Jacks or Better hold priority

When dealt 5 cards, you must decide which to hold and which to discard. The right answer isn't obvious — there are 32 possible hold combinations and most of them are wrong. The trick is a priority list. Start at the top; if your hand matches, hold those cards. If not, move down. 1. Royal flush → hold all 5 (congratulations) 2. Straight flush / 4-of-a-kind → hold all 3. 4 to a royal flush → break straights and flushes for this 4. Three of a kind / straight / flush / full house → hold 5. 4 to a straight flush 6. Two pair → hold both 7. High pair (JJ+) → hold the pair 8. 3 to a royal flush 9. 4 to a flush 10. Low pair → hold the pair 11. 4 to an outside straight 12. 2 suited high cards 13. 3 unsuited high cards (K Q J) 14. Suited 10 + high card 15. One high card 16. Nothing → discard all The two rules that save the most money: - Always break a flush for 4 to a royal. The jackpot is 800×. - Never break a low pair for 3 to a royal. Pairs are too good to give up.