What You Need to Know to Play Double Double Bonus Poker Video Poker: Rules, Paytable & Strategy

Double Double Bonus Poker gameplay

Double Double Bonus Poker has become one of the most popular video poker variants, and for good reason. This exciting game combines the familiar gameplay of regular video poker with enhanced payouts for specific four-of-a-kind hands, creating opportunities for massive wins.

In this guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know about Double Double Bonus Poker. You will learn what makes this variant special, how it compares to other video poker games, the basic rules, hand rankings and paytables, and strategies to maximize your chances of winning.

By the end of this guide, you will be ready to enjoy Double Double Bonus Poker at real money online casinos such as OnlineCasinoGames and Uptown Aces Casino.

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What is Double Double Bonus Poker?

Double Double Bonus Poker is a popular video poker variant that builds upon the foundations of Jacks or Better, the original video poker game. Created in the 1990s, this variant is a popular game at both land-based casinos and online casinos.

The core of Double Double Bonus Poker remains the same as other video poker games. You receive five cards, choose which ones to keep, discard the rest, and get replacement cards to form your final hand.

What makes Double Double Bonus Poker stand out is its emphasis on four-of-a-kind hands. While a standard video poker game might pay the same amount for any four-of-a-kind, Double Double Bonus Poker offers enhanced payouts for specific four-of-a-kind combinations.

For example, four aces with a 2, 3, or 4 as the “kicker” (the fifth card) can pay up to 400 coins on a max bet. That is a much higher payout than you would get for the same hand in Jacks or Better. This creates exciting moments of anticipation when you have been dealt three aces and are waiting for that fourth ace to appear.

The game’s name “Double Double” refers to the fact that it doubles the bonus payouts compared to “Double Bonus Poker,” another popular variant. This makes it particularly attractive to players who dream of hitting those big four-of-a-kind hands.

Double Double Bonus Poker vs. Other Video Poker Variants

To truly understand Double Double Bonus Poker, it helps to see how it compares to Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker, Double Bonus Poker, and Deuces Wild, four other popular video poker games found at traditional casinos and gambling sites such as Decode Casino:

Jacks or Better

  • The original video poker game where pairs of Jacks or better qualify for payouts
  • Offers consistent, moderate payouts
  • Double Double Bonus offers bigger payouts but with higher volatility

Bonus Poker

  • Enhances payouts for four-of-a-kind hands
  • Double Double Bonus takes this further with even bigger four-of-a-kind payouts

Double Bonus Poker

  • Offers bonus payouts for four aces
  • Double Double Bonus essentially doubles these bonuses and adds more kicker-based payouts

Deuces Wild

  • Uses 2s as wild cards that can substitute for any card
  • Double Double Bonus has no wild cards but offers bigger payouts for specific hands

The key difference with Double Double Bonus Poker is its volatility. This game features a higher variance than Jacks or Better or Bonus Poker, which means you might experience longer losing streaks, but your wins can be significantly larger when they hit. This makes Double Double Bonus Poker perfect for players who enjoy the thrill of pursuing those big four-of-a-kind payouts.

Another difference is the reduced payout for full houses and flushes compared to Jacks or Better. These adjustments help fund the larger payouts for the premium four-of-a-kind hands. This trade-off is central to the game’s appeal—smaller payouts on common hands in exchange for the chance at much larger payouts on specific four-of-a-kind combinations.

Double Double Bonus Poker Rules

Double Double Bonus Poker follows the standard video poker gameplay pattern. That makes it easy to learn if you have played any video poker before:

  1. Place Your Bet: Select the number of coins you want to wager (1-5). For maximum value, it is recommended to always bet the maximum five coins, as the royal flush payout increases disproportionately at this level.
  2. Receive Your Initial Hand: You’ll be dealt five cards from a standard 52-card deck.
  3. Choose Cards to Hold: Analyze your hand and decide which cards to keep and which to discard. Touch the cards you want to hold or press the corresponding “Hold” buttons.
  4. Draw New Cards: After confirming your hold selections, you’ll receive new cards to replace the ones you discarded.
  5. Evaluate Final Hand: Your final five-card hand is evaluated according to the paytable. If your hand qualifies (typically pairs of jacks or better), you win the corresponding payout.
  6. Collect or Gamble: Some machines offer a “double up” feature where you can gamble your winnings for a chance to double them. This is optional and generally not recommended for optimal play.

The game uses a standard 52-card deck that is virtually shuffled before each hand, ensuring randomness and fairness. There are no wild cards or jokers in Double Double Bonus Poker.

Video poker is played against a fixed paytable rather than against other players or the dealer. This means your goal is simply to form the best possible poker hand.

Double Double Bonus Poker Hand Rankings

Understanding the hand rankings and paytable is crucial for success in Double Double Bonus Poker.

Here are the standard hand rankings from highest to lowest:

  1. Royal Flush: A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit
  2. Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit (except Royal Flush)
  3. Four Aces with 2, 3, or 4: Four aces with a 2, 3, or 4 as the fifth card
  4. Four 2s, 3s, or 4s with A-4: Four 2s, 3s, or 4s with an ace through 4 as the fifth card
  5. Four Aces: Four aces with any fifth card not 2, 3, or 4
  6. Four 2s, 3s, or 4s: Four 2s, 3s, or 4s with any fifth card not A-4
  7. Four 5s through Kings: Any other four-of-a-kind
  8. Full House: Three of a kind and a pair
  9. Flush: Five cards of the same suit, not in sequence
  10. Straight: Five consecutive cards of mixed suits
  11. Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank
  12. Two Pair: Two different pairs
  13. Jacks or Better: A pair of jacks, queens, kings, or aces

Paytable for Double Double Bonus Poker

Here’s a typical 9/6 Double Double Bonus Poker paytable (per coin wagered):

Hand 1 Coin 2 Coins 3 Coins 4 Coins 5 Coins
Royal Flush 250 500 750 1000 4000
Straight Flush 50 100 150 200 250
Four Aces w/ 2,3,4 400 800 1200 1600 2000
Four 2s,3s,4s w/ A-4 160 320 480 640 800
Four Aces 160 320 480 640 800
Four 2s,3s,4s 80 160 240 320 400
Four 5s-Ks 50 100 150 200 250
Full House 9 18 27 36 45
Flush 6 12 18 24 30
Straight 4 8 12 16 20
Three of a Kind 3 6 9 12 15
Two Pair 1 2 3 4 5
Jacks or Better 1 2 3 4 5

The “9/6” in “9/6 Double Double Bonus Poker” refers to the payouts for a full house (9) and flush (6) when betting one coin. These numbers are important because they help identify the most favorable paytables. Some casinos offer less favorable versions like 8/5 or 7/5, which reduce your potential returns.

Notice how the royal flush payout jumps from 250 per coin to 800 per coin when betting the maximum 5 coins. This 4000-coin jackpot (rather than just 1250) is why experts always recommend betting 5 coins.

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Strategy for Double Double Bonus Poker

Developing a solid strategy for Double Double Bonus Poker can significantly improve your chances of winning. Here’s a beginner-friendly approach to making the right decisions:

Basic Strategy Principles

  1. Always bet 5 coins: This maximizes your return on a royal flush.
  2. Hold royal flush, straight flush, or four-of-a-kind: Never break these hands.
  3. Consider kicker cards: Unlike other video poker games, in Double Double Bonus, the fifth card matters for certain four-of-a-kind hands. For example, if you have three aces and a 2, you might want to hold both since four aces with a 2 pays extra.
  4. Be willing to break smaller winning hands: Sometimes it’s better to break a small paying hand (like a low pair) for a chance at a bigger win.

Common Holding Decisions

Here are some typical scenarios you will encounter in Double Double Bonus Poker and the generally recommended plays:

  • Four cards to a royal flush: Hold these four cards, discarding anything else.
  • Three of a kind: Hold the three matching cards. Exception: If you have three aces with a 2, 3, or 4, hold both the aces and the kicker.
  • Low pair vs. four to a flush: Hold the low pair, as it has better potential.
  • High pair vs. four to a straight: Hold the high pair.
  • Two pair vs. four to a straight flush: Hold the two pair.
  • No pair, nothing: Hold any high cards (jacks or better) and redraw the rest.

Simplified Strategy Chart

For beginners, here’s a simplified priority list of which cards and combinations to hold (from highest to lowest priority):

  1. Royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind
  2. Four cards to a royal flush
  3. Three aces with a 2, 3, or 4 kicker
  4. Full house, flush, straight
  5. Three of a kind (except aces)
  6. Four cards to a straight flush
  7. Two pair
  8. High pair (jacks or better)
  9. Four cards to a flush
  10. Low pair (tens or lower)
  11. Four cards to an outside straight
  12. Three cards to a royal flush
  13. High cards (jack or better)
  14. Discard everything

This simplified chart will not apply to every situation. However, following it will give you a solid foundation and help avoid major mistakes.

Bankroll Management

Beyond knowing which cards to hold, proper bankroll management is crucial for video poker:

  • Set a budget: Decide how much you’re willing to lose before playing.
  • Choose the right denomination: Play at a level where your bankroll can absorb the inevitable swings. A good rule is to have at least 100 times the maximum bet.
  • Take breaks: All casino games can be volatile. Take breaks to assess your play and maintain focus.
  • Understand variance: Due to the high payouts for certain four-of-a-kinds, Double Double Bonus Poker has higher variance than many other video poker games. Be prepared for longer losing streaks punctuated by larger wins.

Advanced Strategy Considerations for Double Double Bonus Poker

As you become more comfortable with the game, you might want to learn more detailed strategy charts that cover every possible hand combination. These can be found in video poker strategy books or dedicated gambling websites.

Remember that Double Double Bonus Poker strategy differs from Jacks or Better strategy in several key ways. The difference is particularly in how you handle certain three-of-a-kind situations where the kicker matters. Using a Jacks or Better strategy for Double Double Bonus Poker will lead to suboptimal results.

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Double Double Bonus Poker FAQ

What is Double Double Bonus Poker?
Double Double Bonus Poker is a video poker game where players are rewarded with bigger payouts for specific four-of-a-kind hands. It is based on Jacks or Better but adds bonus payouts for hands like four aces with a 2, 3, or 4 kicker.
How do you win in Double Double Bonus Poker?
In Double Double Bonus Poker, you win by forming poker hands ranked from a pair of Jacks or better up to a royal flush. The rarer the hand, the bigger the payout, especially if you hit specific four-of-a-kind hands with the right kicker.
Should I always bet the maximum coins in Double Double Bonus Poker?
Yes, it is best to bet the maximum five coins in Double Double Bonus Poker. Doing so unlocks the top royal flush payout of 4,000 coins, which gives you the best long-term return.
What makes Double Double Bonus Poker different from Jacks or Better?
Double Double Bonus Poker has higher volatility and enhanced payouts for specific four-of-a-kinds. You will win less often than in Jacks or Better, but the payouts are bigger when you do.
Can I use a strategy to improve my odds in Double Double Bonus Poker?
Yes, there are strategies that help you decide which cards to hold or discard in Double Double Bonus Poker and other video poker games. Learning basic hand rankings and following a simple strategy chart can improve your chances of winning.
What is a kicker in Double Double Bonus Poker?
A kicker is the fifth card that comes with a four-of-a-kind hand. In Double Double Bonus Poker, kickers like a 2, 3, or 4 can increase your payout if paired with four aces, 2s, 3s, or 4s.