All American Poker Calculator: Balanced Payout Strategy (2026)
All American Poker Calculator: Enhanced Flushes and Straights
All American Poker boosts straight and flush payouts to 8:1 each while reducing full house and two pair. This shifts value toward drawing hands—making flush and straight draws more valuable than in standard games. Our calculator shows optimal strategy for this balanced variant.
What Is All American Poker?
All American Poker is a video poker variant that enhances flush and straight payouts (both 8:1) while reducing full house (8:1) and two pair (1:1). This creates a more balanced pay structure where drawing hands compete with made pairs.
Quick Answer: All American = enhanced straights and flushes. Straight: 8:1 (vs 4:1 in JoB). Flush: 8:1 (vs 6:1). Full house: 8:1 (vs 9:1). Two pair: 1:1 (vs 2:1). Full pay: 99.60% return. Chase flush/straight draws more aggressively. Drawing hands gain value. Slightly more variance.
How to Use Our Calculator
Use the All American Calculator →
Calculate optimal holds with enhanced draw payouts.
Step-by-Step Instructions
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Enter Your Hand: Five cards dealt
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Identify Draws: Flush and straight potential
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View Optimal Hold: Best cards to keep
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Compare Draw Values: Enhanced payouts
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Calculate EV: Expected return
Input Fields Explained
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Your Hand | Five cards | A♠ K♠ Q♣ 7♥ 3♠ |
| Flush Draw | 4-card flush | 3 spades |
| Straight Draw | 4-card straight | A-K-Q |
| Enhanced Value | Draw bonus | +0.08 |
| Optimal Hold | Best keep | A♠ K♠ Q♣ |
| Return Rate | Machine RTP | 99.60% |
Pay Table Structure
Full Pay All American
Hand | Coins (5-coin max)
------------------|-------------------
Royal Flush | 4000 (800:1)
Straight Flush | 200 (40:1)
Four of a Kind | 40 (8:1)
Full House | 40 (8:1)
Flush | 40 (8:1)
Straight | 40 (8:1)
Three of a Kind | 15 (3:1)
Two Pair | 5 (1:1)
Jacks or Better | 5 (1:1)
Return: 99.60%
vs Jacks or Better (9/6)
Hand | AA | JoB
------------------|------|------
Straight Flush | 200 | 250
Four of a Kind | 40 | 125
Full House | 40 | 45
Flush | 40 | 30
Straight | 40 | 20
Three of a Kind | 15 | 15
Two Pair | 5 | 10
Jacks or Better | 5 | 5
Key shifts:
+ Flush: 8:1 vs 6:1
+ Straight: 8:1 vs 4:1
- Full house: 8:1 vs 9:1
- Two pair: 1:1 vs 2:1
The Balance
What's gained vs lost:
Gains:
Flush +33% value
Straight +100% value
Losses:
Full house -11% value
Two pair -50% value
Four of a kind varies
Net: ~99.60% return
Slightly better than many JoB
Strategy Shifts
Flush Draw Priority
Flush draws more valuable:
JoB (6:1 flush):
4-flush draw EV: ~1.22
All American (8:1 flush):
4-flush draw EV: ~1.62
Difference: +33%
Chase flushes more often
Straight Draw Priority
Straight draws MUCH better:
JoB (4:1 straight):
Open straight EV: ~0.85
All American (8:1 straight):
Open straight EV: ~1.70
Difference: +100%!
Straights are aggressive plays
Two Pair Devaluation
Two pair worth less:
JoB: Two pair = 2:1
AA: Two pair = 1:1
Half the value!
This affects strategy:
May chase draws over two pair
In close situations
Key Strategy Changes
Flush Draw vs Pair
Classic decision shift:
Hand: J♠ J♦ 9♠ 6♠ 3♠
JoB (6:1 flush):
Hold: JJ (pair is better)
All American (8:1 flush):
Hold: 9♠ 6♠ 3♠ J♠ (flush draw!)
Enhanced flush wins
Straight Draw vs Pair
Straight now competitive:
Hand: 10♠ J♦ Q♣ K♥ 4♠
JoB (4:1 straight):
Outside straight draw: ~0.85 EV
All American (8:1 straight):
Outside straight draw: ~1.70 EV
Much more aggressive straight chasing
Two Pair Breaks
May break two pair:
Hand: J♠ J♦ 9♠ 9♣ 3♠
JoB:
Hold two pair (2:1 value)
All American:
Two pair only 1:1
Consider breaking for draws?
Usually still hold
But closer decision
Real-World Examples
Example 1: Flush Draw vs High Pair
Enhanced flush wins:
Hand: K♠ K♦ 7♠ 5♠ 2♠
Option 1: Hold KK
Pair value + improvement
Option 2: Hold 4-flush
8:1 flush potential
All American:
HOLD FLUSH DRAW
This is opposite of JoB!
Enhanced flush > pair
Example 2: Straight Draw Priority
Straights are gold:
Hand: 9♠ 10♦ J♣ Q♥ 3♠
Outside straight draw: 9-10-J-Q
8 cards complete (8s and Ks)
All American:
Hold: 9♠ 10♦ J♣ Q♥
EV of straight draw: ~1.70
Much better than JoB's ~0.85
Aggressive straight chase
Example 3: Low Two Pair
Two pair less exciting:
Hand: 5♠ 5♦ 7♣ 7♥ K♠
JoB:
Hold two pair
Pays 2:1 (10 coins)
All American:
Hold two pair
Pays only 1:1 (5 coins)
Half the payout
Still hold (improvement possible)
But less satisfying
Example 4: Combo Draw
Multiple draws:
Hand: J♠ 10♠ 9♠ 8♣ 2♦
Analysis:
- 4-card flush draw (J-10-9 spades)
- 4-card straight draw (J-10-9-8)
All American:
Both draws pay 8:1
Either completion = 40 coins
Hold: J♠ 10♠ 9♠
Flush draw + keeps straight options
Variance Analysis
Slightly Higher Variance
Volatility comparison:
Jacks or Better: Low
All American: Low-Medium
Bonus Poker: Medium
More variance because:
Chasing draws more
Draws are boom or bust
But not extreme variance
Bankroll Requirements
Session recommendations:
All American:
25-35× max bet
$1 machines:
$125-175 session roll
Slightly more than JoB
Drawing games swing more
Finding Pay Tables
What to Look For
Full pay indicators:
Flush: 8:1 (40 coins)
Straight: 8:1 (40 coins)
Full house: 8:1 (40 coins)
Four of kind: 8:1 (40 coins)
All four equal = good sign
Return: 99.60%
Avoid Short Pay
Red flags:
Flush < 8:1
Straight < 8:1
These are the whole point
Bad tables exist
Check before playing
Common Mistakes
1. Using JoB Strategy
Mistake: Holding pairs over flush draws Problem: Flush draws more valuable here Fix: Learn All American adjustments
2. Ignoring Straight Value
Mistake: Treating straights like JoB Problem: Straights pay 2× more (8:1 vs 4:1) Fix: Chase straights aggressively
3. Overvaluing Two Pair
Mistake: Celebrating two pair Problem: Only pays 1:1 (half of JoB) Fix: Adjust expectations
4. Wrong Pay Tables
Mistake: Playing unbalanced tables Problem: Miss the enhanced payouts Fix: Verify flush/straight at 8:1
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are straights and flushes enhanced?
Game design choice to make drawing hands more exciting. Creates more "chase" moments where you're hoping for that completing card.
Is All American better than Jacks or Better?
Return is similar (~99.60% vs ~99.54%). Gameplay feels different—more drawing, less made-hand focus. Personal preference.
Should I always chase flush draws?
Over pairs, usually yes. But not over made straights, trips, or better. Calculate full EV.
Why is two pair only 1:1?
Balances the enhanced draws. Two pair is common (~13% of hands), so reducing it frees value for straights/flushes.
How much does strategy change from JoB?
Moderate change. About 5-10% of hands have different optimal holds due to enhanced draw values.
Is card counting effective?
Same as other VP—possible but minimal edge. Enhanced draws don't change counting fundamentals.
Pro Tips
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Flush draws over pairs: Usually correct
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Straights pay 8:1: Double JoB value
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Two pair only 1:1: Adjust expectations
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Drawing game: Embrace the chases
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All 8:1s balance: Easy to remember
Related Calculators
- Jacks or Better Calculator - Standard game
- Bonus Poker Calculator - Quad focus
- Video Poker Odds Calculator - General
- Poker Odds Calculator - Full poker
- Expected Value Calculator - Bet analysis
Conclusion
All American Poker enhances flush and straight payouts to 8:1 each, shifting value toward drawing hands. Our calculator shows why chasing that flush draw beats holding the pair, how straights become twice as valuable as in Jacks or Better, and why two pair paying only 1:1 matters less than it seems.
Calculate All American Odds Now →
Your four-card flush draw is worth more here than a pair of kings. Our calculator reveals why All American Poker's balanced payouts reward aggressive drawing strategy.
