Bonus Poker Paytables and Strategy

Bonus Poker is among the simpler video poker games to learn. The strategy is similar to the one for Jacks or Better. Bonus Poker offers a little more variance than Jacks or Better. Compared to other bonus games, it is the lowest. That is because Bonus Poker pays two coins on two pair. Other common games in the Bonus family only pay one coin on two pair to cover larger payouts on quads. 

In most cases, Bonus Poker will be the best video poker game available on a machine. If you find an inferior pay table for it, that probably applies to the rest of the menu of titles. 

There are two types of Bonus Poker video poker games. The most common one pays bonuses for quad aces, deuces, threes, and fours. The other version pays an elevated amount on all four of a kind hands, either 30 or 35, when compared to the 25 offered by Jacks or Better. 

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Best Bonus Poker pay tables

The best paytable for Bonus Poker is often the best video poker game in casinos that are not on the Las Vegas Strip. We have seen many regional casino markets with 8/5 Bonus Poker as its best game. This is also the case in downtown Las Vegas and some locals casinos.

On the Las Vegas Strip, 7/5 Bonus Poker is often the best game at the limits most people play. This game can be found at many Las Vegas Strip casinos, sometimes with a royal flush progressive jackpot. 

The pay tables below represent the payout per coin wagered, and that the player bets enough coins to get paid 800/1 on a royal flush. That is usually five coins but can be 10, 20, or more. Always check the paytable on the machine to ensure that you are betting the proper number of coins for the best payout. 

The percentage in parenthesis is the theoretical return. It assumes perfect strategy. Mistakes can add to the house edge. 

35/8/5 Bonus Poker

This game pays 35 on all quads. It is rare, and not the version described above as 8/5 Bonus Poker. This game is usually only available at the highest limits or in value casino markets. We found it in the $10 denomination at Harrah’s Cherokee. It is also on a couple of machines in Laughlin at the quarter denomination.

  • Royal flush: 800
  • Straight flush: 50
  • Four of a kind: 35
  • Full house: 8
  • Flush: 5
  • Straight: 4
  • Three of a kind: 3
  • Two pair: 2
  • Pair of jacks, queens, kings, or aces: 1

Most common 8/5 Bonus Poker (99.17%)

This version of 8/5 Bonus Poker is widespread. In markets with full pay video poker, you will often find this to be the best game at the bar. In markets that do not offer full pay video poker, this is usually the best game that you will find in terms of house edge. This is the most likely version dealt at legal online casinos.

  • Royal flush: 800
  • Straight flush: 50
  • Four aces: 80
  • Four 2s, 3s or 4s: 40
  • Four fives to kings: 25
  • Full house: 8
  • Flush: 5
  • Straight: 4
  • Three of a kind: 3
  • Two pair: 2
  • Pair of jacks, queens, kings, or aces: 1

30/8/5 Bonus Poker (98.48%)

This version of 8/5 Bonus Poker that pays 30 on all quads is more common than the one that pays 35. However, it is still not a popular version.

  • Royal flush: 800
  • Straight flush: 50
  • Four of a kind: 30
  • Full house: 8
  • Flush: 5
  • Straight: 4
  • Three of a kind: 3
  • Two pair: 2
  • Pair of jacks, queens, kings, or aces: 1

7/5 Bonus Poker (98.01%)

This version of Bonus Poker can be found at nearly all casinos. Those with poor pay tables at lower limits often go to 7/5 at the dollar denomination. The only difference between this game and the 99.17% version is that a full house only pays seven coins in this game.

  • Royal flush: 800
  • Straight flush: 50
  • Four aces: 80
  • Four 2s, 3s or 4s: 40
  • Four fives to kings: 25
  • Full house: 7
  • Flush: 5
  • Straight: 4
  • Three of a kind: 3
  • Two pair: 2
  • Pair of jacks, queens, kings, or aces: 1

35/6/5 Bonus Poker (97.36%)

The 35/6/5 Bonus Poker game is uncommon. It is usually found on bartop video poker machines. It returns a little more than the standard 6/5 Bonus Poker game. All quads pay 35/1.

  • Royal flush: 800
  • Straight flush: 50
  • Four of a kind: 35
  • Full house: 6
  • Flush: 5
  • Straight: 4
  • Three of a kind: 3
  • Two pair: 2
  • Pair of jacks, queens, kings, or aces: 1

6/5 Bonus Poker (96.87%)

If you are in a casino with bad video poker pay tables, or playing lower denominations, you may find this to be the best video poker game. It drops the full house one coin from the pay table above. 

  • Royal flush: 800
  • Straight flush: 50
  • Four aces: 80
  • Four 2s, 3s or 4s: 40
  • Four fives to kings: 25
  • Full house: 6
  • Flush: 5
  • Straight: 4
  • Three of a kind: 3
  • Two pair: 2
  • Pair of jacks, queens, kings, or aces: 1

30/6/5 Bonus Poker (96.18%)

The 30/6/5 Bonus Poker is one of the worst available. Its most common location is at Caesars Entertainment bars in Las Vegas. It pays 30 on all quads.

  • Royal flush: 800
  • Straight flush: 50
  • Four of a kind: 30
  • Full house: 6
  • Flush: 5
  • Straight: 4
  • Three of a kind: 3
  • Two pair: 2
  • Pair of jacks, queens, kings, or aces: 1

Don’t fall for 10/8/5 Bonus Poker

There is a version of Bonus Poker that shows a 10-coin payout on a full house, 8 on a flush, and 5 on a straight. In exchange for these elevated payouts, two pair pushes, instead of paying two coins. The house edge here is 94.18% when playing perfectly. The strategy changes due to the change in payouts. Mistakes will make that much worse.

I have found this game all over Deadwood casinos. It is also found on denominations under quarter, and at a few Las Vegas bars. 

Basic strategy for 8/5 Bonus Poker

Below is the basic strategy for 8/5 Bonus Poker. There are a few exceptions to learn, but not as many as in other games. If the hand you are dealt is not listed, discard all.

  • Stand pat on a full house, four of a kind, straight flush, and royal flush
  • Four to a royal flush
  • Stand pat on straight or flush
  • Three of a kind
  • Four to any straight flush
  • Two pair
  • Pair of jacks, queens, kings, or aces
  • Three to a royal flush
  • Four to a flush
  • Unsuited ten, jack, queen, and king
  • Pair of deuces through tens
  • Four to an open-ended straight
  • Three to a straight flush with more high cards than gaps, like nine, jack, and queen
  • Unsuited jack, queen, king, and ace
  • Two suited cards jack or higher
  • Three to a straight flush with as many gaps as high cards, like eight, jack, and queen
  • Unsuited nine, jack, queen, and king, or any ace-high straight draw
  • Unsuited jack, queen, and king
  • Unsuited jack and queen
  • Three card-straight flushes with at least one card jack and higher
  • Unsuited king with queen or jack
  • Ten and jack suited
  • Unsuited ace with jack, queen, or king
  • Single ace
  • Suited king or queen with ten
  • Single jack, queen, or king
  • All other three-card straight flush draws

Using a players card at Bonus Poker video poker

Most machines with Bonus Poker pay full slot points. Some Atlantic City casinos pay reduced points on 8/5 Bonus Poker. When using your casino players card, you will receive up to 0.3% slot points. You will also be entered into other promotions, like point multipliers and drawings. Active players can receive offers by mail and email for free slot play, meals, and hotel rooms. 

Multi-hand Bonus Poker

Bonus Poker is usually the best game on a multi-hand video poker machine. These come in Triple Play, Five Play, Ten Play, 25 Play, 50 Play, and 100 Play. The pay tables are usually the 7/5 or 6/5 version. The 7/5 one is often available on quarter and higher, while 6/5 is on the lower denominations. In Las Vegas, you will find 8/5 Bonus Poker on many multi-hand machines, especially at higher denominations and in the locals market.

Importance of playing the best paytables

Paytables may not seem like a big deal. However, picking the wrong one can affect your expected return substantially. The best common Bonus Poker paytable is 8/5. That has a house advantage of 0.83% when using the perfect strategy. The next common paytable below is 7/5, which holds 1.99%. The 6/5 payout holds 3.13%.

The lists below show the expected hourly losses between these games at different denominations. The math assumes playing 700 hands per hour with five coins wagered.

Quarter

  • 8/5: $7.63
  • 7/5: $17.41
  • 6/5: $27.39

Half-dollar

  • 8/5: $15.26
  • 7/5: $34.82
  • 6/5: $54.78

Dollar

  • 8/5: $29.05
  • 7/5: $69.65
  • 6/5: $109.55

As you see from the comparison, bad Bonus Poker paytables have a serious effect on your chances of a winning session and your overall losses. The $1 8/5 players lose about as much per hour as the quarter 6/5 ones. This adds up over time.

There is no such thing as a lucky machine in video poker. The only things that matter are the paytable and your knowledge of the proper strategy. If your local casino or online casino does not offer the 8/5 paytable, find one that does.