Wizard vs Dancer ? Or did I miss something?

Okay - I'm on day 3 of Dancer's free trial of "Video Poker for Winners" to assess my skill level with the two VP games I play - and to learn how to improve on those plus learn DW.

The bad news is Dancer tells me I've been giving away a lot of money with my play. First, because according to him - he wouldn't play the games I play at all because the cash back % is insufficient, coupled with the 6/9 JoB pay table. (I think the shows, the rooms might sway the math, though. However, I'd much prefer the cash to those types of comps.)

The good news, I think, is that there's not much difference between my intermediate play and "advanced".

So, here's my question. On the article written by Mike the Wizard, this is the strategy for the hands on 6/9 JoB:
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"The way video poker strategies are usually expressed is a list of hands you might get on the deal, in order from best to worst. For any given hand, look up all viable ways to play it on the list and go with the one that is listed first. If you don't see a play listed, like suited 10/A, then never play it. Here is such a strategy for Jacks or Better."

Four of a kind, straight flush, royal flush
4 to a royal flush
Three of a kind, straight, flush, full house
4 to a straight flush
Two pair
High pair
3 to a royal flush
4 to a flush
Low pair
4 to an outside straight
2 suited high cards
3 to a straight flush
2 unsuited high cards (if more than 2 then pick the lowest 2)
Suited 10/J, 10/Q, or 10/K
One high card
Discard everything

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Yet, on Dancer's "test", I was dealt this hand: 6s 8s Ah 4s 9d

I chose to hold the 4,6,8 of spades.

Dancer's software says to hold the A - marked me wrong. A potential loss of 18 cents.

Rather than ask who's right - I think it's a question of which strategy are they both using? Is one a "Perfect" strategy and the other just a basic, or merely an optimum strategy?

Any insight would be appreciated.

All 3 to a straight flushes aren't equal. That's the problem here. Your hand is second to last on the optimal strategy list just above tossing everything. Holding the A is the better play.

You can see here on the Wizards five card hand calculator.




Here is optional strategy..

https://wizardofodds.com/games/video-poker/strategy/jacks-or-better/9-6/optimal/

I believe Wizard states his play list isn't optimal.... and you give up a small percent in order to have a simplified list.

Thanks very much!

FWIW, most all perfect strategy lists I've seen break down SF draws into
Zero gaps (eg 678)
1 gap (eg 689)
2 gaps (eg 468 or 458)
and those fall into different places on the priorities. It also matters in some games what those card ranks are.

It does matter what pay table you're playing as well as what VP game.

Quick Quads DDB, for example, perfect strategy is a list of about 50 plays in decreasing order, where the list you mentioned above is below 20.

IMO your best option is to generate your particular game on the WoO's VP strategy calculator and print it out, or at least refer to it in a separate window while you practice.

Second-best option for me, and best for some, is to use videopoker.com's training tool while playing their VP games in training mode (needs a gold membership).

Don't ever pay for VP training software, there's enough free tools available online.