Within this Bonus Poker Guide, we take a look at how to play the casino poker game and also use a strategy chart to win successfully. If you are new to online poker, you will enjoy this game as it is easy to pick up and packed with many bonuses. For seasoned players, this game is similar to Jacks or Better. Find out more below.

Bonus Poker Guide: An Introduction

One of the most well-liked table games you can play at brick-and-mortar or online casinos is Bonus Poker. It is a Jacks or Better variant that has additional payouts to keep players on the edge of their seats. Additionally, when adopting straightforward learning tactics, it is simple to get the hang of and can be a lot of fun.

You must attempt to assemble a potent five-card poker hand in Bonus Poker. In essence, your reward will be higher the stronger your hand is. Each round begins with you placing a bet and the dealer dealing you five cards. The game will come to a close once you have the opportunity to replace any out-of-date cards in your hand with fresh ones. Your compensation will be determined by the force of your hand.

Although we will examine the Bonus Poker strategy in more detail later, there is one general approach we advise you to use. It is recommended to bet with the most coins possible. This is due to the opportunity provided by the game to maximize a boosted payment. This is only possible, though, if you are using the maximum number of coins for your wager.

Bonus Poker Guide: The Rules

Basically, Bonus Poker is quite entertaining to play, but only if you are aware of the best hands. There are eleven distinct winning hand types in all.

Bonus Poker Guide
Picture Source: Pexels

You will lose if you don’t have one of the hands listed below. List of hands, from weakest to strongest:

  • Jacks or Better: The weakest hand which contains at least a pair of Jacks.
  • Two Pair: Any hand that contains at least two pairs, for instance two 5s and two 8s.
  • Three of a Kind: Any hand that has at least three cards with the same value, for instance three 7s.
  • Straight: A hand that has a run of five consecutive numbers, for instance 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Aces can be used at both the start and end of the sequence.
  • Flush: A hand that has five cards from the same suit, for instance 3, 4, 7, Jack, King of Spades.
  • Full House: Any hand that contains a three of a kind and a pair. An example of this is three 4s and two 10s.
  • 4 of a Kind: A hand that contains four 5s, 6s, 7s, 8s, 9s, 10s, Js, Qs or Ks.
  • A 4 of a Kind 2s, 3s or 4s: A hand that contains four 2s, 3s or 4s.
  • 4 of a Kind Aces: A hand that contains four Aces of any suit.
  • Straight Flush: A hand that contains five consecutive cards that have the same suit. An example of this is 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of Clubs.
  • Royal Flush: A hand that has a flush whilst also the strongest value cards. Any of these would work: 10, J, Q, K, A of Spades, Hearts, Clubs or Diamonds.

Bonus Poker Guide: The Pay Outs

The payouts for playing Bonus Poker won’t always be the same. The game may offer more in some versions than in others. However, the accepted rule is that a Royal Flush pays 250:1. This might rise to an 800:1 ratio if you are using the maximum five coins. The bonus awarded for 4 of a Kind hands will also differ greatly. It depends on the casino you are playing at and the game version you are using.

Inside and Outside Straights

Understanding the distinction between Inside Straights and Outside Straights is not crucial, but it might be useful later when you are considering other tactics. In essence, they both describe to hands that you will attempt to chance into a Straight. The distinction is in how you go about doing it. In contrast to inside bets, which only give you one option, outside bets let you turn a card into one of two possibilities. Here’s an illustration:

  • Outside Bet: Your hand is 5, 7, A, 6, 4. That means, by changing the A, you will have a straight if you receive either 3 or 8.
  • Inside Bet: Your hand is 3, Q, 6, 7, 5. That means by changing the Q, you will have a straight only if you receive a 4.

Bonus Poker Basic Strategy

Like Video Poker, Bonus Poker is a game where strategy can be used. Based on the cards that have been dealt, you may always determine your chances of winning. You can determine which cards are displayed and how many cards are in a pack because of this. Applying fundamental Bonus Poker strategy, then, is simple and applicable to every round.

Bonus Poker Guide
Picture Source: Pexels

 

You can become accustomed to the fundamental tactic with a little practice. In essence, when you’ve been dealt your cards, you should evaluate them and look for a hand that matches yours. The choices are as follows:

  • 4 of a Kind, Straight, Royal Flush: If you are dealt any of these hands, keep your cards as they are as they do not get better than that.
  • 4 to a Royal Flush: If you are dealt four cards for a Royal Flush, you try and replace the final card to get the full Royal Flush.
  • Straight, Flush, Full House: Whenever you are dealt one of these hands, you should keep your hand as it is.
  • 3 of a Kind: When you are dealt this hand, keep the three cards as they will guarantee a payout. Discard the rest in hope that you can improve that hand to a Full House or 4 of a Kind.
  • 4 to a Straight Flush: When you are dealt this hand, you should keep the four cards and hope that this fifth will either complete the Straight Flush or at least give you a Straight or Flush.
  • 2 Pairs: If you receive this hand, keep the two pairs and replace the fifth card to hopefully claim a Full House.
  • A Pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings or Aces: If you are dealt any one of these pairs, keep the pair and discard the rest, in hope of a 3 of a Kind, 4 of a Kind or Full House.
  • 3 to a Royal Flush: When you are dealt this hand, keep the three and replace the other two.
  • 4 to a Flush: If you are dealt this hand, discard the one card that stops you from the Flush.
  • KQJT Unsuited: Discard the one card that is not one of these in hope for a Straight or High Pair.
  • Low Pair: Keep the pair and discard the rest, hoping for a 3 or 4 of a Kind.
  • 4 to an Outside Straight: Keep hold of the four cards and discard the 5th, hoping it will complete the Straight.
Bonus Poker Guide
Picture Source: Pexels
  • 3 to a Straight Flush: Discard two cards that do not complete the Straight Flush and hope they will replace to either give you a Straight, Flush or Straight Flush.
  • AKQJ Unsuited: Discard card that does not complete this in hope for a Straight or High Pair.
  • 2 Suited High Cards: Discard the fifth card in hope of a Royal Flush or any other hand.
  • 3 to a Straight Flush: Discard the two cards in hope of a Straight Flush with no high cards or gaps.
  • 4 to an Inside Straight with 3 High Cards: Keep the 3 high cards and hope for a Straight, or at least a High Pair.
  • Unsuited JQK: Discard the two cards and hope for a Straight or at least a High Pair.
  • Unsuited JQ: Discard three cards in hope of a Straight or a High Pair.
  • KQ, KJ Unsuited: Hope for a Straight or High Pair.
  • JT Suited: Discard 3 cards in hope of a Pair of Jacks, Straight, Flush, Straight Flush or Royal Flush.
  • AK, AQ, AJ Unsuited: Discard three cards for a Straight or at least a High Pair or Two Pair.
  • Ace: Discard all cards that do not match but keep the Ace as it is strong.
  • KT, QT Suited: Hope for a Straight, Flush or High Pair.
  • Jack, Queen or King: Hope for a high pair or better.

The Bottom Line

The chart is fairly lengthy and initially appears to be quite difficult. However, after you become accustomed to it, you will be aware of how to play Bonus Poker. If you use the basic strategy chart, it’s a good idea to take your spending limit and bankroll into account as well. After some practice, simply following the chart will almost feel second nature, and you should be OK. We hope that this Bonus Poker guide has helped you in finding your feet to play the online casino game. Feel free to play it at the best online blackjack sites.

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