Newbie strategy questions

I'm a newbie so sorry for the basic questions. I don't see a way to search the forums for the answers. I'm using the basic strategies posted on WizardofOdds.com. I've found these are the easiest to follow.


[Jacks or better]

The card says, if I don't have three to a straight flush or better I should keep 2 unsuited high cards. If I have more than two I should pick the lowest two.

What is the lowest? If I have Ah Kd Qs, I should keep the King and Queen? Why would it matter which of the high cards I picked. I have equal chances of pairing each one and the payout would be the same regardless. If I'm looking for a straight, I keep the K, Q then I need A, J, 10 to get the straight. The odds of that happening are the same as getting Q, J, 10 if I kept the Ace instead of the Q.


[Deuces Wild]

If I have a deuce I include that card when determing which cards to keep, correct? For example, if I have Ah Kh Qh 2d 3s I would consider that four to a royal flush and not three to a royal flush, correct?

The very lowest hand I would keep anything is no dueces, two to a royal flush, J, Q high. What does this mean? I would only keep J, Q suited? Would I also keep a K, Q suited? What about 10, J or 10, K suited? Also, when calculating two to a straight flush, are they two in sequence or any two? In other words, do I keep J, Q suited and discard K, 10 suited?


Thanks for the help.

To address your jacksor better question the reason you hold the smaller is bcuz you have more ways of getting the straight, not just the A J 10, but also 9 10 J would give you it.

Quote: Knuckleball3

To address your jacksor better question the reason you hold the smaller is bcuz you have more ways of getting the straight, not just the A J 10, but also 9 10 J would give you it.

Got it, thanks Knuckleball.

Quote: craigrow

[Deuces Wild]

If I have a deuce I include that card when determining which cards to keep, correct? For example, if I have Ah Kh Qh 2d 3s I would consider that four to a royal flush and not three to a royal flush, correct?

Yes.

Quote: craigrow

The very lowest hand I would keep anything is no dueces, two to a royal flush, J, Q high. What does this mean?

It means 2 to a royal flush where the highest card is a J or Q. In other words, suited TJ, suited TQ, or suited JQ.

Quote: craigrow

Would I also keep a K, Q suited? What about 10, J or 10, K suited?

You would not keep suited TK, JK, or QK if you are following the basic strategy. TJ is a hand you do keep, as I clarified above.

Quote: craigrow

Also, when calculating two to a straight flush, are they two in sequence or any two? In other words, do I keep J, Q suited and discard K, 10 suited?

Unless there is a qualifier, it means any two. For example, the next-to-last line of the "1 deuce" list says "3 to a straight flush with 2 consecutive singletons, 6-7 or higher" which means that the two natural cards must be consecutive (no gap between them) and must not be lower than 67. So in other words, it means a Deuce plus suited 67, 78, 89, or 9T.

Fantastic. Thanks for the clarifications.