Payoff on full houses dictates pair strategy

A shuffle through the Gaming mailbag:

Dear John: Our group is really into Double Bonus Poker. Pleaseaddress strategy that may be different than regular Jacks or Bettervideo poker. We have conflicting opinions on how to handle twopairs. I save two low pairs (since they pay) and draw for the fullhouse. When I have a high pair that pays, I pitch the low pair to gofor four of a kind since two pairs pay no more than one.

My friends say you should always save two pairs since yourchance of a full house is 12-1. I say in the long run thehigher-paying four of a kind will come out ahead. DaleCrofoot, no address

Answer: In almost all cases, you're better off to …