Joker Poker 800/40/20/5/4 Strategy
Joker Poker 800/40/20/5/4 returns 95.46% with perfect play at low volatility. The pay table and numbers below are computed combinatorially, not estimated.
Pay table
| Hand | Pays (per coin) | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Royal Flush | 800 | 1.84% |
| Five Of A Kind | 200 | 1.87% |
| Wild Royal Flush | 100 | 1.04% |
| Straight Flush | 40 | 2.15% |
| Four Of A Kind | 20 | 17.21% |
| Full House | 5 | 7.88% |
| Flush | 4 | 5.78% |
| Straight | 3 | 5.12% |
| Three Of A Kind | 2 | 26.96% |
| Two Pair | 1 | 11.13% |
| Kings Or Better | 1 | 14.47% |
Royal-flush payouts above show the per-coin value at max bet — always bet five coins to earn the full royal jackpot.
Key numbers
- Return with perfect play: 95.46%
- Royal flush: about 1 in 43,499 hands
- Hit frequency (paying hand or better): 44.7%
- Volatility: Low
How strategy works
From the five cards you're dealt, the correct hold is the one with the highest expected value — the average coins it returns over the long run. The biggest payouts here are Natural Royal Flush (800), Five Of A Kind (200), Wild Royal Flush (100), which shape which draws are worth chasing. PerfectPLAY computes the optimal hold and its expected value for every possible hand, so you can learn the exact play rather than a rule of thumb.
You’re reading original analysis. Every hold and expected value here is calculated in-house by PerfectPLAY.vegas for this exact pay table — nothing aggregated, nothing taken from elsewhere. These are never generic charts copied from another site.
Hand-by-hand strategy
The optimal hold and its expected value for every key decision in Joker Poker 800/40/20/5/4, computed combinatorially by vpengine — not rules of thumb.
4 to a Royal Flush — over a made flush
Optimal hold: 4 to a Royal Flush — EV 97.91 coins. The optimal play discards a made flush (pays 20 coins).
4 to a Royal Flush — over a made straight
Optimal hold: 4 to a Royal Flush — EV 98.02 coins. The optimal play discards a made straight (pays 15 coins).
4 to a Royal Flush — vs Kings or Better
Optimal hold: 4 to a Royal Flush — EV 98.22 coins. Next best: holding Kings Or Better — EV 6.86 coins (margin 91.36 coins).
4 to a Royal Flush — vs Low Pair
Optimal hold: 4 to a Royal Flush — EV 98.33 coins. Next best: holding Low Pair — EV 3.52 coins (margin 94.81 coins).
4 to a Straight Flush: no gap — over a made flush
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight Flush — EV 24.68 coins. The optimal play discards a made flush (pays 20 coins).
4 to a Straight Flush — over a made straight
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight Flush — EV 15.72 coins. The optimal play discards a made straight (pays 15 coins).
4 to a Straight Flush — vs 1 high card: A or K
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight Flush — EV 12.60 coins. Next best: holding 1 High Card — EV 2.26 coins (margin 10.34 coins).
4 to a Straight Flush — vs 2 high cards
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight Flush — EV 12.91 coins. Next best: holding 2 High Cards — EV 2.25 coins (margin 10.66 coins).
4 to a Straight Flush — vs Hold the Joker with the A or K
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight Flush — EV 15.93 coins. Next best: holding the Joker with the A or K — EV 8.39 coins (margin 7.54 coins).
4 to a Straight Flush — vs Kings or Better
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight Flush — EV 12.81 coins. Next best: holding Kings Or Better — EV 6.86 coins (margin 5.95 coins).
4 to a Straight Flush — vs Low Pair
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight Flush — EV 12.60 coins. Next best: holding Low Pair — EV 3.52 coins (margin 9.08 coins).
4 to a Straight Flush — vs Three of a Kind
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight Flush — EV 20.20 coins. Next best: holding Three of a Kind — EV 19.09 coins (margin 1.11 coins).
4 to a Straight Flush: other — over a made flush
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight Flush — EV 20.31 coins. The optimal play discards a made flush (pays 20 coins).
Both holds have the same expected value, so either is a correct play.
3 to a Straight Flush — vs 1 high card: A or K
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 2.49 coins. Next best: holding 1 High Card — EV 2.25 coins (margin 0.24 coins).
3 to a Straight Flush — vs 2 high cards
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 2.54 coins. Next best: holding 2 High Cards — EV 2.25 coins (margin 0.29 coins).
3 to a Straight Flush — vs 2 to a Royal Flush
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 2.20 coins. Next best: holding 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 2.18 coins (margin 0.02 coins).
3 to a Straight Flush — vs 2 to a Royal Flush: A-K
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 3.09 coins. Next best: holding 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 2.80 coins (margin 0.29 coins).
3 to a Straight Flush — vs 4 to a Straight
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 7.35 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Straight — EV 7.29 coins (margin 0.06 coins).
3 to a Straight Flush — vs Hold the Joker only
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 7.18 coins. Next best: holding the Joker only — EV 7.05 coins (margin 0.13 coins).
3 to a Straight Flush — vs Hold the Joker with the A or K
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 8.38 coins. Next best: holding the Joker with the A or K — EV 8.36 coins (margin 0.02 coins).
3 to a Straight Flush — vs Nothing
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 2.02 coins. Next best: holding Nothing — EV 1.63 coins (margin 0.39 coins).
Hold the Joker with the A or K — vs 3 to a Straight Flush
Optimal hold: Hold the Joker with the A or K — EV 8.37 coins. Next best: holding 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 7.32 coins (margin 1.05 coins).
Hold the Joker with the A or K — vs 4 to a Straight
Optimal hold: Hold the Joker with the A or K — EV 8.34 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Straight — EV 7.60 coins (margin 0.74 coins).
3 to a Royal Flush — vs 1 high card: A or K
Optimal hold: 3 to a Royal Flush — EV 6.93 coins. Next best: holding 1 High Card — EV 2.25 coins (margin 4.68 coins).
3 to a Royal Flush — vs 2 high cards
Optimal hold: 3 to a Royal Flush — EV 6.46 coins. Next best: holding 2 High Cards — EV 2.22 coins (margin 4.24 coins).
3 to a Royal Flush — vs 4 to a Straight
Optimal hold: 3 to a Royal Flush — EV 6.48 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Straight — EV 2.81 coins (margin 3.67 coins).
3 to a Royal Flush — vs Kings or Better
Optimal hold: 3 to a Royal Flush — EV 6.87 coins. Next best: holding Kings Or Better — EV 6.86 coins (margin 0.01 coins).
3 to a Royal Flush — vs Low Pair
Optimal hold: 3 to a Royal Flush — EV 6.41 coins. Next best: holding Low Pair — EV 3.52 coins (margin 2.89 coins).
3 to a Royal Flush — vs Nothing
Optimal hold: 3 to a Royal Flush — EV 7.01 coins. Next best: holding Nothing — EV 1.63 coins (margin 5.38 coins).
4 to a Flush — vs 1 high card: A or K
Optimal hold: 4 to a Flush — EV 4.16 coins. Next best: holding 1 High Card — EV 2.26 coins (margin 1.90 coins).
4 to a Flush — vs 2 high cards
Optimal hold: 4 to a Flush — EV 4.47 coins. Next best: holding 2 High Cards — EV 2.25 coins (margin 2.22 coins).
4 to a Flush — vs 3 to a Straight Flush
Optimal hold: 4 to a Flush — EV 7.02 coins. Next best: holding 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 7.01 coins (margin 0.01 coins).
4 to a Flush — vs Low Pair
Optimal hold: 4 to a Flush — EV 4.16 coins. Next best: holding Low Pair — EV 3.52 coins (margin 0.64 coins).
4 to a Flush — vs Nothing
Optimal hold: 4 to a Flush — EV 4.16 coins. Next best: holding Nothing — EV 1.64 coins (margin 2.52 coins).
Low Pair — vs 2 to a Royal Flush: A-K
Optimal hold: Low Pair — EV 3.52 coins. Next best: holding 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 2.80 coins (margin 0.72 coins).
Low Pair — vs 3 to a Straight Flush
Optimal hold: Low Pair — EV 3.52 coins. Next best: holding 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 3.20 coins (margin 0.32 coins).
Low Pair — vs 4 to a Straight
Optimal hold: Low Pair — EV 3.52 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Straight — EV 3.12 coins (margin 0.40 coins).
4 to a Straight — vs 1 high card: A or K
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight — EV 2.81 coins. Next best: holding 1 High Card — EV 2.26 coins (margin 0.55 coins).
4 to a Straight — vs 2 to a Royal Flush
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight — EV 2.81 coins. Next best: holding 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 2.29 coins (margin 0.52 coins).
4 to a Straight — vs 3 to a Straight Flush
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight — EV 2.81 coins. Next best: holding 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 2.09 coins (margin 0.72 coins).
4 to a Straight — vs Nothing
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight — EV 2.81 coins. Next best: holding Nothing — EV 1.64 coins (margin 1.17 coins).
2 to a Royal Flush (J-T/J-Q/T-Q) — equal EV vs Nothing
Optimal hold: 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 1.63 coins. Next best: holding Nothing — EV 1.63 coins (margin 0.00 coins).
Both holds have the same expected value, so either is a correct play.
4 to a Wild Royal Flush — over a made flush
Optimal hold: 4 to a Wild Royal Flush — EV 30.00 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Straight Flush — EV 24.68 coins (margin 5.32 coins). The optimal play discards a made flush (pays 20 coins).
4 to a Wild Royal Flush — over a made straight
Optimal hold: 4 to a Wild Royal Flush — EV 30.10 coins. The optimal play discards a made straight (pays 15 coins).
1 high card: A or K — vs 2 to a Royal Flush
Optimal hold: 1 high card: A or K — EV 2.24 coins. Next best: holding 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 1.75 coins (margin 0.49 coins).
2 high cards — vs 2 to a Royal Flush
Optimal hold: 2 high cards — EV 2.23 coins. Next best: holding 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 2.15 coins (margin 0.08 coins).
2 to a Royal Flush (J-T/J-Q/T-Q) — vs Nothing
Optimal hold: 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 1.64 coins. Next best: holding Nothing — EV 1.63 coins (margin 0.01 coins).
2 to a Royal Flush (K-Q/K-J/K-T) — vs 2 high cards
Optimal hold: 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 2.24 coins. Next best: holding 2 High Cards — EV 2.23 coins (margin 0.01 coins).
4 to a Flush: with a high card — vs Hold the Joker with the A or K
Optimal hold: 4 to a Flush: with a high card — EV 9.06 coins. Next best: holding the Joker with the A or K — EV 8.39 coins (margin 0.67 coins).
4 to a Straight (TJQK) — vs 3 to a Straight Flush
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight — EV 3.12 coins. Next best: holding 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 2.56 coins (margin 0.56 coins).
4 to a Wild Royal Flush — vs Three of a Kind
Optimal hold: 4 to a Wild Royal Flush — EV 30.20 coins. Next best: holding Three of a Kind — EV 19.09 coins (margin 11.11 coins).
FAQ
- What's the most costly mistake to avoid in Joker Poker 800/40/20/5/4?
- Keeping a made straight. When you hold 4 to a Royal Flush, the correct play is to break the straight and draw — that hold is worth 98.02 coins versus just 15 for the straight.
- What's the closest decision in Joker Poker 800/40/20/5/4?
- 2 to a Royal Flush versus Nothing — they tie exactly at 1.63 coins, so either is a correct play.
- Can I practice Joker Poker 800/40/20/5/4 at PerfectPLAY.vegas?
- Joker Poker 800/40/20/5/4 training is a PerfectPLAY.vegas membership feature. Bonus Poker 6/5 is free to try; join PerfectPLAY to practice Joker Poker 800/40/20/5/4 with real-time, hand-by-hand feedback and the exact expected value of every hold.