Just holding an unsuited 10 in video poker

[Alan Mendelson]

Our fellow forum member slingshot mused about the rare hand when you are dealt nothing but an unsuited 10 and holding it:

the occasional why-didn't-I think-of-that play- such as holding an unsuited 10 on a razgu hand and hitting a royal.

Such a hand might be something like this:

2c 5s 10d 8h 6s

Several times over the years I have heard about players who held a TEN in a dealt hand such as the one above and did in fact hit a royal. Their reasoning: there was nothing worth holding but only the 10 is part of a royal. My sister-in-law held an unsuited 10 with four other low cards playing Double Double Bonus and drew a royal. It also happened to my ex-wife.

I don't know of any strategy guide which suggests this play. Have you ever heard of this as an actual strategy in any game? (Of course in deuces wild you would hold the 2 in the above hand and discard the 10.) Would you hold the 10 if you were playing any other game?

I know that if I were playing Aces and Faces I definitely would NOT hold the 10.

[RS__]

On a high progressive, you might. Although it'd have to be pretty damn high.

You'd do it on games where it's "9's or 10's or better" instead of jacks or better. But that should be obvious.


I don't know of any "normal" games where you'd properly hold a T only.

[jbjb]

Based on 9/6 DDB, it's only a 4¢ mistake. No big deal if only done once in a blue moon. I'm sure that 4¢ can be found elsewhere if you look for it.

[Alan Mendelson]

Based on 9/6 DDB, it's only a 4¢ mistake. No big deal if only done once in a blue moon. I'm sure that 4¢ can be found elsewhere if you look for it.

Gosh some of Rob's special plays have a similar cost.

[Bill Yung]

Similar to trips in 5-card draw, only slightly better final hands after a 2-card draw; best to draw one card to allow for also the appearance of either a straight or flush -draw. Protect or guard against how weak the trips.

[jbjb]

Gosh some of Rob's special plays have a similar cost.

Sure, and I've seen way worse plays (holding a three to a flush with no high cards in 6/5 BP). My only issue with his strategy is chasing losses by betting bigger. If he did those plays every single time, like Lucky always dumping flush draws for low pairs, then it's a huge difference. Maybe that's why he doesn't tip. To save that money for those pennies he's tossing.

[slingshot]

Our fellow forum member slingshot mused about the rare hand when you are dealt nothing but an unsuited 10 and holding it:



Such a hand might be something like this:

2c 5s 10d 8h 6s

Several times over the years I have heard about players who held a TEN in a dealt hand such as the one above and did in fact hit a royal. Their reasoning: there was nothing worth holding but only the 10 is part of a royal. My sister-in-law held an unsuited 10 with four other low cards playing Double Double Bonus and drew a royal. It also happened to my ex-wife.

I don't know of any strategy guide which suggests this play. Have you ever heard of this as an actual strategy in any game? (Of course in deuces wild you would hold the 2 in the above hand and discard the 10.) Would you hold the 10 if you were playing any other game?

I know that if I were playing Aces and Faces I definitely would NOT hold the 10.

The way I look at it, you certainly don't have a hand, and you can STILL hit quads- and I did holding it- only it was 4 J's! The point is, it helped me realize how little I was paying attention to each hand- playing too fast. I really don't think I'll hit a royal this way-but I will sure give it a chance.

[Alan Mendelson]

Sling if you drew JJJJ after holding a single T then the strategy to hold a single T is moot. In most games you would hold a single high card such as a J. In deuces wild you would not.

[arcimede$]

In One-eyed Jack Wild the correct strategy is to hold a single 10 in clubs or diamonds if you have nothing else. I have hit two royals holding just the 10 of diamonds.

[seemoreroyals]

Just a month or so ago friend of mine held one 3 playing TDB and pulled the other 3 three's and a kicker. Not quite the same but similar. Happened to be coming back by while he was getting his handpay. Wish I had taken a picture. May never see it again.

[jbjb]

Just a month or so ago friend of mine held one 3 playing TDB and pulled the other 3 three's and a kicker. Not quite the same but similar. Happened to be coming back by while he was getting his handpay. Wish I had taken a picture. May never see it again.

Assuming no kickers were tossed, it's 1 in 14863.75. Nice when it's AWAK!

[seemoreroyals]

Assuming no kickers were tossed, it's 1 in 14863.75. Nice when it's AWAK!

The only low card was the 3. The other 4 were other mismatched garbage.

[slingshot]

Just a month or so ago friend of mine held one 3 playing TDB and pulled the other 3 three's and a kicker. Not quite the same but similar. Happened to be coming back by while he was getting his handpay. Wish I had taken a picture. May never see it again.

That's the kinda stuff I mean. Why not hold a kicker if the rest is trash?

[Alan Mendelson]

Why not hold a kicker if the rest is trash?

A good question for Rob Singer, because one of his special plays in TDB is to drop the kicker when dealt AAA to increase your chance at quad aces.

[slingshot]

A good question for Rob Singer, because one of his special plays in TDB is to drop the kicker when dealt AAA to increase your chance at quad aces.

That is not trash.

[seemoreroyals]

That's the kinda stuff I mean. Why not hold a kicker if the rest is trash?

I can see why he would take a shot on TDB. Don't think many would try it on a less volatile game such as DDB.

[slingshot]

Sling if you drew JJJJ after holding a single T then the strategy to hold a single T is moot. In most games you would hold a single high card such as a J. In deuces wild you would not.

Moot? I had a razgu hand! The ten was unsuited. I still hit quads. I wasn't even expecting a push.

[Alan Mendelson]

Moot? I had a razgu hand! The ten was unsuited. I still hit quads. I wasn't even expecting a push.

Holding a Ten had no impact on you drawing quad jacks. If anything, it diminished your chances of drawing quad jacks.

[slingshot]

Holding a Ten had no impact on you drawing quad jacks. If anything, it diminished your chances of drawing quad jacks.

And I normally would have swept the hand - but as I say, if there's an opportunity, I'm taking it.

[seemoreroyals]

What about this hand: 22255 ? I would keep the full house even if I was playing TDB. May be tempted to take a shot at premium quad on TDB if full house only paid 8 to 1. What about others?