An open-ended four-card sequence has potential completion ranks at both ends. This archive lesson uses that structure as its starting point, while leaving room for the other cards and the payout schedule to influence which hold is preferable.
The wider question
A useful hand comparison starts with the exact variant and its complete payout schedule. A familiar game name is not enough to identify every rule. When reading a historical strategy discussion, keep its assumptions attached to the example; a different schedule or extra feature may call for a different comparison.
This is an original editorial reading note on the topic of a Jerry Stickman column, not a reproduction of the full article. The date above belongs to the original publication. Read the linked column for the author’s complete account and conclusions.
Open straights in video poker
Jerry Stickman · Oct 04, 2025
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