Double Double Bonus Poker

Game developers have taken the concept of Double Bonus Poker a step further with Double Double Bonus (DDB) poker.  Just as DB provides a "bonus" payout by increasing the game's variance, DDB escalates the variance to another level by providing for further enhanced payouts for certain hands.  In particular, a new "mini-jackpot" payout is created for four aces with a "kicker" (a qualifying kicker is a 2, 3, or 4).  In addition, a kicker of Ace, 2, 3, or 4 with four 2s, 3s, or 4s yields a higher payout.  As usual, the cost to the player is in a reduced payout for more frequently occurring hands (most notably, the straight pays 4 instead of 5 as in DB).  In addition, the variance is increased substantially -- to about 42, a substantial increase.  You will need a higher bankroll for playing DDB than for DB.  Following is a summary of the 9/6/4 version of DDB:

DDB has become an extremely popular game.  Players really like it (presumably because of the "mini-jackpot" bonus payouts) and casinos like it because in its highest paying form it typically returns less than 99%.  But one absolutely must be cognizant of the increased variance and the decreased overall return.  Returns for the  more commonly found DDB games are listed below:

Obviously, one needs to carefully avoid the lower paying varieties of this game.

Strategy Tip:  Players who enjoy the added "action" of the DB or DDB game but cannot find either of the playable versions (10/7/5 or 9/7/5) might compromise on a Bonus Poker game.  Bonus Poker has somewhat increased payouts (over JB) for Fours of a Kind without giving up the staying power generated by two pair (two pair is responsible for 25% of the payout in JB and Bonus Poker games).  8/5 Bonus games return 99.1660%; but even 7/5 Bonus (at 98.0147%) is better than the lesser versions of Double Bonus.  If you do choose Bonus Poker, be sure it pays two units for two pair -- see our Bonus Poker page for details.