After a short break, we continue to provide the readers of Casinoz with recommendations for certain kinds of video poker. This article deals with the detailed basic strategy for Bonus Poker 8/5.
What Is Bonus Poker?
It is a standard version of poker available in the range of many well-known online casino software manufacturers. In particular, you can acquire skills by playing Bonus Poker for fun or money at casinos running on the Microgaming platform.
Let's explain the meaning of 8/5 for those who do not know. These numerals indicate the payout in coins for a full house and flush while betting one coin. In other words, if the first column of the paytable has an eight next to a full house and five near a flush, this kind of video poker is called Bonus Poker 8/5.
Playing by this strategy, you can reach the RTP of 99.17%. In other words, you reduce the house edge to 0.83%.
Bonus Poker Strategy
First, let's discuss the most complex cases when it is necessary to choose the hand to collect. You can have a full poker combination, but there is the probability of getting a higher-ranking hand. Such situations will not be considered. So, firstly we describe the situation and then provide advice.
The following terms are used:
- High pair is a pair of jacks, queens, kings, or aces
- Low pair is two deuces - two tens
- Four to a straight contains four cards in sequence (for example, 2, 3, 4, 5), which can be collected by the addition of one card from both sides
- Inside straight consists of four cards, which can be collected by the addition of only one missing card (for example, 2, 3, 5, 6 or A, 2, 3, 4)
- J, Q, K, and A are a jack, queen, king, and ace
- Three low cards to straight flush in sequence are equal to 2,3,4 of one suit
So, let's discuss the strategy for Bonus Poker.
- A straight flush or four to a royal flush - keep a straight flush
- A straight or four to a royal flush- try to collect a royal flush
- A flush or four to a royal flush- try to collect a royal flush
- A pair or four to a royal flush - try to collect a royal flush
- A straight or four to a straight flush - keep a straight
- A straight or three to a royal flush - keep a straight
- A three of a kind or three to a royal flush - keep a three of a kind
- A high pair (jacks and better) or four to a straight flush - try to collect a straight flush
- A four of a kind, or three to a straight flush, or three to a royal flush - try to collect a straight flush
- Two pairs or three to a royal flush - keep two pairs
- A high pair or three to a royal flush - keep a pair
- A high pair or four to a royal flush - keep a pair
- A high pair or 10, J, Q, K of different suits - keep a pair
- A three to a royal flush or four to a flush - try to collect a royal flush
- A three to a royal flush or four to a straight - try to collect a royal flush
- A three to a royal flush or low pair - try to collect a royal flush.
- A three to a royal flush or J, Q, K, A of different suits - try to collect a royal flush
- A four to a royal flush or low pair - try to collect a flush
- A four to a royal flush or three to a straight flush - try to collect a flush
- 10, J, Q, K of different suits or low pair - keep 10, J, Q, K
- 10, J, Q, K of different suits or two high cards of one suit - keep 10, J, Q, K
- 10, J, Q, K of different suits or 10, J of one suit - keep 10, J, Q, K
- 10, J, Q, K of different suits or 10, K, or 10, Q of one suit - keep 10, J, Q, K
- A low pair or a four to a straight - keep a pair
- A low pair or three to a straight flush - keep a pair
- A low pair or four to a straight with three high cards - keep a pair
- A four to a straight or three to any straight flush - try to collect a straight
- J, Q, K, A of different suits or two high cards of one suit - keep J, Q, K, A
- Two high cards of one suit or three to a high-five straight flush - keep two high cards
- Two high cards of one suit or four to a straight with three high cards - keep two high cards
- Two high cards of one suit or J, Q, and K of different suits - keep two high cards
- Three low cards in sequence to a straight flush or two high cards of different suits - try to collect a straight flush
- Three low cards in sequence to a straight flush or 10, J of one suit - try to collect a straight flush
- A four to a straight with three high cards or three to a straight flush (not in sequence) - try to collect a straight
- J, Q, K of different suits or three to a straight flush (not in sequence) - keep J, Q, K
- J, Q of different suits or three to a straight flush (not in sequence) - keep J, Q
- J, Q of different suits or 10, J of one suit - keep J, Q
- J, Q of different suits or three low cards to a straight flush (not in sequence) - keep J, Q
- A three to a straight flush (not in sequence) or J, K, or Q, K of different suits - try to collect a straight flush
- A three to a straight flush (not in sequence) or 10, J of one suit - try to collect a straight flush
- J, K of different suits or 10, J of one suit - keep J, K
- J, K, or Q, K of different suits or J, A, or Q, A, or K, A of different suits - keep J, K or Q, K
- J, K, or Q, K of different suits or three low cards to a straight flush (not in sequence) - keep J, K or Q, K
- J, K, or Q, K of different suits or Q, 10, or K, 10 of one suit - keep J, K or Q, K
- 10, J of one suit or J, A, or Q, A, or K, A of different suits - keep 10, J
- 10, J of one suit or three low cards to a straight flush (not in sequence) - keep 10, J
- J, A, or Q, A, or K, A of different suits or three low cards to a straight flush (not in sequence) - keep J, A, or Q, A, or K, A
- J, A, or Q, A, or K, A of different suits or 10, Q, or 10, K of one suit - keep J, A, or Q, A, or K, A
- An ace and three low cards to a straight flush (not in sequence) - keep an ace
- Three low cards to a straight flush (not in sequence) or 10, Q, or 10, K - try to collect a straight flush
- Three low cards to a straight flush (not in sequence) or any card from a jack and king - try to collect a straight flush
- 10, Q or 10, K of one suit or three low cards to a straight flush (not in sequence) - keep 10, Q or 10, K
- Any card from a jack and king or three low cards to a straight flush (not in sequence) - keep J, Q, or A.
More Tips for Bonus Poker Players
Below is a list of hands in descending order (starting with the most profitable). This means that you should keep the cards that are located above. This version of the basic strategy is used frequently, so most players prefer to use it.
- Royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind
- Four to a royal flush
- Full house, flush, straight
- Three of a kind
- Four to a straight flush
- Two pairs
- High pair
- Three to a royal flush
- Four to a flush
- 10, J, Q, K of different suits
- Low card
- Four to a straight
- Three to a straight flush with any high card
- J, Q, K, A of different suits
- Two high cards of one suit
- Three to a straight flush with no high cards
- Four to a straight with three high cards
- J, Q, K of different suits
- J, Q of one suit
- Three to a straight flush (not in sequence) with one high card
- J, Q or J, K of different suits
- 10, J of one suit
- J, A or Q, A, or K, A of different suits
- An ace
- Three low cards to a straight flush (not in sequence) with one missing card (including 2, 3, 4 of one suit)
- 10, Q or 10, K of one suit
- J, Q, or K
- Three low cards to a straight flush (not in sequence) with two missing cards
If you don't have any of the hands mentioned above, discard all five cards and draw new ones.
Summary
We have discussed the key elements of the basic strategy for Bonus Poker 8/5. Keep in mind that this video poker is available in the range of the famous company Microgaming.
Stay tuned and read new publications on Casinoz if you want to learn how to play video poker of all the most common variations. We will keep writing articles for this series soon.