Jacks or Better strategy chart for beginners, explained

A strategy chart is a ranked list of holds. You look at your five cards, find the highest line on the chart that your hand matches, and hold those cards. That is the whole method.

The chart below is for 9/6 Jacks or Better at five coins. We did not copy it from anywhere: the Perfect Hold engine works out the best hold for all 2,598,960 possible deals, over every possible draw, and the chart is the order those best holds fall into. It matches the published 9/6 optimal strategy from Wizard of Odds line for line. Like any chart, it has a few rare exceptions, where a specific hand breaks the line order (Wizard of Odds lists six for 9/6). The strategy calculator solves every hand exactly, exceptions included.

The 9/6 Jacks or Better strategy chart

"Per 1,000 deals" is how often that line is the best hold for the hand you are dealt.

High cards are J, Q, K and A. Suited means the same suit. The three kinds of three-card straight flush:

• Type 1: at least as many high cards as gaps, for example 8♥ 10♥ J♥ (one gap, one high card). Ace-low and 2-3-4 are not type 1.
• Type 2: one gap and no high cards, two gaps and one high card, any ace-low draw, or 2-3-4.
• Type 3: two gaps and no high cards, for example 5♥ 7♥ 9♥.

How to read it, with three examples

• K♥ K♠ 8♥ 4♥ 2♥. You have a high pair (line 11) and four to a flush (line 13). Line 11 is higher: hold the kings.
• 5♥ 5♣ 9♥ K♥ 2♥. Four to a flush (line 13) beats a low pair (line 15): hold the four hearts.
• A♣ K♦ Q♥ 7♠ 2♣. No pair, no draw. Unsuited K-Q (line 27) is higher than unsuited A-K or A-Q (line 29) and the ace alone (line 34): hold K-Q and throw away the ace.

You can check any hand in the strategy calculator.

The ideas behind the order

You do not have to memorise 36 lines on day one. Most of the chart follows a few ideas:

1. Made hands first. Two pair or better is kept, except when four of its cards make a royal draw (line 4 beats a flush or straight). A high pair is kept too, unless four of your cards make a royal or straight flush draw.
2. A high pair beats every draw except the big ones. Only four to a royal, four to a straight flush and made hands rank above it.
3. Royal draws are special at five coins. The 800-per-coin royal pushes three to a royal (line 12) above four to a flush (line 13).
4. Low pairs are worth more than they look. A pair of 2s through 10s beats every draw below line 14.
5. Fewer high cards can be better. With three unsuited high cards that include an ace, drop the ace (K-Q beats A-K-Q), unless the ace is part of a draw higher on the chart, such as an inside straight or a straight flush draw.
6. Inside straights with no high cards are never held. They are not on the chart at all.

Lines 15 (low pair), 11 (high pair) and 29 to 34 (unsuited A-K, A-Q or A-J, and the single high cards) cover more than half of all deals. Learn those well before worrying about type 2 and type 3 straight flush draws.

At one to four coins, the chart changes

With fewer than five coins, the royal pays 250 per coin instead of 800, so royal draws are worth less. Four to a flush moves above three to a royal, suited 10-Q and 10-K drop off the chart, and three to a flush with two high cards becomes a hold. The short-bet game also returns less: 98.37% instead of 99.54%. If you play, play five coins.

Other pay tables

This chart is exact for 9/6. On 8/5 or 6/5, most lines stay where they are, but some close ones move because the full house and flush pay less. See 9/6 vs 6/5, and use the calculator to check a hand on your table.

From chart to habit

A chart only helps if you use it at the machine without stopping to look. Perfect Hold has the exact chart for all six Jacks or Better tables, at both bets, and a tutor that shows which line you missed on every hand. Play credits only: a good way to practise before or instead of playing for money.