It isn't easy finding a bet with a player advantage, either in real casinos or on the Internet. However, CryptoLogic released a video poker game with their new Version 4 software that offers a theoretical return of 100.04%. This includes the 0.1% cash back and assuming optimal player strategy.
The game is Double Bonus, and the following chart shows what each hand pays, the probability, and the contribution to the expected return.
| Double Bonus |
| Hand |
Payoff |
Probability |
Return |
| Royal Flush | 840 | 0.000025 | 0.020925 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 0.000107 | 0.005368 |
| 4 Aces | 150 | 0.000202 | 0.030367 |
| 4 2s, 3s or 4s | 90 | 0.000527 | 0.047465 |
| 4 5-K | 50 | 0.001638 | 0.081919 |
| Full House | 8 | 0.011409 | 0.091269 |
| Flush | 5 | 0.010923 | 0.054613 |
| Straight | 4 | 0.011522 | 0.046086 |
| 3 of a kind | 2 | 0.074533 | 0.149067 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 0.129173 | 0.258346 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 0.213943 | 0.213943 |
| Nothing | 0 | 0.545997 | 0.000000 |
| Total Return | | 1.000000 | 0.999367 |
The lower right cell shows a return of 99.94%; adding 0.1% cash back results in a return of 100.04%.
Remember that this return assumes optimal player strategy. In other words, the player plays his cards to maximize his expected return 100% of the time. Unfortunately, I don't know of any strategy card designed for this game specifically.
Video Poker Strategy Master software by Tom Ski can produce near optimal strategy for most any video poker game, however, and the user may specify any pay table. This product is a must buy for any serious video poker player.
For information on CryptoLogic's other games please visit my reviews section.
About the author: Michael Shackleford is the mathematician and
webmaster at The Wizard of Odds, a
gambling site focusing on cutting the house edge on
all casino games through optimal player strategy.
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