Page 14 - January 2008 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Bob Dancer: Video Poker
AIn Interesting Gap in Jacks or Better
n this article, we’ll examine a common gap in good old Jacks or Better. Assuming you were playing 9/6 jacks (i.e., receiving 9 for a full house and 6 for a flush), and you could choose between either of the following hands, which would you choose, and how would
you play it?
K♠ Q♦ 2♣ 3♣ 5♣ and K♠ Q♦ 2♣ 3♣ 4♣
e only di erence between the hands is in the club straight ush draw. e 235 has an obvious gap in it—that is, it is missing the 4. e 234 has no such obvious gap—that is, the
Let’s simplify and only look at straight ushes—that is, assume we draw clubs. When we start from ‘234’ and draw two cards, how many perfect draws are there? In other words, how many two-card combinations can we draw which will give us a straight ush? One
the “two cards below” combination (in this case ‘56’), you’ll have the “straddle” combination (in this case ‘6T’), and you’ll have the“two cards above” (in this case‘TJ’).
Look again at the ‘234’ combination. e two combinations we have t the “straddle” and the “two cards above” categories. You’ll see we don’t have room for the “two cards below” draw. With only two di erent perfect draws, it is fair to consider the
cards are right next to each other.
If you have a chart that tells you this information, great. I’m all for tools to make life simpler. (In fact, I sell a variety of them.) Similarly, many of you have these combinations memorized. Great again!
A good memory is helpful in video poker. But let’s assume that you either don’t have a chart handy, or you don’t trust your memory on this particular combination. What do you do now?
e only di erences between the ‘235’ and ‘234’ combinations will be straights and straight
“The conclusion, then, is that
‘234’ and ‘235’ are equivalent combinations. This is surprising when you first encounter it. How can a ‘no-gapper’ like ‘234’ have the same value as a ‘one-gapper’? The explanation doesn’t concern the gap in ‘235’. It is very real and affects the value of the combination. The explanation comes from the fact that the
possible combination is ‘A5’, and another is ‘56’. If you search for more, you’ll come up empty. ose are
ushes. Drawing two cards,
neither combination is
better than the other when
it comes to getting high
pairs, two pairs, trips, or
regular ushes. And when
it comes to full houses,
four of a kinds and royal ushes, you’re equally up a tree from either starting position.
“no-gapper” such as 789, you’ll see there are three 2-card combinations that will complete the straight. You have
‘234’ combination ‘runs into the like ‘234’ have the same value as a “one-gapper”?
ace.’ If you look at a legitimate e explanation doesn’t
‘no-gapper’ such as 789, you’ll see there are three 2-card combinations that will complete
the straight.”
concern the gap in ‘235’. It is very real and a ects the value of the combination. e explanation comes from the fact that the ‘234’ combination “runs into the ace.” If you look at a legitimate
the only two that exist.
Starting from ‘235’, we also
have two perfect draws—
speci cally ‘A4’ and ‘46’.
When we broaden the
discussion to drawing Winner’s Guides, we say that ‘234’ and ‘235’ each have
straights, we’ll nd that there are equal numbers there too.
e conclusion, then, is that ‘234’ and ‘235’ are equivalent combinations.
is is surprising when you rst encounter it. How can a “no-gapper”
“one inside”.
Now for the second part of the question. How do
you play the hand? Knowing that a suited ‘234’ is equivalent to ‘235’ is one thing. Knowing whether it is higher or lower than KQ of di erent suits is another.
It turns out that going for the straight ush combination is quite a bit higher than holding the KQ—almost 20¢ when you’re playing for dollars. Even if we started with an unsuited QJ, which has more straight possibilities than does KQ, ‘234’ or ‘235’ would still be the superior play by 12¢.
I believe that straight ushes are the least understood hand in video poker. We will revisit this subject many times in the future, although not for a while. ese discussions tend to be more technical than many of my readers prefer.
Bob Dancer is America’s best-known video poker writer and teacher. He has a variety of “how to play better video poker” products, including Winner’s Guides, strategy cards, his autobiography Million Dollar Video Poker, and his two novels, including Sex, Lies, and Video Poker. Dancer’s products may be ordered at www.bobdancer.com.
‘234’ combination as belonging to the “one-gapper” family. In Liam W. Daily’s and my strategy cards and
Page 14
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
January 2008
Video Poker with Bob Dancer