Video Poker Starting Hands – Jack – Ace
Written May 21, 2008 by Jack Jones
In video poker, which start-up hand is more valuable, one with an ace or one with a jack? Most people would probably instinctively say the Ace since it’s the higher card, but the Jack has more playing hands that go with it. Also, what do you think of two aces against two Jacks for a starting hand? Let’s see what casino expert Mark Pilarski has to say.
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In Jacks-or-better video poker a lone Jack is worth more than a single Ace. True, paired up after the draw they are hands of equal value, but thinking of straights and straight flushes, a Jack is a better starter card than an Ace. The Jack can be part of a 7-8-9-10-J; or 8-9-10-J-Q; or a 9-10-J-Q-K, straight flush, whereas, other than sharing a mutual royal flush, the only other straight flush an Ace can make is an Ace-2-3-4-5. The same reasoning applies for straights.
By and large, two Jacks as starters are worth exactly the same as two Aces in Jacks-or-better video poker. Both hands return your money if you draw no supporting cards. The same value holds true for three Jacks versus Three aces, and a four-of-a-kind for either hand. However, video poker also offers various “Bonus” games where four Aces pay quite a bit more than four Jacks do. On these bonus games, a pair of Aces would definitely be worth more than two Jacks.
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