Double Bonus Poker Strategy
| The best way to learn our Double Bonus strategy is to use it as you play. We recommend practicing Double Bonus at Bovada Casino. Bovada offers Double Bonus for both practice and real money play. One of my favorite parts about Bovada Casino is that you don't have to download the casino to play - you can practice right in your web browser. Practice Double Bonus at Bovada Casino now! |
- His Video Poker Strategy Cards, Video Poker for Winners! Software, and Video Poker for the Intelligent Beginner book (which can be purchased in our Ultimate Video Poker Bundle option at a major discount), along with his Winners’ Guides, are the best-selling video poker tutorials of all time — making Dancer the most sought-after source of.
- Double Bonus Aces and Faces video poker combines two special pay tables to create a unique variation. Read about Double Bonus Aces and Faces.
On this page we're going to discuss what I believe is the best possible strategy for playing Double Bonus video poker. By using this strategy you will be able to achieve a return of over 100%, which means that you can actually beat the house edge.
On this page we're going to discuss what I believe is the best possible strategy for playing Double Bonus video poker. By using this strategy you will be able to achieve a return of over 100%, which means that you can actually beat the house edge. Our strategy was created for full pay Double Bonus which uses the pay table listed below:
| Hand: | Payout: |
| Royal Flush | 800 |
| Straight Flush | 50 |
| Four Aces | 160 |
| Four Two's-Four's | 80 |
| Four Five's-King's | 50 |
| Full House | 10 |
| Flush | 7 |
| Straight | 5 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 |
| Two Pair | 1 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 |
Please note that to achieve the 100%+ payout percentage, you need to be betting five coins per hand. By betting five coins you'll receive a bonus for all royal flushes, which drastically improves the payout percentage in the long run. Learn about other Double Bonus pay tables.
Beginner Double Bonus Strategy
If you're a new Double Bonus player, you're probably better off to stick with the beginner chart for now. It's much more simple and will help you make decisions quickly as you learn the game. This chart isn't as accurate as the full chart below, so if you're looking for the best possible strategy use the full expert chart we have below.
Here is how you should use the chart below:
- Find your trouble hand on the chart.
- Follow the chart's recommendation.
Example: Imagine you have Kc-Qc-Jc-Tc-4c. In this case you have a pat flush, but you also have an open ended straight flush draw including a draw to a royal flush. By looking at the chart below, you'll see that a royal flush draw is better than a pat flush, so make sure to discard the 4c and go for the straight flush/royal.
- Royal Flush Draw vs. Pat Straight Flush » Keep the Straight Flush
- Royal Flush Draw vs. Pat Flush » Keep the Royal Flush Draw
- Three of a Kind Aces vs. Full House » Keep the Three Aces
- Pat Straight vs. Four to a Straight Flush » Keep the Straight
- Two Pair vs. a Pair of Aces » Keep the Two Pair
- Four to a Flush vs. Four to a Straight » Keep the Four to a Flush
- Pair (Jacks through Aces) vs. Open Four to Straight » Keep the Pair
- Open Four to Straight vs. Pair (Twos through Tens) » Keep the Straight Draw
- Ace/King/Queen/Jack vs. Discard Everything » Keep the Ace/King/Queen/Jack
Expert Double Bonus Strategy
Here is how you should use the chart below:
- Start at the top of the chart and work down.
- When you see a hand that matches up with yours, follow that strategy.
Example: Imagine you have Qs-Js-Ts-3s-Jh. In this case, you'd match up with a few rows on the table below. Your hand would qualify for a high pair of Jacks, a Q-J-T suited with one penalty (the other Jack is a penalty card), and four to a flush. However, on the table you'll notice that Q-J-T suited with one penalty is higher than a four flush or a pair, so you should keep the Q-J-T suited and ditch the four flush and pair.
Double Bonus Poker Strategy
Double Bonus Full Strategy Chart
Here are the ranks for every possible Double Bonus hand. Remember, find the highest match on the list for your hand and hold those cards. The middle column shows the expected return for the specific hand. In the example column, h = Hearts, s = Spades, c = Clubs, d = Diamonds, T = Ten, s = Suited.
| Hand | Expected Return | Example |
| Pat Royal Flush | 800.0000 | Th-Jh-Qh-Kh-Ah |
| Four of a Kind Aces | 160.0000 | Ac-Ah-Ad-As-3c |
| Four of a Kind Twos, Threes, Fours | 80.0000 | 2h-2s-2c-2d-7c |
| Four of a Kind Fives - Kings | 50.0000 | 7c-7d-7h-7s-Jc |
| Pat Straight Flush | 50.0000 | 6h-7h-8h-9h-Th |
| Royal Flush Draw | 18.6383 | Th-Jh-Qh-Kh-4h |
| Three of a Kind Aces | 10.1147 | Ac-Ad-Ah-Js-8c |
| Pat Full House | 10.0000 | Ac-Ad-As-Js-Jc |
| Pat Flush | 7.0000 | Ac-Jc-6c-5c-4c |
| Three of a Kind Twos, Threes, Fours | 6.7105 | 3c-3h-3d-8s-9s |
| Three of a Kind Fives through Kings | 5.4339 | 8c-8s-8d-9h-3d |
| Pat Straight | 5.0000 | 4c-5s-6h-7h-8h |
| Open Straight Flush Draw | 3.7383 | 4c-5c-6c-7c-Th |
| Inside Straight Flush Draw | 2.4894 | Qs-Js-9s-8s-4c |
| Two Pair | 1.7660 | 3c-3s-4d-4h-Ac |
| Pair of Aces | 1.7635 | Ac-Ad-Js-8c-5h |
| Q-J-T suited (w/ no penalty*) | 1.5846 | Qh-Jh-Th-4d-3d |
| K-Q-J suited (w/ no penalty*) | 1.5754 | Kh-Qh-Jh-4c-3c |
| Q-J-T suited (w/ one Straight penalty*) | 1.5634 | Qh-Jh-Th-Kc-2c |
| Q-J-T suited (w/ one High Pair penalty*) | 1.5430 | Qh-Jh-Th-Jc-4s |
| K-Q-J suited (w/ one Straight penalty*) | 1.5384 | Kh-Qh-Jh-Tc-4c |
| K-Q-J suited (w/ one High Pair penalty*) | 1.5365 | Kh-Qh-Jh-Js-3s |
| Four to a Flush, 3 High Cards (w/ no penalty*) | 1.5319 | Ac-Jc-Tc-3h-2h |
| Q-J-T suited (w/ one Flush penalty*) | 1.5264 | Qh-Jh-Th-4h-3c |
| Four to a Flush, 3 High Cards (w/ 1 HP penalty*) | 1.5106 | Ac-Jc-Tc-3c-Th |
| Q-J-T suited (w/ any two penalties*) | 1.4894 | Qs-Js-Ts-Kh-Jc |
| K-Q-J suited (w/ any two penalties*) | 1.4783 | Kh-Qh-Jh-Jc-Ts |
| K-Q-T suited, K-J-T suited (w/ no penalty*) | 1.4755 | Kh-Qh-Th-4c-3c |
| Four to a Flush, 2 High Cards (w/ no penalty*) | 1.4681 | Kh-Jh-7h-5h-2c |
| A-K-Qs, A-K-Js, A-Q-Js (w/ no penalty*) | 1.4662 | Ac-Kc-Jc-2h-3h |
| Pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings | 1.4582 | Jc-Js-2h-4c-8s |
| K-Q-Ts, K-J-Ts (w/ one Straight penalty*) | 1.4542 | Kh-Qh-Th-Jc-2c |
| A-K-Qs, A-K-Js, A-Q-Js (w/ one Straight penalty*) | 1.4450 | Ac-Kc-Qc-Jh-2h |
| Four to a Flush, One High Card | 1.4042 | Ac-8c-7c-3c-6h |
| K-Q-T suited, K-J-T suited (w/ two penalties*) | 1.3959 | Kh-Qh-Th-Jc-Qc |
| A-K-Ts, A-Q-Ts, A-J-Ts(w/ no penalty*) | 1.3663 | Ac-Kc-Tc-2h-3h |
| Four to a flush, No High Cards | 1.3404 | 9c-7c-4c-2c-8s |
| A-K-Ts, A-Q-Ts, A-J-Ts (w/ one St. penalty*) | 1.3395 | Ac-Kc-Tc-Jh-2s |
| Open Four to a Straight | 0.9149 | Jc-Ts-9h-8c-2h |
| Pair of Twos, Threes, Fours | 0.8266 | 2c-2h-7s-8c-Jh |
| J-T-9 suited | 0.7826 | Jc-Tc-9c-4h-3h |
| Q-J-9 suited | 0.7761 | Qc-Jc-9c-4h-3h |
| Pair of Fives through Tens | 0.7434 | 5c-5h-Js-8d-2h |
| Three to a Straight Flush, Open, No High Cards | 0.6855 | 4c-5c-6c-Th-9h |
| A-K-Q-J | 0.6789 | Ac-Ks-Jh-Ts-3s |
| Q-J-8 suited | 0.6644 | Qc-Jc-8c-6h-4h |
| Q-T-9 suited, J-T-8 suited, J-9-8 suited | 0.6577 | Jc-9c-8c-4h-3h |
| K-Q-9 suited, K-J-9 suited | 0.6512 | Kc-Qc-9c-4h-2h |
| Four to a Straight, Inside, Three High Cards | 0.6170 | Qc-Js-Ts-8d-2h |
| Q-J suited (w/ no or one penalty*) | 0.5871 | Qc-Jc-4h-8s-2h |
| K-Q suited, K-J suited (w/ no penalty*) | 0.5845 | Kc-Qc-8s-4h-2s |
| Q-J suited (w/ two penalties*) | 0.5772 | Qs-Js-Th-6c-4s |
| 3 to a St. Flush, 1 Gap, 0 Hi Cards (no penalty*) | 0.5726 | 4h-5h-7h-9c-Tc |
| A-Ks, A-Qs, A-Js (w/ no penalty*) | 0.5692 | Ac-Kc-6s-9d-2h |
| 3 to a St. Flush, 2 Gaps, 1 Hi Card (no penalty*) | 0.5671 | 4h-6h-8h-Jc-2s |
| K-Qs, K-Js (w/ one Flush penalty*) | 0.5650 | Ks-Qs-8s-6h-2h |
| Q-J suited (w/ three penalties*) | 0.5650 | Qs-Js-Tc-8c-2s |
| K-Qs, K-Js (w/ one or two Straight penalties*) | 0.5642 | Ks-Qs-Jc-9c-2h |
| Three to a Flush, Two High Cards | 0.5606 | As-Js-3s-5c-9c |
| A-Ks, A-Qs, A-Js (w/ one Straight penalty*) | 0.5596 | As-Ks-Tc-2h-6h |
| K-Qs, K-Js (w/ 1 St. penalty + 1 Flush penalty*) | 0.5582 | Ks-Qs-Tc-6s-4d |
| 3 to a St. Flush, 1 Gap, 0 Hi Cards (St. penalty*) | 0.5578 | 5h-6h-8h-9c-2s |
| Four to a Straight, Inside, Two High Cards | 0.5532 | Qs-Jd-9c-8h-2s |
| K-Qs, K-Js (w/ three penalties*) | 0.5515 | Ks-Qs-Th-Td-2s |
| 3 to a St. Flush, 2 Gaps, 1 High Card (St. penalty*) | 0.5486 | 8h-Th-Qh-9c-2s |
| K-Q-J | 0.5199 | Kh-Qs-Jc-4c-2h |
| J-T suited (w/ no penalty*) | 0.5011 | Jc-Tc-6s-4d-2d |
| Q-J-T | 0.4940 | Qc-Jd-Th-7s-2d |
| Four to a Straight, Inside, One High Card | 0.4894 | Jc-Ts-9d-7h-2s |
| J-T suited (w/ one Flush penalty*) | 0.4817 | Js-Ts-6s-4c-2h |
| J-T suited (w/ one or two Straight penalties*) | 0.4747 | Js-Ts-8c-7c-2h |
| Q-J | 0.4745 | Qc-Jh-7d-5c-2h |
| 9-7-5 suited, 9-6-5 suited | 0.4699 | 9c-7c-5c-2h-3h |
| Q-T suited (w/ no penalty*) | 0.4683 | Qc-Tc-7s-5h-2s |
| 3 to a St. Flush, 2 Gaps, 0 Hi Cards (no penalty*) | 0.4672 | 5h-7h-9h-2d-3d |
| J-Ts (w/ 1 Straight penalty + 1 Flush penalty*) | 0.4652 | Js-Ts-8c-2s-5h |
| K-Q, K-J (w/ no penalty*) | 0.4623 | Ks-Qc-8h-5h-3d |
| Three to a Flush, One High Card | 0.4598 | Js-8s-4s-3c-2c |
| J-T suited (w/ three penalties*) | 0.4588 | Js-Ts-7c-Ad-2s |
| K-Q, K-J (w/ one Straight penalty*) | 0.4574 | Kc-Qs-9d-5h-2c |
| Ace (w/ no flush penalty*) | 0.4552 | Ad-Tc-7s-4s-2h |
| Ace (w/ one flush penalty + no 2, 3, 4 or 5) | 0.4499 | Ah-9h-Jc-7s-6d |
| A-K, A-Q, A-J | 0.4493 | Ac-Kh-9d-7c-4s |
| K-T suited | 0.4487 | Kc-Tc-7s-5d-2d |
| Ace (w/ one flush penalty*) | 0.4487 | Ah-Th-7s-5c-2d |
| Jack (w/ no flush penalty*) | 0.4451 | Jd-9s-7c-4h-2h |
| 3 to a St. Flush, 2 Gaps, 0 Hi Cards (St. penalty*) | 0.4431 | 4h-6h-8h-7c-Td |
| Queen | 0.4341 | Qc-9d-7d-4s-2s |
| King | 0.4310 | Kh-Ts-8d-5d-2c |
| Jack (w/ one Flush penalty*) | 0.4306 | Jd-8d-5c-3s-2s |
| Four to a Straight, Inside, no High Cards | 0.4255 | 5d-6c-7s-9h-2d |
| Three to a Flush, no High Cards | 0.3608 | Th-7h-5h-3s-2s |
| Everything Else » Draw Five New Cards | 0.3231 | 10s-8c-6d-4s-2h |
*Penalty cards are any cards which you plan to discard that hurt your chances of completing a draw. For example, if you have 7c-9c-Jc-8s-5h and plan to keep the 7c-9c-Jc, the 8s that you're discarding actually hurts you because there is one less card in the deck that completes your straight. However, it still makes sense to discard the 8s because you have better expected return going for the straight flush than to draw to the inside straight.
Double Double Bonus Poker Strategy Card
Straight (St.) penalty cards mean cards that interfere w/ a hand's possibility of making a straight. Flush penalty cards mean cards that interfere w/ a hand's possibility of making a flush. High Pair (HP) penalty cards mean cards that interfere w/ a hand's possibility of making a high pair (a pair Jacks or better).