Double Double Bonus Video Poker Strategy Card

The four actions are “stand” (play the two cards you are dealt as is), “hit” (take another card to try to better your two cards), “pair split” (if you have two cards of the same rank, make two separate hands out of them by adding another same size bet), or “double down” or simply “double” (add a bet equal to the original bet and take just one additional card). Double Double Bonus Poker (DDB) is the most popular video poker game in the country. That’s because it’s possible to hit several big payouts besides the royal flush, and this draws players to the game. Unfortunately, there are also some pitfalls to playing DDB, which most players are not aware of.

Double Bonus Deuces Wild video poker goes for the maximum excitement that a
video poker machine can possibly produce. With a wild card element in play, you
have the opportunity to get extremely rare poker hands with relative ease. When
you add in an aggressive bonus pay table, you have a game that really keeps the
adrenaline flowing the entire time you’re playing.

Jacks or Better is the most common form of video poker that can be found in
casinos and online at
top legit gambling
websites. The payouts are based on the difficulty of receiving each hand,
with the royal flush hand being the one that stands out well above the rest.
Yet, Jacks or Better makes it extremely hard for a player to come up with a win
that resembles a jackpot.

Video poker manufacturers usually create variations on Jacks or Better in one
of two ways. They can adjust the pay table so that certain hands pay off more
than they normally would if you were playing Jacks or Better. Or they designate
certain cards as wild, meaning that they can be switched into any other card in
the deck, a feature which brings rare hands much more within reach during
gameplay.

In the case of Double Bonus Deuces Wild video poker, you get a little bit of
both of those variations. First of all, as you can tell by the name of the game,
the four 2s in the deck are wild cards. With those wild cards, it’s not out of
the question for you to make hands that might normally seem out of your grasp,
even a five of a kind.

As for the bonus element of the game, the pay table for Double Bonus Deuces
Wild video poker gives out more for certain rare hands than you would find in
common Deuces Wild games. In fact, the aforementioned five of a kind hands are
the ones that really take a jump on the pay table. Depending on which cards are
involved, you can get up to a ten-times boost on your payout for a five of a
kind.

Yet it’s important not to get too carried away thinking that Double Bonus
Deuces Wild video poker is superior to other video poker games. The pay tables
are adjusted to account for the increased payoffs and the presence of the wild
cards.

In the end, the takeout that you can expect from the machine will be similar
to most other games found in casinos and online, including Jacks or Better. And
the bonus payout structure makes the game one of the more volatile versions of
video poker around, meaning that your bankroll can experience wild up and down
swings.

The following article will tell you everything you need to know about Double
Bonus Deuces Wild video poker. We’ll talk about how to play basic video poker
and what the wild card and bonus elements add to it. In addition, we’ll look at
pay tables, payback percentages, and strategy for this brand of video poker.

Playing Video Poker

If you are someone who has already played video poker with some regularity,
you likely know the basics of gameplay that we’ll discuss in this section. On
the other hand, if you are new to the game, you’ll be happy to know that it’s an
easy one to learn. This is especially true if you know the basics of five-card
draw poker, which is the card game that video poker essentially mimics.

What you’ll also be glad to learn is how video poker might just be the
perfect casino game. It often gets lumped into the same category as slot
machines because the machines usually occupy the same section. Indeed, video
poker gives you the same self-contained play as you would find in a slot
machine.

But video poker tops slot machines for many reasons. For one, you get to use
some strategy in video poker. And you also know
the probabilities of
winning go into play since they are based on the probabilities found in a
deck of 52 cards.

Slot machines don’t offer those probabilities when it comes to their winning
spins. On top of that, the large majority of video poker machines pay out at a
higher level than even the most lucrative slot machines. With video poker, you
are essentially getting the best of everything.

Now that you know all the good stuff, let’s talk about how to play. Here is a
step-by-step look at the process:

The Bankroll. If playing in a casino, you have to
insert money or a redemption ticket into the machine to start playing. Those
playing online will have to establish an account with the gambling website in
question. Your bankroll will be determined by how much you put into the machine
and what denomination you choose to play.

The Bet. It’s important to bet the maximum five coins
for each hand you play if at all possible. You can play one through four coins
if you wish, but the payout odds for a natural royal flush hand (comprised of
ten through ace of the same suit) jump considerably with the five-coin bet.

The Deal. Whether you’re playing online at a website
or at a machine in the casino, five cards will appear on your screen. You’ll
have one chance to improve upon the deal by discarding as many of your cards as
you choose in an effort to make a winning hand. If the hand you have is already
a winner and you don’t want to change it, you can simply hold on to all five
cards.

The Draw. The computer will replace your discarded
cards with new ones from the same simulated deck that made the deal. At this
point, the hand is over and will be scored by the computer inside the machine
(or online). Any winning credits will be added to your bankroll.

Repeat or Quit. As long as you have credits remaining
you can continue to play by repeating steps two through four. Alternatively, you
can cash out at any time. If you run out of credits, you will have to replenish
your bankroll to continue.

That’s pretty simple, right? If you follow this process and know a little bit
about winning poker hands, you’re all set to go. Now you can learn about the
special aspects of Double Bonus Deuces Wild video poker.

Wild Card Play

A wild card is any card in the deck that has been designated beforehand as
one that can be changed into any other that improves your hand the most. In the
case of Double Bonus Deuces Wild video poker, the wild cards are the four 2s in
the 52-card deck. You’ll want to see these in your hand as much as possible.

Let’s take a look at a sample hand and how the wild cards change the game.
Imagine that you received these five cards on the deal:

In most forms of video poker, this wouldn’t be the most exciting deal. You do
have a pair of twos, which is probably what you would hold in the hopes of it
improving.

Double Double Bonus Video Poker Strategy Card Game

But remember that the twos in Double Bonus Deuces Wild video poker are wild
cards. Look at that hand again and the possibilities that it creates. At the
very least, you have a three of a kind since the two 2s can be paired up with
any other rank.

Yet a closer look reveals that the queen of clubs and king of clubs are the
seeds for a potential wild royal flush. The wild cards give you a lot of outs to
that hand. You can get there with another two, the ten of clubs, the jack of
clubs, or the ace of clubs coming up in the draw; five possibilities out of 47
left in the deck.

As such, the smart play is to keep the two wilds and the queen and king of
clubs. Now imagine that you agree and this comes up on the draw:

You didn’t get the wild royal flush, but you did get another club. The two
wilds can also be changed into clubs, which gives you a flush.

That hand gives you an idea of the flexibility that wild cards provide. They
put hands into play that normally you could only dream of achieving, but you
have to keep in mind that the pay tables are adjusted, discounting some of the
hands that the wild cards help to achieve.

Bonus Play Pay Tables

The other main consideration you have to make concerning Double Bonus Deuces
Wild video poker is whether you like the structure of the Bonus pay table setup.
A pay table explains to you what you can expect from each winning hand. It also
lets you know what the best strategy should be for each particular hand.

Here is one of the most common pay tables that you will find among Double
Bonus Deuces Wild video poker games in casinos and online:

First, let’s talk about how to read the pay table. Whatever your winning hand
is, simply match it up to what bet you have made.

For example, a full house hand with five coins played would pay off 15 coins.
The original bet of five coins is included in that amount, which means that the
profit is 10 coins.

Without any context, it’s hard to see what separates a Double Bonus Deuces
Wild video poker from other games. Let’s provide that context by looking at a
normal Deuces Wild pay table with no bonus involved.

You’ll probably notice a couple things right off the bat when looking at this
pay table. First of all, there is a distinction in the Double Bonus Deuces Wild
video poker in terms of what card is involved with a five of a kind. In the
normal Deuces Wild table, all five of a kind hands pay the same.

In addition, all of the five of a kind hands (made possible with the wild
cards) in Double Bonus Deuces Wild video poker pay off more than in Deuces Wild.
In Deuces Wild, the payoff is 15 to 1 for a five of a kind. In Double Bonus
Deuces Wild, it’s 20 to 1 for five 6s through kings, 50 to 1 for five 3s through
fives, and 160 to 1 for five aces.

On top of all that, Double Bonus Deuces Wild video poker allows for a bonus
for four deuces, or wild cards, with an ace as the fifth card in the hand, or
kicker. It pays off at a whopping 500 to 1. In Deuces Wild, all hands with four
wilds pay off the same, regardless of the kicker, at 250 to 1.

From all of that information, you might think that Double Bonus Deuces Wild
video poker is the better of the two games. Yet you might be surprised to know
that, on average, the pay table listed above for Deuces Wild produces a higher
payout than the Double Bonus Deuces Wild video poker game.

How is that possible? Well, you need to look toward the bottom of the pay
table. You’ll notice that a straight pays off on Deuces Wild at 2 to 1. On
Double Bonus Deuces Wild video poker, it’s only an even-money payout, which
means your bet is returned to you with nothing extra.

The fact is that this hand will appear often when you are playing video poker
with wild cards. And every time it comes up, you won’t quite be getting the full
pay for it when you are playing Double Bonus Deuces Wild video poker. That helps
to even out the payback in the two games.

You also have to realize that the lower payouts for common hands make Double
Bonus Deuces Wild video poker what is known as a volatile game. This means your
bankroll is susceptible to all kinds of swings in momentum.

You might have a better chance of picking up large winnings in a hurry
because of the increased payouts for a five of a kind. But you also run a great
risk of losing your entire bankroll if you can’t achieve one of those
high-paying hands early on in your session.

Payback Percentages for Double Bonus Deuces Wild Video Poker

Because of the probability factor that governs video poker and the pay tables
that are involved, you can know going into play what the expected payback for
any given machine might be. This comes from a figure known as the payback
percentage. The payback percentage is a number that represents the average money
that will be returned to the gambler during a given session.

If a payback percentage is listed as 98%, it means that the
casino, or house, has an edge of 2 percent on the player. On average, $1,000 put
into that machine would return the player $980, which makes for a $20 loss.

Yet the key words in that sentence are “on average.” During a short video
poker session, anything can happen. You might win a couple big hands right off
the bat and walk away with a hefty profit, or you might have a hard time picking
up good hands and lose most of your bankroll in a hurry.

In terms of the pay table that we listed above for Double Bonus Deuces Wild
video poker, the payback percentage is listed at 99.81%. That is a solid number.
Usually, anything above 99% is considered an excellent payback and is a game
that a gambler should not hesitate to play.

What you need to understand, however, is that there are other versions of
Double Bonus Deuces Wild video poker that you might encounter, either in a
casino or online, which alter the pay tables from the one listed above. Usually,
the bonus payout hands for the five of a kinds stay the same. On the middle
level of the pay table is where the changes usually occur.

Most of the pay tables that you find for other versions of Double Bonus
Deuces Wild video poker will have payback percentages that come in slightly
lower than the one listed above. This might not be much of a concern to you if
you are only playing for a short time, but serious players should always seek
out the game that gives them the best chance of earning the most money.

Coming up With Effective Strategy for Double Bonus Deuces Wild Video Poker

One thing we neglected to mention above in terms of payback percentages: They
can only be reached if you are playing video poker without any mistakes. Every
incorrect hold and discard that you make will bring down your expected
percentage.

How do you know what holds are right and wrong? Well, in the middle of a
video poker session, you might get away with an incorrect hold or two if the
draw turns out your way. By the same token, a correct hold does not ensure that
you will come up with a winning hand.

But, over time, making the right holds, according to the probabilities and
the pay tables, will pay off. Perfect play can be difficult to achieve, however.
And this is especially true with Double Bonus Deuces Wild video poker, where the
pay table is a bit quirkier than what you would find in typical Jacks or Better
play.

Luckily, there are ways to overcome this and achieve perfect play. Here are
two that we recommend.

Video Poker Training Software

You might be able to find a free software program that gives you access to a
simulation of Double Bonus Deuces Wild video poker. More than likely, however,
you’ll need to purchase one. The video poker trainers that can be bought
generally include an option that allows you to customize the pay table and add
wild cards if necessary.

When using a video poker trainer, you will be alerted when you make incorrect
decisions. Many trainers also allow you to only play the most difficult hands,
which would be the ones where it’s a close call between two possible holds.
Using a video poker trainer for a long period of time will eventually render
perfect play second nature to you.

Strategy Charts

Strategy charts can be found online for just about every brand of
video poker,
including Double Bonus Deuces Wild video poker. These charts contain all the
possible seeds of winning hands you might receive in the deal and rank them from
most desirable to least. By looking at your own hand and finding where it ranks
in the chart, you can then spot the inessential cards and discard them.

The best way to utilize a strategy chart is to memorize it. This isn’t easy,
especially in a game with wild cards and a lot of different combinations to
remember. Still, memorization is preferable to bringing the chart into the
casino with you, as that might slow your play down and lead to dirty looks from
casino employees.

Advantages of Double Bonus Deuces Wild Video Poker

• Wild cards bring rare hands into play
• Bonus pay table allows for high payouts
• Basic gameplay allows beginners to understand it

Disadvantages of Double Bonus Deuces Wild Video Poker

• Extremely volatile action due to the bonus pay table
• Wild cards don’t automatically increase payback percentages
• Need a large bankroll to play for a long time

Quick Tips for Playing Double Bonus Deuces Wild Video Poker

Play the Max: You might think that grabbing a natural
royal flush (one achieved without the use of a wild card) is a long shot. You’d
be right, but it is still a possibility. And if it comes up during play and you
haven’t bet the max, you’ll be kicking yourself all the way home.

Don’t Overplay the Common Hands: Remember that you
are dealing with a wild card game and a bonus pay table. That means that basic
hands like a three of a kind and straights don’t have a lot of value. Always
keep the option open for wild cards to come into play on the draw if at all
possible.

Go Big or Go Home: You really need to hit those five
of a kind hands to take full advantage of the bonus pay table. It might mean
lessening your chances for a smaller payout to do so, but it’s the only way you
can survive in this game in the long run.

Conclusion

With both bonus and wild card aspects, video poker games don’t get much more
exciting than Double Bonus Deuces Wild. Those big hands will come your way
eventually. The question is whether you have the bankroll, and the stomach, to
wait for them to arrive.

Video poker is one of the few casino games where the player's input has a major effect on the outcome of the game. Every time you push Deal you receive five new cards and have a total of thirty-two ways to play the hand. To be a successful video poker player, you have to make the best choice out of those thirty-two options as often as possible.

Since computers can mathematically analyze all thirty-two ways to play any given hand, it is possible to figure out the absolutely correct decision for every hand you receive. However, most players don't carry around high powered computers when they are in the casino, so how is this useful?

Well, fortunately for us, some video poker experts have taken it upon themselves to analyze every single hand that can come off the deck, and assemble their findings into easy to read charts that teach players how to play. Below we have strategy charts for the most common video poker games:

Where to Play Video Poker Online

Double Double Bonus Poker Game

Most of our pages above list just an expert-level strategy chart that will get you to within 0.1% of the maximum payout percentage for the respective game. Some of the pages also list a beginner-level strategy chart that isn't as accurate, but is easier to follow. If you want to play video poker on your PC check out our guide here. Alternatively, you can also have a look at this site's list of ipad video poker app for real money.

How to Use a Video Poker Strategy Chart

The strategy charts on our site are actually very simple to understand, but to a beginner they may be a bit overwhelming at the start. To use a chart you follow these steps:

1. Analyze your hand. Make sure you look at all five of your cards before looking at the chart.
2. Start at the top of the chart and work down. You are looking for any spots on the chart where your hand matches up. For example, if you had four hearts in your hand as well as a pair of Kings, it would match up with 'Four to a Flush' as well as 'High Pair'.
3. Once you find a couple matches for your hand, observe which one is highest on the chart. Hold the cards indicated by the highest match.

If you still are a little confused, check out the below example to clear things up:

An Example Hand Analysis

Imagine you are playing a normal Deuces Wild video poker machine. You push 'Draw', and are dealt the hand below:

Ok, so what do we have here as far as options? Well, first of all, we have a Pat Straight, Seven to Jack - a made hand. We also have four clubs, so we have Four to a Flush. If we look at the chart below (a condensed strategy chart for Deuces Wild), we can see that a Pat Straight is just above Four to a Flush, so the Pat Straight is the better hand of the two.

But wait! Since all we need for a straight flush is the nine of clubs, we also have Four to a Straight Flush. Because Four to a Straight Flush is higher on the chart than both a Pat Straight and Four to a Flush, the correct play here is to hold the four clubs and discard the nine of spades in hopes of hitting the Straight Flush.

See - it really isn't bad at all, as long as you pay attention to all the cards in your hand.

How Accurate are Strategy Charts?

Another intelligent question to ask is how accurate are these charts? If you find a game that returns 100.5%, but your chart has 0.6% error in it, then you are actually only playing at a 99.9% return - also known as a losing gamble.

Well, the charts on our site are on roughly accurate to within 0.1% of perfect play. So, if you find that game that returns 100.5%, you would be actually earning about 100.4% with our charts - not too bad. Not many charts get much closer than 0.1% because they would have to be extremely long and complicated to explain the subtle differences in rare hands.

Video Poker Strategy Software

Double Double Bonus Poker Strategy

There are quite a few programs out there than can develop custom strategy charts for all kinds of games with various pay tables. We have reviewed quite a few of these programs, here are links to our reviews: