Double Double Bonus Poker is a video poker game built on Jacks or Better that pays big bonuses for four of a kind, especially four aces or four 2s, 3s or 4s with the right fifth card (the kicker). The best version, 10/6, returns 100.07% with perfect play; the more common 9/6 returns 98.98%, and weaker tables drop below 98%.
The bonus quads make it a high-variance game: two pair pays only even money to fund the big four-of-a-kind payouts, so expect long losing stretches between hits. It is part of the Bonus Poker family found on IGT multi-game machines and at many online casinos.
Double Double Bonus at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Base game | Jacks or Better |
| Best pay table | 10/6 (100.07% return) |
| Common full pay | 9/6 (98.98% return) |
| Top payout | Royal flush, 800 per coin with max bet |
| Biggest quad | Four aces with a 2, 3 or 4 kicker, 400 per coin |
| Variance | High |
| Last checked | November 2026 |
Double Double Bonus pay table
The pay table is named for what it pays on a full house and a flush, per coin bet. The 10/6 version below is the best you will find. The royal flush pays 800 per coin only when you bet the maximum five coins.
| Hand | Pays per coin (10/6) |
|---|---|
| Royal flush | 800 |
| Four aces with a 2, 3 or 4 kicker | 400 |
| Four 2s, 3s or 4s with an A, 2, 3 or 4 kicker | 160 |
| Four aces with a 5 through K kicker | 160 |
| Four 2s, 3s or 4s with a 5 through K kicker | 80 |
| Straight flush | 50 |
| Four 5s through Ks | 50 |
| Full house | 10 |
| Flush | 6 |
| Straight | 4 |
| Three of a kind | 3 |
| Two pair | 1 |
| Jacks or better | 1 |
Compared with Jacks or Better, every four of a kind pays at least double, while two pair is cut from 2 to 1. That trade is what makes the game swingy.
Pay table versions and returns
Only the full house and flush pays change between the common versions. Returns assume perfect strategy:
| Full house / flush | Return | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| 10/6 | 100.07% | Player edge 0.07% |
| 9/6 | 98.98% | 1.02% |
| 9/5 | 97.87% | 2.13% |
| 8/5 | 96.79% | 3.21% |
| 7/5 | 95.71% | 4.29% |
| 6/5 | 94.66% | 5.34% |
Before you play, check the full house and flush lines on the machine’s pay table. A drop from 9/6 to 8/5 more than triples the house edge. Some casinos also run variants, such as a 9/6 table that pays 55 instead of 50 for a straight flush (99.04%).
How to play Double Double Bonus Poker
- Insert cash or a ticket and choose your denomination.
- Bet five coins (max bet). With fewer than five coins the royal flush usually pays 250 per coin instead of 800, which costs you a meaningful part of the return.
- You are dealt five cards. Tap the cards you want to hold, then press Deal or Draw.
- Discards are replaced and the final hand is paid from the pay table.
Double Double Bonus strategy
Most decisions are the same as in Jacks or Better. The differences come from the kicker bonuses and the weak two pair payout:
- Dealt four aces or four 2s, 3s or 4s without a bonus kicker: keep the four and draw a new fifth card for a chance at the kicker bonus. You cannot lose the quad.
- Dealt aces full (three aces and a pair): hold the three aces and throw the pair. Your chance at the big aces payouts is worth more than the 9 or 10 for the full house.
- Two pair that includes aces: hold only the pair of aces.
- Low pairs: even though four 2s, 3s or 4s pay a bonus, a pair of 2s, 3s or 4s is still played like any other low pair, and four to a flush is the better hold.
The exact order of plays depends on the pay table. If you plan to play for real money, practise with a strategy trainer set to the pay table you will use.
Where to find good Double Double Bonus
Full-pay 10/6 Double Double Bonus is rare, and casinos change their pay tables over time, so the only reliable check is the machine itself. See our guide to the best casinos for video poker in Las Vegas and our Nevada casino guides. Licensed online casinos in states that allow online casino games also offer the game, but always check which pay table they use. Offshore sites are not licensed by US state regulators.
Get more back with a players card
Always play with the casino’s players card. Points and comps from your play add to your return, and on a high-return game like 9/6 or 10/6 Double Double Bonus they can make a real difference. Many Las Vegas casinos let you convert points to free play at the machine, and regular play brings mailed offers for free play, meals and rooms. Our guide on how to earn comps covers this in more detail. Online casinos run their own loyalty programs; read the terms, since some require you to opt in.
Double Double Bonus FAQ
What is the best Double Double Bonus pay table?
10/6, which returns 100.07% with perfect strategy. It is hard to find; 9/6 at 98.98% is the more realistic target.
What is a kicker in Double Double Bonus Poker?
The fifth card next to four aces or four 2s, 3s or 4s. An ace, 2, 3 or 4 kicker raises the payout, for example from 160 to 400 per coin on four aces.
Should you break up aces full?
Yes. In Double Double Bonus you hold the three aces and draw two cards for a shot at the aces bonuses.
How is Double Double Bonus different from Double Bonus?
Double Double Bonus adds the kicker payouts for four aces and four 2s through 4s. For other games in the family, see Triple Double Bonus and Deuces Wild.
Please gamble responsibly. If gambling is causing problems for you or someone you know, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET.