Video poker payoff variations

Each variation of video poker has minor variations on the above pay-table. Some of these that you may come across are as follows:

8–5 vs 9-6

Video poker machines are often referred to by the number of coins paid out for a full house and a flush. So if 9 are paid out for a full house in a single coin game and 6 are paid out for a flush, the version is often known as a 9-6 game. The two most common versions are 9-6 and 8-5.

It is reckoned that a player at an 8-5 machine will lose there money five times as fast as a player at a 9-6 machine.

Bonus poker

In the highest paying versions of this game, a player will receive an 8-5 payoff on Full houses and Flushes.

This may seem very low, but is balanced by an increase in four of a kind payoffs from 25-1 to 40-1. This rises to 80-1 if the player receives four aces. Compared with other Bonus poker games this dramatically increases the payback percentage

Double bonus poker

In this variation, all fours of a kind result in increased payoffs. The increase depends on the type of machine played. On the highest paying double bonus poker machines, full houses and flushes have a payback percentage of 10-7.

To make up for other pay-table increases, Double bonus poker lowers the payoff for two pair from 2-1 to 1-1.

Double-double bonus poker

Double-double bonus Poker has an increased payoff when the accompanying card is a 2, 3 or 4. The increase depends on the machine being played.

Deuces wild

In the full pay version of this game, four of a kind pays out at 5-1.

Because of the nature of this game, fours of a kind occur more than twice as often as full houses. There are a couple of reasons for this. For one thing, all deuces (2s) are held, and any two pair hand that includes two 2s becomes four of a kind.

Jokers wild

If played in Atlantic City, this game differs from Vegas versions in that the mega jackpot will be paid on five of a kind (the fifth card being the joker) i.e., four of a kind plus the joker.

The highest paying version of this game also pays out on Kings or better and the mega jackpot can be achieved with either a Royal flush, four of a kind or a full house. A flush will payout at 20-7-5.

Flush attack

Once the machine has recorded a certain number of flushes, it automatically triggers a Flush attack resulting in a 25-1 payout for any flush. In the past, veteran players would wait until tourists triggered the flush-attack, and only then would they proceed to play and reap the rewards. Much to the disappointment of the pros, this resulted in the computer program for the game having to be changed.

Double down stud

One of the few video poker games based on stud poker, double down stud offers the player the chance to double their bet if they are a winner.

Five deck frenzy

In this variation the player receives five cards, each of which comes from a different deck. If the player chooses to discard any card, its replacement will come from the same deck as it came from. This makes a large progressive jackpot more achievable.

Multi pay poker

This variation is the same as traditional video poker except for the fact that the player may receive more than one payoff on the same hand. For instance, if a player gets a full house, not only is he paid for his natural hand, he also receives the winnings he would be entitled to for both three of a kind and two pair.

Pick five video poker

Pick five video poker dramatically changes the way a hand is dealt, by dealing a player two cards at a time, and then allowing him to select one of the two before dealing the next card.