Four aces pay more. That does not mean you should chase them with every hand. The right hold starts with what the rest of the pay table is worth.
Start here: look for standard 8/5 Bonus Poker, keep both pairs, and leave unrelated kickers behind. Use the Bonus Poker chart for close draws—not a Double Bonus strategy.
This guide covers standard Bonus Poker: a 52-card deck, no wild cards and one draw. Deal five, hold zero to five cards, replace the rest, and collect the final hand’s payout. A pair of jacks is the smallest paying hand.
Quads: 80 / 40 / 25
Two pair: 2
No kicker awards.
Quads: 160 / 80 / 50
Two pair: 1
Bigger quad awards change holds.
Every quad: 80
Two pair: 1
“Deluxe” is a separate game.
Quad tiers are aces / 2s–4s / 5s–kings; amounts are per credit. Double Double Bonus is another variant, with kicker-sensitive awards. These names do not make the strategies interchangeable.
What does “8/5” mean? A full house pays 8 per credit and a flush pays 5. Standard 8/5 returns 99.1660% with optimal play and an 800-per-credit royal. Check the quads and two-pair award too: “8/5” alone does not identify the complete game.
Tap cards to choose your hold, or use Change card to enter a deal. The analyzer compares every possible hold. Choose your actual pay table first; the default is standard 8/5.
Examples keep your selected pay table. Changing a card or table selects a best hold again; tap the cards to compare your own choice.
Draw 1 card · 47 possible draws.
This is the best hold for the selected pay table.
Holding both pairs returns 2.5106 per 1 bet; keeping only the aces returns 1.6828. Bonus Poker still pays 2 for two pair. Four unseen cards improve the two-pair hold to a full house, and every other replacement leaves two pair intact.
47 of the 47 possible draws make a paying hand (100.0000%). The table describes the best hold shown, not your own choice. How much each hand pays matters as much as how often it comes.
| Final hand | Possible draws | Chance | Payout per 1 bet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full house | 4 | 8.5106% | 8 |
| Two pair | 43 | 91.4894% | 2 |
Scroll sideways for the full comparison
| Hold | Draw | Possible draws | Return per 1 bet |
|---|---|---|---|
| A♠ A♥ 9♠ 9♥BestYour hold | 1 | 47 | 2.5106 |
| A♠ A♥ 9♠ 9♥ K♦ | 0 | 1 | 2.0000 |
| A♠ A♥ | 3 | 16,215 | 1.6828 |
| A♠ A♥ K♦ | 2 | 1,081 | 1.4598 |
| A♠ A♥ 9♠ | 2 | 1,081 | 1.4024 |
| A♠ A♥ 9♥ | 2 | 1,081 | 1.4024 |
| A♠ A♥ 9♠ K♦ | 1 | 47 | 1.1915 |
| A♠ A♥ 9♥ K♦ | 1 | 47 | 1.1915 |
| 9♠ 9♥ | 3 | 16,215 | 0.8197 |
| 9♠ 9♥ K♦ | 2 | 1,081 | 0.6688 |
| A♠ 9♠ 9♥ | 2 | 1,081 | 0.5745 |
| A♥ 9♠ 9♥ | 2 | 1,081 | 0.5745 |
| K♦ | 4 | 178,365 | 0.4539 |
| A♠ K♦ | 3 | 16,215 | 0.4038 |
| A♥ K♦ | 3 | 16,215 | 0.4038 |
| A♠ | 4 | 178,365 | 0.3498 |
| A♥ | 4 | 178,365 | 0.3498 |
| A♠ 9♠ 9♥ K♦ | 1 | 47 | 0.3404 |
| A♥ 9♠ 9♥ K♦ | 1 | 47 | 0.3404 |
| Discard all five | 5 | 1,533,939 | 0.3215 |
| 9♠ K♦ | 3 | 16,215 | 0.3076 |
| 9♥ K♦ | 3 | 16,215 | 0.3076 |
| A♠ 9♠ | 3 | 16,215 | 0.2685 |
| A♥ 9♥ | 3 | 16,215 | 0.2685 |
| A♠ 9♠ K♦ | 2 | 1,081 | 0.2396 |
| A♥ 9♠ K♦ | 2 | 1,081 | 0.2396 |
| A♠ 9♥ K♦ | 2 | 1,081 | 0.2396 |
| A♥ 9♥ K♦ | 2 | 1,081 | 0.2396 |
| 9♠ | 4 | 178,365 | 0.2390 |
| 9♥ | 4 | 178,365 | 0.2390 |
| A♥ 9♠ | 3 | 16,215 | 0.2176 |
| A♠ 9♥ | 3 | 16,215 | 0.2176 |
For every hold, the tool counts all possible final hands from the 47 unseen cards and weights their payouts. It uses exact combinations, not random trials, for one standard deck and the complete selected pay table. Tied best holds are shown; returns are rounded to four decimal places.
These are gross returns. A value of 0.8551 means an average payout of 0.8551 per 1 originally bet, not an 85.51% chance of winning. The wager is already committed when you choose a hold. A best decision can have a return below 1, and its next draw can still lose. The whole game’s return is a different figure.
Check the full payout schedule against your game. This tool does not cover progressive royals, wild cards, altered quad awards or lower-credit royal payouts.
These four hands use standard 8/5 Bonus Poker. The figures compare average gross payouts per 1 bet, counting every possible replacement draw.
Low pairs still matter. A pair of threes beats unrelated K–Q in this example, even though it pays nothing yet. But a four-card flush can beat a low pair. The full five-card deal decides which rule applies.
Much of your strategy carries over. The lower flush award and bigger low-rank quads shift some close choices. Start with this royal-versus-flush decision, then use the chart for the finer distinctions.
With A♠ J♠ 10♠ 4♠ K♦, the three royal cards return 1.2368; all four spades return 1.0851. On 9/6 Jacks or Better, the larger flush award makes the four spades the better hold for this same deal.
This is a comparison between two draws. It does not mean three royal cards beat a made high pair, full house or every other hand.
All examples below use 8/5 Bonus Poker. These are specific competing holds, subject to higher lines in the chart and its notes.
Q♥ J♥ K♠ A♦ 7♣: hold all four high cards for 0.5957, ahead of Q♥ J♥ at 0.5893.
2♦ 3♠ 10♥ Q♥ A♠: keep Q♥ A♠ for 0.4766, compared with 0.4754 for 10♥ Q♥.
K–Q–J and Q–J sit above type 2 three-card straight-flush draws in this chart. With 2♦ 3♦ 4♦ J♥ Q♠, J♥ Q♠ returns 0.5087; the three diamonds return 0.4940.
With an unsuited king, prefer K–J when you would discard a card of J–10’s suit, an 8 or a 9. J♥ 10♥ 8♣ K♠ 3♦ is an example: K♠ J♥ returns 0.4850, versus 0.4818 for J♥ 10♥.
If you would discard another card of that suit, keep the king alone at this chart position. With K♠ 10♠ 4♠ 7♥ 2♦, K♠ returns 0.4584, versus 0.4538 for K♠ 10♠.
Read from the top and stop at the first matching line, including its note. The highlighted cards in each example are the hold. This is the site’s detailed learning chart; use the analyzer when two close draws compete.
The analyzer is on a different pay table. This chart and its two notes remain for standard 8/5 only.
All 36 lines. Searching keeps the original rank numbers but can hide a higher-priority hold. Clear the search before playing by the list.
| Rank | What to hold | Example deal | Analyze the example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Royal flush | ||
| 02 | Straight flush | ||
| 03 | Four of a kind | ||
| 04 | 4 to a royal flush | ||
| 05 | Full house | ||
| 06 | Flush | ||
| 07 | Three of a kind | ||
| 08 | Straight | ||
| 09 | 4 to a straight flush | ||
| 10 | Two pair | ||
| 11 | High pair (jacks or better) | ||
| 12 | 3 to a royal flush | ||
| 13 | 4 to a flush | ||
| 14 | 10-J-Q-K, unsuited | ||
| 15 | Low pair (2s to 10s) | ||
| 16 | 4 to an outside straight | ||
| 17 | 3 to a straight flush, type 1 | ||
| 18 | A-K-Q-J, unsuited | ||
| 19 | Suited Q-J | ||
| 20 | Suited K-Q or K-J | ||
| 21 | Suited A-K, A-Q or A-J | ||
| 22 | 4 to an inside straight with 3 high cards | ||
| 23 | K-Q-J, unsuited | ||
| 24 | Q-J, unsuited | ||
| 25 | 3 to a straight flush, type 2 | ||
| 26 | Suited J-10 Note 1 | ||
| 27 | K-Q or K-J, unsuited | ||
| 28 | A-K, A-Q or A-J, unsuited | ||
| 29 | Suited Q-10 | ||
| 30 | A jack | ||
| 31 | Suited K-10 Note 2 | ||
| 32 | A queen | ||
| 33 | A king | ||
| 34 | An ace | ||
| 35 | 3 to a straight flush, type 3 | ||
| 36 | Draw five new cards |
No matching lines. Try “pair” or “royal”, or clear the search.
A “penalty card” is a card in your original deal that you would discard, making it unavailable to complete the draw. These two notes cover close choices. Each belongs to a specific line above.
The chart is a learning aid for 8/5. Played exactly as written, it returns 99.1655%, against 99.1660% for perfect play: it parts from perfect play on 2,796 of the 2,598,960 deals, close calls worth 0.0005% in all. Reduced or modified pay tables can change the order: the analyzer checks your exact cards on your table.
Among the three standard tables below, 8/5 has the highest theoretical return. Each step down cuts the full-house payout; the 80 / 40 / 25 quad awards stay the same.
Standard 8/5 is the strongest of these three tables. Its 99.17% return assumes optimal decisions and the five-credit royal bonus; it is a long-run average, not a session target.
Changing this selector also updates the hand analyzer. These returns assume the full schedule shown and an 800-per-credit royal. They do not describe every game carrying the same name.
How the royal payout affects the wager| 8/5 Bonus Poker | Per creditat five credits | Five creditstotal payout |
|---|---|---|
| Royal flush | 800 | 4,000 |
| Straight flush | 50 | 250 |
| Four aces | 80 | 400 |
| Four 2s, 3s or 4s | 40 | 200 |
| Four 5s through kings | 25 | 125 |
| Full house | 8 | 40 |
| Flush | 5 | 25 |
| Straight | 4 | 20 |
| Three of a kind | 3 | 15 |
| Two pair | 2 | 10 |
| Pair of jacks, queens, kings or aces | 1 | 5 |
Each figure assumes its own optimal strategy, worked out exactly over all 2,598,960 deals. Reading a pay table shows how to tell the versions apart.
Do not stop at the “8/5” label. A table paying 75 for four aces instead of 80 is a different schedule, even with the same full-house and flush awards. Flat-quad versions also exist. Match every row before using this chart or analyzer.
With A♠ A♥ A♦ 9♠ 9♥, keep all five on 8/5 for a certain 8. On 6/5, keeping the aces and drawing two returns 6.4625, ahead of the full house’s 6. A lower pay table can change a substantial decision, not just a tiny tie-breaker.
The pay tables answer that. 9/6 Jacks or Better returns 99.5439%, above standard 8/5 Bonus Poker at 99.1660%. But 8/5 Jacks or Better returns 97.2984%, below the Bonus Poker version. The larger quad payouts do not, by themselves, identify the higher-return game.
Standard schedules, optimal play and the 800-per-credit royal in each case. The Jacks or Better tables, side by side.
On the conventional five-credit schedule shown here, a royal pays 250 per credit at one through four credits. At five credits, the total jumps to 4,000, or 800 per credit bet. The chart, analyzer and return figures assume that higher royal rate.
Five credits can cost $0.25 at a five-cent denomination or $1.25 at a quarter denomination. Choose a denomination that fits your budget; a payout bonus does not make an unaffordable wager sensible. Some online games pay a flat 800-for-1 royal instead, so check the actual rules.
It is the theoretical share of total wagers returned over the long run with optimal play. For each $1,000 wagered, the average net loss is about $8.34 on 8/5, $19.85 on 7/5 or $31.31 on 6/5. That is total money cycled through the game, including reused payouts—not your starting balance.
Large, uncommon payouts contribute to those averages. A short session can finish far above or below them. Neither four aces nor a royal becomes “due” after a losing run. Set a spending limit before playing; no hold or betting pattern guarantees a profit.
Match the full pay table, then keep the combination with the highest average payout for your five cards. For standard 8/5, start at the top of the reference chart and use the first matching line with its note. Keep two pair, keep full houses, and avoid unrelated kickers. Use the exact analyzer for competing draws and for 7/5 or 6/5 hands.
No, on the standard tables supported here. Two pair still pays 2 for 1. Keeping both pairs also leaves a one-card chance to make a full house. The larger ace-quad award does not make breaking two pair worthwhile. The starting example compares both choices directly.
No. Standard Bonus Poker has no kicker award, and keeping an unrelated card reduces the number of replacements you draw. With three aces and two unrelated cards, keep the three aces. An aces-full house is a separate decision: keep it on 8/5 and 7/5, but on 6/5 keep just the three aces.
The printable chart is scoped to 8/5. Many holds carry over: played on 7/5 it gives up 0.0005% against that table’s perfect play, and on 6/5 0.0059%. But a lower full-house payout can change the best decision, and the 6/5 aces-full example shows why you should select your actual table in the analyzer instead of assuming one chart is exact for all three.
No. The usual standard full-pay Bonus Poker game is 8/5, returning 99.1660% with optimal play and the stated royal payout. It still has a house edge of about 0.8340%. Other games with “Bonus” in their names have different schedules.
Not simply because the cards share a suit. A qualifying three-card royal or straight-flush draw can be worth keeping, but an ordinary three-card flush is not its own hold in this 8/5 chart. Ranks, suits and the two other dealt cards all matter.
No, standard Bonus Poker pays by the rank of the four matching cards. Keeping all five cards and keeping just the quads tie for the same payout. The analyzer marks both as best. A kicker-sensitive game such as Double Double Bonus is different.
Identical fair-deck rules and identical payouts produce the same best starting hold. In standard multi-hand games the total stake increases with the number of hands. Extra features, progressive jackpots, altered royal awards or nonstandard draws can change the analysis; check the complete game rules.
That is a separate gamble, outside the base-game hold strategy. The chart, analyzer and quoted return figures do not require it. Doubling a payout also puts that payout at risk under the feature’s own rules.
What carries over, and what does not.
The biggest change: never break 3 to a royal flush for a four-card flush. It is worth 0.0051% of the 0.0071% the six changes add.
Keep it on 8/5 and 7/5. On 6/5 the full house pays 6 and the three aces return 6.4625 on average, so draw to the aces.
8/5 Bonus Poker returns 99.17%, 9/6 Jacks or Better 99.54%: $4.63 an hour apart at $1.25 a hand.