A Beginner’s Guide Bonus Poker Strategy in 2022

Bonus Poker is an easy to learn video poker game that is played at both land-based casinos and online gaming sites. It uses the same rules as Jacks or Better although, as the name suggests, it offers a few bonus payouts. In addition, using basic strategy for the casino game is straightforward, meaning you can easily pick up the basics and go for the big bonus payouts.

The most important thing to know about Bonus Poker is that you are playing to form the strongest possible poker hand that you can. Each hand is made up of five cards with the minimum payout rewarded for landing a pair of Jacks. The stronger your hand is, the bigger your payout will be.

How to Play Bonus Poker

Each round starts with the player placing their stake. Once this has been set, the player receives five cards. The player then has the chance to dispose of unwanted cards from their hand. The disposed cards are replaced by new ones and the round ends. Once the round has ended, the player will either win or lose depending on the cards that they have in their hand. The minimum requirement is to have at least a pair of Jacks.

In Bonus Poker, the player can choose their coin size and how many coins they want to bet. It is advised to bet on maximum number of coins. In doing so, open up the possibility of a boosted payout for a royal flush. If you do not wish to spend too much, simply reduce the value of each coin.

How to Win

In Bonus Poker, there are eleven different types of winning hands. The aim of the game is to try to form the strongest possible hand with the cards that are dealt to you. In order to know which cards to keep or dispose of, you should know which hands are the strongest and which are the weakest. Below, we have a list of all possible winning hands in Bonus Poker from strongest to weakest:

Royal Flush: A hand that is suited (same suit) and runs in consecutive order using the highest value cards. 10, J, Q, K, & A all of the same suit (hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades).
Straight Flush: A hand that contains cards with the same suit and in consecutive order. For instance, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 of hearts, spades, clubs, diamonds.
4 of a Kind Aces: A hand that contains four Aces of any suit.
4 of a Kind: A hand that contains four 5s, 6s, 7s, 8s, 9s, 10s, Js, Qs or Ks.
4 of a Kind 2s, 3s or 4s: a hand that contains four 2s, 3s or 4s.
Full House: Any hand that has a three of a kind and a pair. For instance, three 2s and two 3s.
Flush: A hand where all five cards have the same suit. For instance, A, 5, 8, 9 and Q of hearts.
Straight: A hand where all cards form a sequence but are unsuited. For instance, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 of hearts, diamonds and spades.
Three of a Kind: Any hand that has at least three matching symbols, such as three Jacks.
Two Pair: Any hand that has two pairs of cards, such as two 5s and two 6s.
Jacks or Better: The weakest hand in the game, a hand that only has a pair of Jacks.

Anything weaker than a pair of Jacks will result in a losing hand. That is why it is important to know how to use basic strategy to improve your chances of winning. We will look at an expert Bonus Poker strategy later.

Bonus Poker Payouts

It is difficult to provide one payout table for Bonus Poker. The online video poker game is super popular, meaning many providers have their own variants that offer slightly different payouts. The standard is that a Royal Flush pays 250x with one coin bet and 4000x with five coins bet. However, you should always check the paytable before beginning to play.

Using Bonus Poker Basic Strategy

Seasoned players of Bonus Poker know that basic strategy can be used for this casino game. By using a form of strategy, every player can drastically improve their chances of winning. The strategy uses a mathematical approach that is based on statistical probability. However, before we look at the strategy chart, it is important to know some terminology.

Inside Straight

An inside straight is made up of 5 cards where the player is only missing one card to complete the sequence. The card that is missing is one that belongs in the middle of the sequence. Thus, to complete the sequence, the player only has one chance of winning, by drawing the specified card. An example of this is having the cards 4, 5, J, 7 and 8. Obviously, by disposing the J, the only card that can complete the sequence is 6.

Outside Straight

Outside straights also require one card to complete a sequence. However, with outside straights, players can draw a card from either end of the sequence. Therefore, two possible cards can complete the sequence. An example of this is having the cards 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10. In this scenario, disposing of the 10 means you can either draw the 2 or the 7 to complete the sequence.

The Strategy Chart

We look at what options to take depending on the first 5 cards you are dealt in Bonus Poker.

4 of a Kind, Straight, Royal Flush: Keep your cards if you are dealt either one of these as they are the best in the game.
4 to a Royal Flush: Replace one card to try and get a Royal Flush.
Straight, Flush, Full House: Keep your hand as it is whenever you are dealt either one of these.
3 of a Kind: Keep the three cards that form the 3 of a Kind and dispose of the other two cards. In doing so, you can hope to improve your hand with a four of a kind or a full house.
4 to a Straight Flush: Dispose of the card that does not complete the sequence or is unsuited. If you are lucky, you can end up with either a Straight Flush, a Straight or a Flush.
2 Pairs: Keep both of the pairs and dispose of the final card to try and draw a Full House.
A Pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings or Aces: Keep the pair and dispose of the rest to hope for a 3 of a kind, 4 or a kind or Full House.
3 to a Royal Flush: Keep the three cards and discard the other two.
4 to a Flush: 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: Discard of the card that does not match your hand for the straight.
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: Keep the three cards and discard of the other two.
4 to an Inside Straight with 3 High Cards: Keep the three high cards and dispose of the other cards to hope for 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: Discard of the other card in hope of 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: Discard of the other card in hope of a Straight, Flush or High Pair.
Jack, Queen or King: Discard of the other two cards in hope of a high pair or better.

Essentially, if you carefully follow this strategy chart, you will reduce the house edge and give yourself the best possible chance of winning. Good luck!