An Easy Strategy for Pick'em Poker

Pick'em Poker is one of the easiest video poker games to learn appropriate strategy for. Unlike the easy strategies I've published for Deuces Wild and Jacks or Better, this "easy strategy" page features a reasonably complete strategy for the game, presented as the most preferred hands in order of how good they are. Just go down the list and stop when you reach the first option that applies to your hand, and keep those corresponding cards.

Strategy Chart

Three of a kind
Any three cards to a royal flush, EXCLUDING an ace
Any pair of nines or better
Any three cards to a royal flush, even if it has an ace
Any three cards to a straight flush
Any pair of two's through eight's
Any three cards to a flush
Any three cards to a straight
Any cards nine or higher

If none of the above exist in your hand, then it really doesn't matter which card you pick.

A Couple of Notes Regarding the Strategy Chart for Pickem Poker

If you're choosing between multiple royal flush possibilities, keep the lower of the two possibilities. (This increases your chances of getting a straight.)

If you're choosing between multiple straight flush possibilities, you want to choose the option with the fewest "gaps".

If you're choosing between multiple flush options, choose the higher card.

This is not a computer perfect strategy, but it's pretty doggone close. You're probably only giving up maybe 0.3% or so, which means you're getting close to the same payback percentage you would get from playing computer perfect Jacks or Better video poker.

Be sure to also read our article about free video poker.

This page was written on May 1, 2006 and was last modified on September 18, 2007.

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