Strategy
How many cards are missing from the royal?
The chance of completing a royal depends on what is already held and what has been discarded.
THE DRAW JOURNAL
85 STORIESStrategy.
Pay tables, close holds and the mathematics behind the draw.
Strategy
The holds that do not look intuitive
Some of the most useful strategy lessons are the exceptions to an easy visual rule.
Strategy
Another hand, another strategy puzzle
A fresh quiz gives readers a chance to separate a strong-looking hold from a strong expected result.
Strategy
One hand can mean different things in different games
The same five cards can call for different decisions when the awards change.
Strategy
A suggestion for the video poker experience
Changes to a video poker game can affect much more than its visual presentation.
Strategy
When the jackpot becomes the whole objective
A large top award can dominate attention even though many smaller outcomes make up a game's return.
Strategy
Why tournament decisions can differ from ordinary play
A tournament rewards a position on a leaderboard rather than simply the expected return of one hand.
Strategy
The moving target of a progressive jackpot
A progressive meter changes the potential award attached to a qualifying hand.
Strategy
What belongs in a game recommendation?
A useful recommendation starts with the actual rules and the player's familiarity with them.
Strategy
Getting useful help from a strategy card
A strategy card works best when its assumptions match the game being played.
Strategy
A low pair faces a three-card straight flush
This archived quiz presents a choice between retaining an existing pair and pursuing a suited sequence.
Strategy
When a low pair has competition
A low pair is easy to spot, but another useful combination may be hidden in the same five cards.