Last updated: April 2026
Use this page before a session or whenever you need to refresh the decision hierarchy. Scan from Priority 1 downward. The first tier that applies to either option in front of you is the correct pick.
The Pickem Poker priority chart
| Priority | Structure to choose | Typical payout if completed | Approx. completion odds | Why it ranks here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Four-card Royal Flush draw | 800-for-1 (Royal) + SF / flush / straight fallback | ~2% Royal; fallback outs extend EV significantly | The 800-for-1 Royal payout dominates EV math. Nothing in the game outranks this. |
| 2 | Four-card Straight Flush draw | 50-for-1 (SF) + flush / straight fallback | ~4–9% SF completion; fallback outs add value | 50-for-1 with backup outs beats three of a kind at full-pay paytables. Paytable-sensitive at reduced SF payouts. |
| 3 | High Pair (Jacks or better) | 1-for-1 base; 3-for-1 trips; 8-for-1 FH; 25-for-1 quads | Already paying; improves ~29% of the time | Guaranteed immediate return plus strong improvement path. Beats all draws below Priority 2. |
| 4 | Three of a Kind | 3-for-1 base; 8-for-1 FH; 25-for-1 quads | Already paying; improves ~13.8% (FH + quads) | Strong made hand with meaningful upside. Beats flush draws, straights, and low pairs. |
| 5 | Four-card Flush draw | 4-for-1 | ~20.5% (9 outs of 44) | Better EV than open straight in standard paytables due to combination of outs and secondary card value. |
| 6 | Open-ended Straight draw | 6-for-1 | ~18.2% (8 outs of 44) | Higher payout than flush, but slightly fewer outs. Beats low pair and gutshot. |
| 7 | Low Pair (Tens or lower) | 2-for-1 two pair; 3-for-1 trips; 8-for-1 FH | Pays nothing immediately; improves ~29% | Improvement potential beats gutshot EV. No immediate payout — it's a draw, not a made hand. |
| 8 | Inside Straight draw (gutshot) | 6-for-1 | ~9.1% (4 outs of 44) | Weakest common structure. Only chosen when both options have zero other structure. |
FH = Full House. All payout figures assume standard full-pay Pickem Poker paytable. Completion odds use 44 unseen cards (52 − 8 known cards in a standard single-deck deal).
Quick memory line
Royal draw → SF draw → High Pair → Trips → Flush draw → Open Straight → Low Pair → Gutshot
That's the whole game. If you can recite that line and recognize which tier each option belongs to, you're playing near-optimal strategy for most hands.
How to use this chart in real time
Start at Priority 1 and work down. For each option offered by the machine, ask: does this option create a four-card Royal draw? If yes — take it, stop checking. If neither option does, ask: does either create a four-card Straight Flush draw? Continue down the list until one option clearly outranks the other.
Most hands are resolved at Priority 1-4. Premium draws appear often enough that players who have those four tiers automatic handle the vast majority of decisions correctly. Priorities 5-8 require more careful comparison — especially the flush vs. straight call.
The most common decision spots at a glance
| You're comparing | Correct pick | Why | Sensitivity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal draw vs. High Pair | Royal draw | 800-for-1 EV gap is enormous | Never changes at standard pay |
| Royal draw vs. Three of a Kind | Royal draw | Same reason — EV gap is wide | Never changes at standard pay |
| SF draw vs. Three of a Kind | SF draw (usually) | 50-for-1 + fallback outs edge out 3-for-1 base | Paytable sensitive — trips can win if SF pays ≤40-for-1 |
| High Pair vs. Flush draw | High Pair | Priority 3 vs Priority 5 — not close | Does not change at standard pay |
| High Pair vs. Open Straight | High Pair | Priority 3 vs Priority 6 | Does not change at standard pay |
| Flush draw vs. Open Straight | Flush draw | Priority 5 vs Priority 6 | Can flip if flush pays ≤3-for-1 |
| Open Straight vs. Low Pair | Open Straight | Priority 6 vs Priority 7 — 8 outs beats improvement odds | Close but stable at 6-for-1 straight pay |
| Low Pair vs. Gutshot | Low Pair | Priority 7 vs Priority 8 — 4 outs is too thin | Does not change at standard pay |
Tie-breakers within the same tier
When both options land in the same priority tier, use these:
| Situation | Tie-breaker rule |
|---|---|
| Two flush draws, same tier | Take the one with higher cards — more premium draw potential |
| Two high pairs | Take the higher pair — same improvement frequency, higher kicker value |
| Two low pairs | Take the higher pair for the same reason |
| Two open straights | Take the one that includes higher cards or creates partial premium draw potential |
| Three-card SF draw vs. four-card flush | Four-card flush wins — more outs and direct Priority 5 position |
Paytable check before you play
The chart above is calibrated for full-pay Pickem Poker. Before you sit down, verify these three numbers on the machine's paytable:
| Hand | Full-pay amount | Impact if reduced |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush (max coins) | 800-for-1 | Reduces Priority 1 EV significantly; game becomes much weaker |
| Straight Flush | 50-for-1 | At ≤40-for-1: Priority 2 vs Priority 4 call can flip to trips |
| Flush | 4-for-1 | At 3-for-1: Priority 5 vs Priority 6 call may flip to open straight |
If any of those three are below the full-pay values, adjust the relevant Priority 2 and Priority 5 decisions accordingly, and treat the machine as a lower-value option overall. The paytable guide covers how to evaluate the full pay structure.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use this chart during real-money play?
Yes. There's no rule against consulting strategy references while playing online. Bookmark this page on your phone and check it before each session until the top four priorities are automatic.
What if neither option fits any tier in the chart?
That almost never happens in practice. If both options are genuinely unstructured — no pair, no draw, no connected cards — you're in a rare spot where you default to the option with higher individual card values, which creates more improvement potential from the final card.
Does the chart change for multi-hand Pickem Poker?
No. Each hand is evaluated independently. Play more hands simultaneously if you want to increase variance, but the per-hand decision logic is identical.
How long does it take to memorize the chart?
Most players have Priorities 1-4 automatic after 2-3 sessions of deliberately checking the hierarchy in real time. Priorities 5-8 take a bit longer because those calls are closer and require more attention to detail. The full chart is typically internalized after 5-10 focused practice sessions.