Triple Double Bonus Poker is a high-variance video poker game in the Bonus Poker family that pays huge bonuses for four aces, 2s, 3s or 4s with the right kicker, and pays for it with weak payouts on three of a kind and two pair. The 9/7/4 pay table returns 99.58% with perfect strategy, but the swings are far bigger than in Double Double Bonus, so you need a bigger bankroll to play it.
How Triple Double Bonus differs from other bonus games
Triple Double Bonus is a top-heavy game. Small wins are cut so the casino can pay more for special four of a kinds:
- Four aces with a 2, 3 or 4 kicker pays 800 per coin, the same as a royal flush with a max bet.
- Four 2s, 3s or 4s with an ace, 2, 3 or 4 kicker pays 400, more than double the 160 paid in Double Double Bonus.
- Three of a kind pays only 2 and two pair pays only 1, instead of the 3 and 2 paid in Jacks or Better.
The result is a game where most sessions are losing ones, and a single bonus quad can turn the night around.
Triple Double Bonus pay table
The game is named by what it pays for a full house, a flush and a straight. This is the 9/7/4 version, per coin with a five-coin bet:
| Hand | Pays per coin (9/7/4) |
|---|---|
| Royal flush | 800 |
| Four aces with a 2, 3 or 4 kicker | 800 |
| Four 2s, 3s or 4s with an A, 2, 3 or 4 kicker | 400 |
| 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 | 9 |
| Flush | 7 |
| Straight | 4 |
| Three of a kind | 2 |
| Two pair | 1 |
| Jacks or better | 1 |
Returns for other pay tables
Casinos cut the return by lowering the full house, flush or straight. Returns below assume perfect strategy for each table:
| Full house / flush / straight | Return |
|---|---|
| 9/7/4 | 99.58% |
| 9/6/4 | 98.15% |
| 8/5/4 | 95.97% |
Check the full house, flush and straight lines before you play. Dropping the flush from 7 to 6 costs you about 1.4% of your return.
How to play Triple Double Bonus Poker
- Insert cash or a ticket and choose a denomination you can afford at five coins a hand. The 800-per-coin royal flush and bonus aces are built around the max bet.
- You are dealt five cards. Touch the cards you want to keep, then press Draw.
- Discards are replaced and your final hand is paid from the pay table.
Key strategy plays
Most decisions follow normal bonus poker strategy. These are the plays that matter most in Triple Double Bonus, each checked against the exact expected values for the 9/7/4 table:
- Four aces, 2s, 3s or 4s without a bonus kicker: keep the four and draw a new fifth card. You cannot lose the four of a kind, and you might catch the kicker.
- Three aces, 2s, 3s or 4s with an A, 2, 3 or 4 kicker: keep the kicker too and draw one card. For example, with A-A-A-2-9, hold A-A-A-2.
- Full house with three aces, 2s, 3s or 4s: break it up. Keep the three of a kind, plus one card of the pair if it is an ace, 2, 3 or 4 that makes a bonus kicker (with A-A-A-2-2, hold A-A-A-2), and throw the rest. With three 5s through Ks, keep the full house.
- Four to a royal flush: always draw to it, even if it means breaking a pat flush, a pat straight or a high pair.
- Two pair: keep both pairs, unless one is aces. With aces up, keep only the aces.
- Pair of aces: keep it over four to a flush. Four to a straight flush, such as A-2-3-4 suited, is the better hold.
- Four to a flush: keep it over any pair of 2s through Ks and over three to a royal flush.
- Three to a royal flush: keep it over a pair of jacks, queens or kings.
- Four to an open-ended straight: keep it over a low pair (2s through 10s), but not over a pair of jacks or better.
For every other hand, use a strategy chart or trainer made for this exact pay table, since small changes in the pay table change some holds.
Common Triple Double Bonus mistakes
The most common mistake is throwing away the kicker when you are dealt three aces, 2s, 3s or 4s with an ace, 2, 3 or 4. Other bonus games do not reward that hold as much, but here the kicker bonus makes it the right play. The second is keeping a dealt full house when the three of a kind are aces, 2s, 3s or 4s; the chance at the bonus quads is worth more than the 9 coins for the full house.
The third is underestimating the swings. Because three of a kind and two pair pay so little, long losing runs are normal. Pick a denomination where a long dry spell will not end your session.
Get more from your play
Even the best table returns slightly less than 100%, so the cash back and free play from a players card are part of your return. Sign up at the rewards center of any Las Vegas casino where you play and insert the card every session. Our guide to the best video poker in Las Vegas lists where the strongest pay tables are reported.
If you play online, stick to online casinos licensed in your state, and check the pay table on the game’s help screen before you play, since online casinos set their own pay tables just as land casinos do. For other games in the family, see our main video poker guide, and for the slot side of the floor, our guide to IGT games.
Triple Double Bonus FAQ
What is the best Triple Double Bonus pay table?
Of the common tables, 9/7/4 is the one to look for. It returns 99.58% with perfect strategy.
Why does three of a kind pay only 2?
Cutting three of a kind from 3 to 2 and two pair from 2 to 1 is how the game pays for its 400 and 800 coin bonus quads.
Is Triple Double Bonus better than Double Double Bonus?
The 9/7/4 Triple Double Bonus table returns more than 9/6 Double Double Bonus (98.98%), but it is much more volatile. If you prefer steadier sessions, Double Double Bonus or Jacks or Better are easier on a bankroll.
Please gamble responsibly. In the US, the National Problem Gambling Helpline is 1-800-MY-RESET (call or text).