwise, keep the royal flush draw unless your hand appears in the list of exceptions below, in which case, discard everything.

In this section, card ranks are grouped by suit. For example, JK/95/7 can refer to J♣K♣9♦5♦7♠, J♥K♥9♣5♣7♦, J♠K♠9♥5♥7♣, etc.

Exceptions that should be kept, even with a straight penalty card:

In this section, the penalty card is always the third rank listed.

(Tip: If the straight penalty card is anything other than a 9 or Ace, always discard.)

• TK/9/3/7
• TK/9/4/6
• TK/9/4/7
• TK/9/4/8
• TK/9/5/6
• TK/9/5/7
• TK/9/5/8
• TK/9/47
• TK/9/48
• TK/9/56
• TK/9/57
• TK/9/58
• TK/94/7
• TK/94/8
• TK/95/6
• TK/95/7
• TK/95/8
• TK/96/5
• TK/97/4
• TK/97/5
• TK/98/4
• TK/98/5
• TK/A/6/7
• TK/A/6/8
• TK/A/7/8
• TK/A/78
• TK/A7/8
• TK/A8/7
• JK/9/4/7
• JK/9/4/8
• JK/9/5/6
• JK/9/5/7
• JK/9/5/8
• JK/9/6/7
• JK/9/6/8
• JK/9/57
• JK/9/58
• JK/9/67
• JK/9/68
• JK/95/7
• JK/95/8
• JK/96/7
• JK/96/8
• JK/97/5
• JK/97/6
• JK/98/5
• JK/98/6
• JK/A/7/8
• QK/9/5/7
• QK/9/5/8
• QK/9/6/7
• QK/9/6/8
• QK/9/7/8
• QK/9/67
• QK/9/78
• QK/96/7
• QK/96/8
• QK/97/6
• QK/97/8
• QK/98/7

Exceptions that should be discarded, even without a straight penalty card:

• JK/3/4/5
• JK/34/5
• JK/34/6
• JK/35/4
• JK/45/3
• JK/46/3
• QK/3/4/5
• QK/3/4/6
• QK/34/5
• QK/34/6
• QK/34/7
• QK/35/4
• QK/35/6
• QK/36/4
• QK/36/5
• QK/45/3
• QK/46/3
• QK/47/3
• QK/56/3
• QK/348

Remember that in Deuces Wild, the suits of all 2s are irrelevant. For example, something like 2♦T♣Q♣K♣A♣ is still considered a wild royal flush.

General rule of thumb: Always keep any deuces you’re dealt.

Glossary of Poker Terms

N.B. In many cases, the rank 10 is abbreviated with the letter T.

Poker Hands (strongest to weakest)

• Royal Flush: 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace, all of the same suit.
  • In games with wild cards, a natural royal flush means that the hand doesn’t contain any wild cards.
• Five of a Kind: Five cards of the same rank. Only possible in wild card games.
• Straight Flush: Five cards with consecutive ranks of the same suit (generally excluding 10-J-Q-K-A).
• Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank.
• Full House: Three cards of the same rank and two cards of another.
• Flush: Five cards of the same suit.
• Straight: Five cards of consecutive rank.
  • In a straight, Aces may be high or low, but not both at the same time (i.e., they cannot “wrap around”).
• Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank.
• Two Pair: Two cards of the same rank and two cards of another.
• One Pair: Two cards of the same rank.
  • Many poker variants use a term like Jacks or Better to refer that only pairs of a certain rank or higher are applicable.

A Note on Straight Draws

• Open-ended/outside straight draw: Can be completed with one of two different non-wild ranks, such as 6-7-8-9.
• Inside straight draw: Can only be completed with a single non-wild rank, such as 5-6-7-9. This also includes A-2-3-4 and J-Q-K-A.

Penalty Cards

A penalty card is a potentially useful card that must be discarded in order to go for a better hand. In certain situations, these can influence optimal play. For example, consider the hand 3♣5♥10♥J♥K♠ in 9/6 Jacks or Better. Normally, a suited TJ is more valuable than an unsuited JK. However, if you kept the 10♥ and J♥, the discarded 5♥ makes it harder to form a flush. Therefore, the 5♥ is known as a flush penalty card. It degrades the value of suited TJ to the point that you’re better off keeping the Jack and King.

Similarly, with the hand 3♣4♥6♥7♥J♠ in 8/5 Jacks or Better, the 3♣ is a straight penalty card that makes the straight flush draw less favorable than Jack only.