By duozhandian 
Of course. You’re asking about **Double Bonus Poker**, which is one of the most popular and strategically important video poker variants. It’s not a “slot machine” in the traditional sense—it’s a game of skill based on five-card draw poker, where your decisions directly impact the payout.
Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of **Double Bonus Poker**:
### The Core Concept: “Double Bonus” for What?
The “Double Bonus” refers to significantly increased payouts for **Four of a Kind** hands, especially for Aces and lower-ranked cards (2s, 3s, 4s). This is the defining feature that sets it apart from Jacks or Better and even Bonus Poker.
**Key Trade-off:** To fund these big 4-of-a-kind payouts, the payout for a **Full House** and **Flush** are reduced compared to other games.
—
### Standard Pay Table (9/6/5 is considered “Full-Pay”)
Payouts are for a **5-coin bet** (max bet). The first number is the key.
* **Royal Flush:** 4000 coins (800 for 1)
* **Straight Flush:** 250 coins (50 for 1)
* **Four Aces:** **800 coins** (160 for 1) → *The Big Bonus*
* **Four 2s, 3s, 4s:** **400 coins** (80 for 1) → *The Small Bonus*
* **Four 5s through Ks:** **250 coins** (50 for 1)
* **Full House:** **9 for 1** (This is the “9” in 9/6/5)
* **Flush:** **6 for 1** (This is the “6”)
* **Straight:** **5 for 1** (This is the “5”)
* **Three of a Kind:** 3 for 1
* **Two Pair:** 2 for 1
* **Jacks or Better:** 1 for 1
**Return:** The “9/6” (9 for Full House, 6 for Flush) version has a theoretical return of **99.11%** with perfect play. Lower pay tables like 9/5 or 8/5 have significantly lower returns.
—
### Strategy Differences (vs. Jacks or Better)
Because of the bonus structure, the strategy is more complex. You often break “normal” poker hands to chase the big 4-of-a-kind bonuses.
**Critical Strategy Examples:**
1. **Hold Low Pairs over High Cards:** In Jacks or Better, you’d hold a single Ace over a low pair. In Double Bonus, you **ALWAYS hold the low pair** (e.g., a pair of 3s) over 1 or even 2 high cards (Ace, King) because of the 400-coin bonus for four 3s.
2. **Chasing Four Aces Aggressively:** With three Aces, you will often discard a paying pair (like a pair of Kings) to try for the fourth Ace and the 800-coin jackpot.
3. **Full House vs. Three of a Kind:** You sometimes break up a *made* Full House if you have three Aces or three low cards, hoping to convert them into Four of a Kind.
4. **Two Pair Rule:** You **almost always hold two pair** (despite the low payout) because discarding one to try for a Full House ruins your chances at the big 4-of-a-kind bonuses.
### Pros and Cons
**Pros:**
* Higher volatility and excitement due to bigger 4-of-a-kind payouts.
* One of the highest possible returns (>99%) for a video poker game with the right pay table.
* More strategic depth than simpler variants.
**Cons:**
* Much higher volatility. You will have longer dry spells between wins.
* Reduced payouts for Full House and Flush mean more “small wins” disappear.
* Complex strategy that is easy to get wrong, which drastically lowers your return if you don’t play perfectly.
### Finding a Good Machine & Bankroll Tips
1. **LOOK FOR “9/6”:** Always check the pay table on the machine’s help screen. **9/6 Double Bonus (9 for Full House, 6 for Flush)** is the only version you should play for serious money. Anything less (like 9/5 or 8/5) has a much lower return.
2. **Bankroll Needs to Be Larger:** Due to the volatility, you need a bigger bankroll to survive the swings compared to Jacks or Better.
3. **Always Play Max Coins (5):** This is critical to get the 800-for-1 bonus on the Royal Flush. Playing less makes the game unbeatable in the long run.
### Is It a “Slot”?
While it’s housed in a cabinet next to slot machines, **it’s not a game of pure chance like a slot**. Your skill in choosing which cards to hold determines your long-term outcome. This is why skilled players seek out the full-pay “9/6” machines.
**In summary: Double Bonus Poker is a high-volatility, high-strategy video poker game that rewards players for hitting Four of a Kind hands with much larger bonuses, at the expense of smaller everyday payouts. Perfect strategy and finding the right 9/6 pay table are absolutely essential.**