Double Double Bonus Poker Unveiled: Strategies and Excitement

The main reason that Double/Double has become so popular is that there are several extra bonuses built into the game. Of course, the casinos take something away for their generosity regarding bonuses. The optimum strategies are built around these two dynamics: the additional bonuses and the tightening of the game.

Bonus Structure Comparison

The extra perks include four aces, deuces, threes, and fours, especially with a poker kicker not higher than a four. What they take away from this generosity is that two pairs pay the same as a single high pair, whereas in Jacks or Better, the two teams pay twice as much. The one becomes break-even versus a winning hand.

Pay Table Differences

The table below illustrates the differences in the pay tables between the two games. While you may find different pay tables in casinos you visit, I’ve used 9/6 tables where a full house pays nine times the number of coins played and a flush six times the number of coins.

Hand	Double Jacks or Better	Jacks or Better
Royal Flush	800	800
Straight Flush	50	50
Four of a kind (Aces with a kicker of A, 2, 3, or 4)	400	25
… (complete table)	…	…
Theoretical return when played perfectly	98.98%	99.54%

Analysis of Payout Discrepancies

On the surface, all the extra payouts for various four-of-a-kinds make Double/Double appear to be a much better game than Jacks or Better. However, when the loss of the double payout for two pairs is factored in, Jacks or Better is the better-paying game. Two pairs result in approximately 12% of hands, making the reduction significant.

The Gamble of Double/Double

A twelve percent loss is equivalent to giving up five coins every eight to get a bonus on some form of quads in every 400 hands. Remember – Las Vegas has not built all its temples of chance because it gives its patrons an edge. More than one comedian working a Strip showroom has stated, “Welcome to Las Vegas, a city built on Hoover Dam and bad math.” Players seem to love the bigger jackpots offered by Double/Double even though they are paying the price for them. It’s the thrill of hitting a bank; there are more ways to do it in Double/Double.

Optimum Strategy for Double/Double

Now, let’s look at the guiding strategy differences in playing optimum strategy in this exciting game.

• Keep all five cards when dealt four As, 2s, 3s, or 4s with the bonus kicker of A, 2, 3, or 4. If the four-of-a-kind is accompanied by a 5 through King, draw for the bonus kicker. Never hold a bonus kicker with just three of a kind.
• If dealt aces full, throw the underpair away to draw to the fourth ace.
• If dealt two pairs containing aces, only keep the authorities.
• If dealt two or three unsuited high cards with an ace, keep only the authority versus two or three high cards without a charge – keep them all.

Strategic Parallels with Jacks or Better

All the other drawing strategies are the same as Jacks or Better, which can be reviewed in my previous video poker article. As you can see, the key strategic differences between Jacks or Better and Double/Double focus on handling quads and treating aces. Double/Double places a huge premium on any authority. Four aces with a qualifying kicker pay the same as half a Royal Flush.

The Excitement of Double/Double

Double/Double is a more exciting game due to the increased volatility. Volatility is what gamblers crave – without it, the game becomes boring. The main difference between Jacks or Better and Double Double Bonus is not the .56% theoretical return but the excitement of the added jackpots.

If you prefer no volatility, you could go to a change machine and get four five-dollar bills for every twenty you put in it. Wow, that would be a machine with 100% payback and no volatility. It doesn’t sound like much fun to me – how about you?