Video Poker Decision

A low pair or a four-card straight?

Dealt 6♠ 6♥ 7♦ 8♣ 9♠ in 9/6 Jacks or Better. Here is the correct play and exactly what the alternative costs.

Hold the low pair
the low pair 0.82  vs  the open-ended straight 0.68
The other play costs 0.14 credits per coin in expected value. Small per hand, real over thousands of hands.
A low pair outranks a four-card straight, even open-ended. Keep the pair.
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Common questions

A low pair or a four-card straight?
Hold the low pair, worth 0.82 per coin versus 0.68 for the alternative. A low pair outranks a four-card straight, even open-ended. Keep the pair.
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.