Today I’m going to discuss one of the choices that often frustrates me when playing video poker.  Neither is a winning hand, but both have the potential to be a winning hand.  But potential is a sometimes sort of thing.  So, here’s the problem.  A low pair of tens or lower doesn’t win a thing.  I need to draw either another low card of the same denomination for three of a kind or another pair for two pair in order to win.  Now, pay off on two pair is two for one, so if I bet a dollar, I get two dollars back.  Pay off on three of a kind is even better at three for one, so if I bet a dollar, I get three dollars back.  And then there is always the ever hopeful chance of pulling out 4 of a kind with a twenty five to one payback. Yep, for a one dollar bet, I’d get twenty five back.  I like that.  And I’m already half way there. (Though the odds are still slim for that four of kind draw, which is why it pays so well.)

So, that’s the low pair dilemma. Now the high card part of the equation.  I have a high card and if I hold it, I just have to draw a single matching card to win.  Now, let’s look at the cards for a minute. I’m not going over odds in numbers for this. Just look at the cards. With the high card, I’m holding one card, which means there are four potential spaces for another winning card to be dealt into.  So, I have more spaces for a winning draw.  And three potential winning cards sitting in the deck. So, I’m more likely to get a winning draw if I hold that high card.  But here’s the problem. A winning high pair pays 1 for 1. So if I bet a dollar, I keep my dollar.  Now, I’m all for keeping my dollar, but it just leaves me standing still, not moving ahead in the money.

So, this decision is one that always leaves me frustrated. Do I go with the better odds and stay in the game longer? Or do I take the risk and go for the better pay out?  Sometimes I depends on how my money is going and how much more time I want plan to play the game. If I’m sitting good in funds, I might take that extra risk with the low pair. Often it pays off for me.  But if I’m suffering a bit and still