Casinos must like Rob Singer. He is telling you to sacrifice EV to generally reduce variance, which is only okay if you're really concerned about swings, but if you are, you probably shouldn't be playing casino games to begin with.
In video poker, there often is only one decision per hand that is best for the player, all other decisions cost the player money in the long haul.
And these decisions also change by game!
Also with all these questions, a SF draw with 3 low cards and 2 gaps, like 3
4
7
for example, a single high card then becomes a better play.
Ex:
3 4 6 A T
How about vs. two unsuited high cards?
With one high card, always keep 3
4
6
On a quarter full-pay jacks or better machine ($1.25 per hand) you earn about 7.75 cents more on average by doing this than just holding the ace.
3
4
6
$0.6707
A
$0.5925
Ex:
3 4 6 J Q
How about vs. two suited broadways?
Keep 3
4
6
still
3
4
6
$0.6672
J
Q
$0.6373
J
$0.5925
Ex:
3 4 6 K Q
Now, because KQ is suited, we are better off with high card, straight, flush, and royal chances than 3 to a SF with one gap.
K
Q
$0.7579
3
4
6
$0.6672
Ex:
How about specifically a 234 SF draw vs. suited and unsuited broadways
2 3 4 with K Q or A K
Actually 2
3
4
is the same as 3
4
6
with 234 you can only make straights with A5 or 56, just as many as 346 (25 or 57)
Now if you had 3
4
5
then you should hold this vs KQ suited
3
4
5
$0.7875
K
Q
$0.7579
I got the numbers from using VP Genius, it's a great tool, and will create a strategy for tons of different games and paytables (and yes, strategies can change based on a paytable adjustment).
http://www.vpgenius.com/video-poker/...r-better.aspx#