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Bob Dancer writes a video poker column for beginners to experts. He also writes a column with Jeffrey Compton, "Player's Edge", featuring information on promotions at various Las Vegas casinos. Player's Edge is published each Friday in the Neon section of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Click here to send Bob Dancer an e-mail.

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Dec. 04, 2007

Playing Better 10/7 Double Bonus Poker --- Part II of II

Last week we looked at the basic 10/7 Double Bonus hands that should be part of every competent player's repertoire. This week we'll look at some more difficult hands. According to "Video Poker for Winners," playing at the level we tested last week is worth 100.16736%. Playing the hands we give today correctly is worth 100.17252%. For the 800-hands-per-hour $1 player, this is worth 21¢ an hour. Is this sufficient reward to justify the extra study necessary to play at this level? For me the answer was a clear 'yes', although I acknowledge that mine is a minority opinion. There are those who claim that they can play faster at the lower level and that more than makes up for the 21¢ an hour. Perhaps so, for them. Not for me.

Q1: When are 'KQ' and 'KJ' preferred to 3-card flushes with two high cards in the same hand?

Q2: List one hand not involving a pair where you would play 'KQ' differently than you would play 'KJ'.

Q3: List all 3-card straight flushes with 0 high cards and 1 inside that are inferior to 'AJ' in the same hand.

Q4: List at least one hand including a 4-card inside straight with two high cards and a 3-card straight flush with 1 high card and two insides in the same hand where the inside straight is the preferred play. List another hand including the same two types of combinations where the correct play is NOT the inside straight.

Q5: When do you hold 'JTx', where the 'x' refers to a card suited with the other cards and too low to be part of the same straight flush?

Q6: What 3-card straight flushes with two insides are superior to 'QT'?

Q7: When do you hold a 3-card flush with one high card that appears in the same hand as 'QT'?

Q8: In a hand that contains both an ace and a 3-card straight flush with 0 high cards and 2 insides, when do you hold the A by itself? Make sure you list all exceptions.

Q9: In a hand that contains both an jack and a 3-card straight flush with 0 high cards and 2 insides, when do you hold the J by itself? Make sure you list all exceptions.

Q10: Under what conditions do you hold a completely unsuited AKQ?

Q11: When do you hold an unsuited AJ?

A1: You hold the 'KQ' or 'KJ' when there is no straight penalty. That is, from 'KQ7' 52, you hold 'KQ', but from 'KQ7' 92, you hold 'KQ7'.

A2: When the other three cards are 'T97' or 'T87', you'd hold 'KJ' but not 'KQ'.

A3: The only 3-card straight flushes with no high cards and one inside that are inferior to 'AJ' are those with a straight penalty. Specifically that means '234', '235', '245', 'T97', and 'T87'.

A4: From 'QT8' 9K, you hold QT9K. From 'AJ' "Q98", hold 'AJ'. Other answers are possible.

A5: Hold 'JTx' when the other two cards in the hand are A9, A8, K8, or K7.

A6. 'QT8', '975', and '965'.

A7: You always prefer 'QTx' over 'QT'. In addition, you prefer 'A9x' and 'K8x' over "QT". Although 'K9x' is also preferred over 'QT' in the same hand, holding KQT9 is preferred.

A8: You hold the ace when there is straight interference to the straight flush, suited or not with the ace, provided there is not also an A-low 4-card inside straight in the hand. That is, from '468' "A7" you hold the A, but from '246' A5, you hold 24A5.

A9: In general, when you have straight inference to the straight flush that is unsuited with the jack, you hold the jack. When there is an 8 and a 9 in the hand (and no 7), you hold '589' or '569' even with straight interference. When the 3-card straight flush is 6-high, you hold the J even with suited straight inference.

A10: You hold AKQ or AKJ when there is a 9 penalty in the hand and no 3-card flush.

A11: You hold an unsuited AJ (or AK or AQ) when there is at least one card in the 2-5 range, exactly one other card in the hand suited with the ace, and no ten in the hand unsuited with the ace. (There can be 4-card inside straights and 3-card flushes that are also more valuable than either AJ or A.)

How'd you do? While not simple, Double Bonus is a game that can be mastered. I know several strong players who can ace this test. If you're going to compete with them, perhaps you need to play that well too.