Win Big Poker

The Wiz' newest article on the WoO site is about Win Big Poker.

I assume it's a new flavor of video poker. Since I rarely play any slots, I didn't give it much thought.

It pays 1 for Jacks or Better, but zero for two pair. This provides money that can be shifted around for a more interesting pay table. Fair enough.

But I stated to think about it. My first thought was that if you have a pair of jacks or better, plus a second pair, obviously, discard the second pair to get paid on the jacks. Except according to the Wiz' article, in such a case, the jacks get paid anyway.

But I thought more about it. What is the correct strategy in that situation? Keep the two pair for a 4/47 chance for a boat, or just the jacks for a 2/47 + 2/46 + 2/45 chance for trips, plus additional (albeit slim) chances for a different boat as well as quads?


And then I REALLY started to think about it.

I accept that the two pair doesn't pay more than jacks, but shouldn't two small pairs pay anyway? After all, it qualifies for the "or better" part.


I wonder if the machine really says "One pair, Jacks or Better" or if the machine says "One pair, Jacks thru Aces".


On a side note, the four pay tables shown, have slightly different combination totals for the various hand ranks. Why is that?

Quote: DJTeddyBear

I accept that the two pair doesn't pay more than jacks, but shouldn't two small pairs pay anyway? After all, it qualifies for the "or better" part.

I would disagree, as apparently would the game manufacturer. Though I can understand the argument.

When the Wizard first put the game up, I disagreed with the low returns (91% or less) and thought that something must have been wrong; that's when I too figured that a hand like J-J-2-2-3 must pay the prize for Jacks or Better because the rules usually say, "Only highest win awarded" and between the prize for Jacks or Better and the non-prize for Two Pair, then the prize for Jacks or Better is the highest win. I then recalculated the game under that assumption, and the returns looked more "normal".

Quote: DJTeddyBear

On a side note, the four pay tables shown, have slightly different combination totals for the various hand ranks. Why is that?

Because a different paytable alters the strategy; a different strategy alters the final outcomes.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

What is the correct strategy in that situation?

Here is the basic strategy for the 99.0264% paytable:

Type of Play	Details
Five Cards	Full House; Straight Flush; Royal Flush
Four of a Kind	2222; 3333; 4444; 5555; 6666; 7777; 8888; 9999; TTTT; JJJJ; QQQQ; KKKK; AAAA
4 to a Royal Flush	TJQA; TJQK; TJKA; TQKA; JQKA
4 to a Straight Flush	2345; 3456; 4567; 5678; 6789; 789T; 89TJ; 9TJQ
Five Cards	Flush
4 to a Straight Flush	A234; A235; A245; A345; 2346; 2356; 2456; 3457; 3467; 3567; 4568; 4578; 4678; 5679; 5689; 5789; 678T; 679T; 689T; 789J; 78TJ; 79TJ; 89TQ; 89JQ; 8TJQ; 9TJK; 9TQK; 9JQK
Three of a Kind	222; 333; 444; 555; 666; 777; 888; 999; TTT; JJJ; QQQ; KKK; AAA
Five Cards	Straight
3 to a Royal Flush	TJQ
Two Pair	2233; 2244; 2255; 2266; 2277; 2288; 2299; 22TT; 22JJ; 22QQ; 22KK; 22AA; 3366; 3377; 3388; 3399; 33TT; 33JJ; 33QQ; 33KK; 33AA; 4477; 4488; 4499; 44TT; 44JJ; 44QQ; 44KK; 44AA; 5588; 5599; 55TT; 55JJ; 55QQ; 55KK; 55AA; 6699; 66TT; 66JJ; 66QQ; 66KK; 66AA; 77TT; 77JJ; 77QQ; 77KK; 77AA; 88JJ; 88QQ; 88KK; 88AA; 99JJ; 99QQ; 99KK; 99AA; TTJJ; TTQQ; TTKK; TTAA; JJQQ; JJKK; JJAA; QQKK; QQAA; KKAA
4 to a Flush	2347; 2348; 2349; 234T; 234J; 234Q; 234K; 2357; 2358; 2359; 235T; 235J; 235Q; 235K; 236A; 2367; 2368; 2369; 236T; 236J; 236Q; 236K; 237A; 2378; 2379; 237T; 237J; 237Q; 237K; 238A; 2389; 238T; 238J; 238Q; 238K; 239A; 239T; 239J; 239Q; 239K; 23TA; 23TJ; 23TQ; 23TK; 23JA; 23JQ; 23JK; 23QA; 23QK; 23KA; 2457; 2458; 2459; 245T; 245J; 245Q; 245K; 246A; 2467; 2468; 2469; 246T; 246J; 246Q; 246K; 247A; 2478; 2479; 247T; 247J; 247Q; 247K; 248A; 2489; 248T; 248J; 248Q; 248K; 249A; 249T; 249J; 249Q; 249K; 24TA; 24TJ; 24TQ; 24TK; 24JA; 24JQ; 24JK; 24QA; 24QK; 24KA; 256A; 2567; 2568; 2569; 256T; 256J; 256Q; 256K; 257A; 2578; 2579; 257T; 257J; 257Q; 257K; 258A; 2589; 258T; 258J; 258Q; 258K; 259A; 259T; 259J; 259Q; 259K; 25TA; 25TJ; 25TQ; 25TK; 25JA; 25JQ; 25JK; 25QA; 25QK; 25KA; 267A; 2678; 2679; 267T; 267J; 267Q; 267K; 268A; 2689; 268T; 268J; 268Q; 268K; 269A; 269T; 269J; 269Q; 269K; 26TA; 26TJ; 26TQ; 26TK; 26JA; 26JQ; 26JK; 26QA; 26QK; 26KA; 278A; 2789; 278T; 278J; 278Q; 278K; 279A; 279T; 279J; 279Q; 279K; 27TA; 27TJ; 27TQ; 27TK; 27JA; 27JQ; 27JK; 27QA; 27QK; 27KA; 289A; 289T; 289J; 289Q; 289K; 28TA; 28TJ; 28TQ; 28TK; 28JA; 28JQ; 28JK; 28QA; 28QK; 28KA; 29TA; 29TJ; 29TQ; 29TK; 29JA; 29JQ; 29JK; 29QA; 29QK; 29KA; 2TJA; 2TJK; 2TQA; 2TQK; 2TKA; 2JQA; 2JQK; 2JKA; 2QKA; 3458; 3459; 345T; 345J; 345Q; 345K; 346A; 3468; 3469; 346T; 346J; 346Q; 346K; 347A; 3478; 3479; 347T; 347J; 347Q; 347K; 348A; 3489; 348T; 348J; 348Q; 348K; 349A; 349T; 349J; 349Q; 349K; 34TA; 34TJ; 34TQ; 34TK; 34JA; 34JQ; 34JK; 34QA; 34QK; 34KA; 356A; 3568; 3569; 356T; 356J; 356Q; 356K; 357A; 3578; 3579; 357T; 357J; 357Q; 357K; 358A; 3589; 358T; 358J; 358Q; 358K; 359A; 359T; 359J; 359Q; 359K; 35TA; 35TJ; 35TQ; 35TK; 35JA; 35JQ; 35JK; 35QA; 35QK; 35KA; 367A; 3678; 3679; 367T; 367J; 367Q; 367K; 368A; 3689; 368T; 368J; 368Q; 368K; 369A; 369T; 369J; 369Q; 369K; 36TA; 36TJ; 36TQ; 36TK; 36JA; 36JQ; 36JK; 36QA; 36QK; 36KA; 378A; 3789; 378T; 378J; 378Q; 378K; 379A; 379T; 379J; 379Q; 379K; 37TA; 37TJ; 37TQ; 37TK; 37JA; 37JQ; 37JK; 37QA; 37QK; 37KA; 389A; 389T; 389J; 389Q; 389K; 38TA; 38TJ; 38TQ; 38TK; 38JA; 38JQ; 38JK; 38QA; 38QK; 38KA; 39TA; 39TJ; 39TQ; 39TK; 39JA; 39JQ; 39JK; 39QA; 39QK; 39KA; 3TJA; 3TJK; 3TQA; 3TQK; 3TKA; 3JQA; 3JQK; 3JKA; 3QKA; 456A; 4569; 456T; 456J; 456Q; 456K; 457A; 4579; 457T; 457J; 457Q; 457K; 458A; 4589; 458T; 458J; 458Q; 458K; 459A; 459T; 459J; 459Q; 459K; 45TA; 45TJ; 45TQ; 45TK; 45JA; 45JQ; 45JK; 45QA; 45QK; 45KA; 467A; 4679; 467T; 467J; 467Q; 467K; 468A; 4689; 468T; 468J; 468Q; 468K; 469A; 469T; 469J; 469Q; 469K; 46TA; 46TJ; 46TQ; 46TK; 46JA; 46JQ; 46JK; 46QA; 46QK; 46KA; 478A; 4789; 478T; 478J; 478Q; 478K; 479A; 479T; 479J; 479Q; 479K; 47TA; 47TJ; 47TQ; 47TK; 47JA; 47JQ; 47JK; 47QA; 47QK; 47KA; 489A; 489T; 489J; 489Q; 489K; 48TA; 48TJ; 48TQ; 48TK; 48JA; 48JQ; 48JK; 48QA; 48QK; 48KA; 49TA; 49TJ; 49TQ; 49TK; 49JA; 49JQ; 49JK; 49QA; 49QK; 49KA; 4TJA; 4TJK; 4TQA; 4TQK; 4TKA; 4JQA; 4JQK; 4JKA; 4QKA; 567A; 567T; 567J; 567Q; 567K; 568A; 568T; 568J; 568Q; 568K; 569A; 569T; 569J; 569Q; 569K; 56TA; 56TJ; 56TQ; 56TK; 56JA; 56JQ; 56JK; 56QA; 56QK; 56KA; 578A; 578T; 578J; 578Q; 578K; 579A; 579T; 579J; 579Q; 579K; 57TA; 57TJ; 57TQ; 57TK; 57JA; 57JQ; 57JK; 57QA; 57QK; 57KA; 589A; 589T; 589J; 589Q; 589K; 58TA; 58TJ; 58TQ; 58TK; 58JA; 58JQ; 58JK; 58QA; 58QK; 58KA; 59TA; 59TJ; 59TQ; 59TK; 59JA; 59JQ; 59JK; 59QA; 59QK; 59KA; 5TJA; 5TJK; 5TQA; 5TQK; 5TKA; 5JQA; 5JQK; 5JKA; 5QKA; 678A; 678J; 678Q; 678K; 679A; 679J; 679Q; 679K; 67TA; 67TJ; 67TQ; 67TK; 67JA; 67JQ; 67JK; 67QA; 67QK; 67KA; 689A; 689J; 689Q; 689K; 68TA; 68TJ; 68TQ; 68TK; 68JA; 68JQ; 68JK; 68QA; 68QK; 68KA; 69TA; 69TJ; 69TQ; 69TK; 69JA; 69JQ; 69JK; 69QA; 69QK; 69KA; 6TJA; 6TJK; 6TQA; 6TQK; 6TKA; 6JQA; 6JQK; 6JKA; 6QKA; 789A; 789Q; 789K; 78TA; 78TQ; 78TK; 78JA; 78JQ; 78JK; 78QA; 78QK; 78KA; 79TA; 79TQ; 79TK; 79JA; 79JQ; 79JK; 79QA; 79QK; 79KA; 7TJA; 7TJK; 7TQA; 7TQK; 7TKA; 7JQA; 7JQK; 7JKA; 7QKA; 89TA; 89TK; 89JA; 89JK; 89QA; 89QK; 89KA; 8TJA; 8TJK; 8TQA; 8TQK; 8TKA; 8JQA; 8JQK; 8JKA; 8QKA; 9TJA; 9TQA; 9TKA; 9JQA; 9JKA; 9QKA
3 to a Royal Flush	TJA; TJK; TQA; TQK; TKA; JQA; JQK; JKA; QKA
One Pair	JJ; QQ; KK; AA
3 to a Straight Flush	A23; A24; A25; 236; 345; 456; 567; 678; 789; 89T; 89J; 8TJ; 8JQ; 9TJ; 9TQ; 9JQ; 9JK; 9QK
Two Pair	3344; 3355; 4455; 4466; 5566; 5577; 6677; 6688; 7788; 7799; 8899; 88TT; 99TT
3 to a Straight Flush	A34; A35; A45; 234; 235; 245; 246; 256; 346; 347; 356; 357; 367; 457; 458; 467; 468; 478; 568; 569; 578; 579; 679; 67T; 689; 78T; 78J; 79T; 89Q; 9TK
4 to a Straight	2345; 3456; 4567; 89TJ; 9TJQ; TJQK
3 to a Straight Flush	589; 68T; 69T; 79J; 7TJ; 8TQ
4 to a Straight	5678; 6789; 789T
One Pair	22; 33; 44; 55; 66; 77; 88; 99; TT
3 to a Flush	2JA; 2JQ; 2JK; 2QA; 2QK; 2KA; 3JA; 3JQ; 3JK; 3QA; 3QK; 3KA; 4JA; 4JQ; 4JK; 4QA; 4QK; 4KA; 5JA; 5JQ; 5JK; 5QA; 5QK; 5KA; 6JA; 6JQ; 6JK; 6QA; 6QK; 6KA; 7JA; 7JQ; 7JK; 7QA; 7QK; 7KA; 8JA; 8JK; 8QA; 8QK; 8KA; 9JA; 9QA; 9KA
2 to a Royal Flush	JQ; JK; QK
4 to a Straight	JQKA
2 to a Royal Flush	JA; QA; KA
3 to a Flush	23J; 23Q; 23K; 24J; 24Q; 24K; 25J; 25Q; 25K; 26J; 26Q; 26K; 27A; 27J; 27Q; 27K; 28A; 28J; 28Q; 28K; 29A; 29J; 29Q; 29K; 2TA; 2TJ; 2TQ; 2TK; 34J; 34Q; 34K; 35J; 35Q; 35K; 36J; 36Q; 36K; 37A; 37J; 37Q; 37K; 38A; 38J; 38Q; 38K; 39A; 39J; 39Q; 39K; 3TA; 3TJ; 3TQ; 3TK; 45J; 45Q; 45K; 46J; 46Q; 46K; 47A; 47J; 47Q; 47K; 48A; 48J; 48Q; 48K; 49A; 49J; 49Q; 49K; 4TA; 4TJ; 4TQ; 4TK; 56J; 56Q; 56K; 57A; 57J; 57Q; 57K; 58A; 58J; 58Q; 58K; 59A; 59J; 59Q; 59K; 5TA; 5TJ; 5TQ; 5TK; 67A; 67J; 67Q; 67K; 68A; 68J; 68Q; 68K; 69A; 69J; 69Q; 69K; 6TA; 6TJ; 6TQ; 6TK; 78A; 78Q; 78K; 79A; 79Q; 79K; 7TA; 7TQ; 7TK; 89A; 89K; 8TA; 8TK; 9TA
4 to a Straight	9JQK; TJQA; TJKA; TQKA
2 to a Royal Flush	TJ
3 to a Flush	26A; 36A; 46A; 56A
3 to a Straight	JQK
2 to a Royal Flush	TQ; TK
4 to a Straight	89JQ; 8TJQ; 9TJK; 9TQK
2 to a Straight	JQ; QK
2 to a Straight Flush	9J
2 to a Royal Flush	TA
2 to a Straight	JK; QA
2 to a Straight	JA; KA
2 to a Straight Flush	9Q
Single Card	a Jack; a Queen; a King; an Ace
3 to a Flush	237; 238; 239; 23T; 247; 248; 249; 24T; 257; 258; 259; 25T; 267; 268; 269; 26T; 278; 279; 27T; 289; 28T; 29T; 348; 349; 34T; 358; 359; 35T; 368; 369; 36T; 378; 379; 37T; 389; 38T; 39T; 459; 45T; 469; 46T; 479; 47T; 489; 48T; 49T; 56T; 57T; 58T; 59T
4 to a Straight	2346; 2356; 2456; 3457; 3467; 3567; 4568; 4578; 4678; 5679; 5689; 5789; 678T; 679T; 689T
2 to a Straight Flush	78; 9T
2 to a Straight Flush	45; 56; 67; 89
Junk	Discard everything

And here is a summary of all of the exceptions, although it doesn't indicate the circumstances in which to apply them:

a Jack by itself	sometimes beats	Unsuited JA
a Queen by itself	sometimes beats	Suited 9Q
Suited 34, 35, 46, 57, 68, 79, or 8T	sometimes beats	Discarding Everything
Suited 45	sometimes beats	Suited 89 and Suited 9T
Suited JQ	sometimes beats	a pair of 2's thru 7's
Suited JQK	sometimes beats	4 to a Flush
Unsuited JK	sometimes beats	Suited 9J

If you ignore the exceptions and use only the basic strategy, the game returns 99.0236% (therefore the exceptions are worth 0.0028%).

Quote: JB

Quote: DJTeddyBear

I accept that the two pair doesn't pay more than jacks, but shouldn't two small pairs pay anyway? After all, it qualifies for the "or better" part.

I would disagree, as apparently would the game manufacturer. Though I can understand the argument.

In that case...

Quote: DJTeddyBear

I wonder if the machine really says "One pair, Jacks or Better" or if the machine says "One pair, Jacks thru Aces".

I hope it's the latter, if for no reason other than to avoid arguments.

Quote: JB

Quote: DJTeddyBear

On a side note, the four pay tables shown, have slightly different combination totals for the various hand ranks. Why is that?

Because a different paytable alters the strategy; a different strategy alters the final outcomes.

That makes sense.

Quote: JB

If you ignore the exceptions and use only the basic strategy, the game returns 99.0236% (therefore the exceptions are worth 0.0028%).

WOW. That was a lot of work you did for such a small additional value!

Quote: DJTeddyBear

WOW. That was a lot of work you did for such a small additional value!

Well, not really. It would be a lot of work to describe the situations in which to apply the exceptions, which I didn't.