Rules of Play In Double Draw Poker, after the player makes an initial “Ante” bet and a mandatory “Bonus” bet, the cards are shuffled. If players want to continue, they must make an additional “Draw Up to 3 Cards” bet equal in size to the “Ante”. Five Play Draw Poker is a bit different, in that it offers players their choice of nine different popular games all in one package – and each in a five-hand format. All of the Classics If you’re not familiar with this game, IGT’s Five Play Draw Poker is the perfect way to get started (as is their Triple Play Draw Poker.

• Double Draw Poker Table Game Strategy
• Double Draw Poker Free
• Double Draw 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!

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:

1. Find your trouble hand on the chart.
2. 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:

1. Start at the top of the chart and work down.
2. 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 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.

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).

I noticed the strategy has 'joker+Ace' ranked above '4 to a Flush having one joker and one Ace'. If this is accurate then one would never hold '4 to a Flush having one joker and one Ace' for the first draw. Im also confused as to why TJQA is better than 7Ts but 36s is better than A235. I realize many of these hands run very close and change with straight/flush penalties. So given 36s,A25 what is the best hold? How about 47s,68Q or KJs,AT3? The expected value of first draw hands would be a great addition as well if you have them.
ps. I just found this forum and am very thankful i did. Great work JB

The strategy is somewhat inaccurate because it is based solely on the average return of each play in hands where that play was the best play; it doesn't take into account hands where it exists but was not the best play, because that would have been an enormous undertaking.
So for example, in all of the hands where Joker+Ace was the best play, the EV is 2.01265; in all of the hands where 4 to a Flush including a Joker+Ace was the best play, the EV is 1.98682 or lower. Since I sorted the strategy list by EV, this puts Joker+Ace higher than 4 to a Flush w/Joker+Ace, but in reality, Joker+Ace is the better play only if you don't also have 4 to a Flush.
With 36 suited vs. unsuited A235 in the same hand, such as 3♣ 6♣ 2♦ 5♥

Double Draw Poker Table Game Strategy

A♠, holding A235 is the better play.

I noticed the strategy has 'joker+Ace' ranked above '4 to a Flush having one joker and one Ace'. If this is accurate then one would never hold '4 to a Flush having one joker and one Ace' for the first draw. Im also confused as to why TJQA is better than 7Ts but 36s is better than A235. I realize many of these hands run very close and change with straight/flush penalties. So given 36s,A25 what is the best hold? How about 47s,68Q or KJs,AT3? The expected value of first draw hands would be a great addition as well if you have them.
ps. I just found this forum and am very thankful i did. Great work JB

Welcome to the forum, BobbyMac! My understanding (having played this game, not as a mathematician) of the joker+A hold is (and the rest, though I think this is the best example), you have to take into account the paytables/return on the holds, not just the likelihood of filling them. There are 4 aces +2 jokers, and 5 aces pays extremely well compared to a flush, even though it's harder to fill. So the strategy is, in the long run, you will make more money holding for the 5 aces (and lesser hands that can result from holding that way, because you're drawing 3, then 1 if you need it), than holding for a flush, (assuming you don't have a straight flush draw, where you're drawing 1, then 1 if you need it), because even if you make the flush more often, it's the only hand you're drawing to, and it's one of the lower-paying ones.
EDIT: answered the same time as JB, but letting it stand anyway. Thanks, JB!

The strategy is somewhat inaccurate because it is based solely on the average return of each play in hands where that play was the best play; it doesn't take into account hands where it exists but was not the best play, because that would have been an enormous undertaking.
So for example, in all of the hands where Joker+Ace was the best play, the EV is 2.01265; in all of the hands where 4 to a Flush including a Joker+Ace was the best play, the EV is 1.98682 or lower. Since I sorted the strategy list by EV, this puts Joker+Ace higher than 4 to a Flush w/Joker+Ace, but in reality, Joker+Ace is the better play only if you don't also have 4 to a Flush.

Darn it, JB, now you've got me confused. If Joker+Ace has an EV of 2.01265, and the best 4 to a flush including those cards is 1.98682, what is the element that counteracts this and makes 4TAF the better play?

Darn it, JB, now you've got me confused. If Joker+Ace has an EV of 2.01265, and the best 4 to a flush including those cards is 1.98682, what is the element that counteracts this and makes 4TAF the better play?

I will try to explain it better. When my analyzer outputted the strategy results, it listed the best play and its EV for each possible starting hand. From that list, I averaged the EV's of each type of 'best play' made.
The end result is that the average EV of Joker+Ace is 2.01265, because it only considers hands where Joker+Ace was the best play. In other words, the output did not list Joker+Ace as the best play in hands where 4 to a Flush was the best play, therefore the value of Joker+Ace in 4-to-a-Flush hands are excluded from the Joker+Ace average.
In generic terms, the EV for 'Play A' does not take into consideration the value of 'Play A' in hands where 'Play B' is the better play. Ideally it should, in terms of developing the strategy, but for Double Draw Poker this would have been a huge undertaking. So the strategy just shows the plays made sorted by their EV. The result is that there are some anomalies such as the Joker+Ace vs. 4-to-a-Flush scenario.
The same situation occurs when developing video poker strategies, but I spent a great deal of time making the VP strategy generator on WizardOfOdds.com take this into consideration, so that the resulting strategies are as accurate as possible.I get it now, thanks so much!

...
And the 2nd draw strategy is pretty much...do you have a chance to win? Call.

It seems to me that this isn't quite right. For example, one can show that you should fold an inside straight draw if you've already discarded one of your 'outs' from the deck. Here's a way this could happen in the game: You are dealt 4c, 5h, 6h, 7h, 9d. On the first draw, optimal play is to keep the 5,6,7 suited and toss the 4 and 9. Then you draw 2d, 3d. For the second draw, the only possible play is to hold either 2,3, 5, 6 or 3, 5, 6, 7 and try for the inside straight. But since you've tossed one of your fours, then you have 5 ways of completing the straight (three fours + two joker), with 47 cards remaining in the deck. The EV of the second draw is thus
5 * (5/47) + (-4) * (42/47) = -3.04. But the EV of folding is -3, and so this hand should be folded.
The situation above is probably rare, but there might be others where folding is right. Does anyone know the percentage of 2nd-draw situations in which there's a positive probability of winning that instead should be folded, for a single player at the table playing all decisions optimally?

Double Draw Poker Free

That would be a really hard calculation, IMO, since you have to factor back in what you've discarded.
If it helps, the Bally rep at the trade show I first played this said a little more than 97% of hands should stay in for the first draw, and a little more than 92% should stay in for the 2nd.

Double Draw Poker Strategy