Two pair with aces: hold both pairs or just the aces?

On Jacks or Better, hold both pairs. Only Double Double Bonus says keep just the aces.

Average return per coin on Jacks or Better 9/6: Hold both pairs 2.5957 · Hold just the aces 1.5405.

Open this hand in the analyzer Jacks or Better 9/6 strategy chart

The hand

Play	Cards held	Return per coin
Hold both pairsBest	A♣ A♦ 8♥ 8♠	2.5957
Hold just the aces	A♣ A♦	1.5405

Average coins back per coin bet on a five-coin bet, where a royal pays 4,000, counting every possible draw from the 47 cards left. Above 1.0000 the hold wins money on average.

Why

Two pair pays two for one on Jacks or Better and Bonus Poker, and drawing one card to it makes a full house about one time in twelve. On Double Double Bonus two pair pays only even money while four aces pay 160 for one, or 400 with a small kicker, so drawing three cards to the aces is worth more.

Does the paytable change the answer?

The answer changes on Double Double Bonus Poker 9/6, highlighted below.

Paytable	Hold both pairs	Hold just the aces
Jacks or Better 9/6	2.5957	1.5405
Jacks or Better 8/5	2.5106	1.5301
Bonus Poker 8/5	2.5106	1.6828
Bonus Poker Deluxe 9/6	1.6809	1.5311
Double Bonus Poker 10/7	1.7660	1.7635
Double Double Bonus Poker 9/6	1.6809	1.9159

Average coins back per coin bet on a five-coin bet, where a royal pays 4,000, counting every possible draw from the 47 cards left. Above 1.0000 the hold wins money on average.

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The hand

Why

Does the paytable change the answer?

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