Video Poker Decision

Do you hold a four-card inside straight?

Dealt 5♠ 6♥ 8♦ 9♣ 2♠ in 9/6 Jacks or Better. Here is the correct play and exactly what the alternative costs.

Redraw — don’t hold it
redraw 0.36  vs  the inside straight 0.34
The other play costs 0.02 credits per coin in expected value. Small per hand, real over thousands of hands.
A four-card inside straight with no high cards is not worth holding. Only keep inside straights with three or more high cards.
Practice hands like this →

Related decisions

Break a made straight to draw to a royal?Four to a flush or a low pair?JT suited or a single ace?

Common questions

Do you hold a four-card inside straight?
Redraw — don’t hold it, worth 0.36 per coin versus 0.34 for the alternative. A four-card inside straight with no high cards is not worth holding. Only keep inside straights with three or more high cards.
Is this the same on every machine?
These figures are 9/6 Jacks or Better. The order holds across most Jacks or Better tables; bonus and Deuces Wild games can change close calls. Match your machine on the strategy pages.