Double Double Bonus (DDB) is one of the most popular video poker games because of its massive kicker bonuses — Four Aces with a low kicker pays 400-for-1, which is the biggest standard payout outside of a Royal Flush. But DDB also has one of the steepest penalties for playing on a short-pay machine, and the Two Pair paying only even money makes it far more volatile than Jacks or Better.
How the Kicker Bonuses Work
DDB splits Four of a Kind into multiple payout tiers based on the rank of the quads and the fifth card (the "kicker"):
| Four of a Kind | With Kicker (A/2/3/4) | Without Kicker |
|---|---|---|
| Four Aces | 400-for-1 | 160-for-1 |
| Four 2s, 3s, or 4s | 160-for-1 | 80-for-1 |
| Four 5s through Kings | 50-for-1 | 50-for-1 |
The kicker bonuses are what make DDB exciting — and volatile. Hitting Four Aces with a 2, 3, or 4 on a max-bet quarter machine pays $500. But because Two Pair only pays 1-for-1 instead of the 2-for-1 you get in JoB, you'll burn through your bankroll faster between big hits.
Pay Table Comparison (Per Coin, Max Bet)
| Hand | 10/6 | 9/6 | 8/5 | 7/5 | 6/5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 800 | 800 | 800 | 800 | 800 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Four Aces + 2/3/4 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 |
| Four 2s-4s + A/2/3/4 | 160 | 160 | 160 | 160 | 160 |
| Four Aces | 160 | 160 | 160 | 160 | 160 |
| Four 2s-4s | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| Four 5s-Ks | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Full House | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| Flush | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Straight | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Two Pair | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| RTP | 100.07% | 98.98% | 96.79% | 95.71% | 94.66% |
The 10/6 version is extremely rare — it actually gives players a small edge over the house. The standard "full pay" that most players hunt for is the 9/6 at 98.98%.
Hourly Cost by Pay Table
At $0.25 denomination (5-coin max bet = $1.25/hand), 600 hands per hour:
| Pay Table | RTP | House Edge | Hourly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/6 | 100.07% | -0.07% | +$0.53 (player edge) |
| 9/6 | 98.98% | 1.02% | $7.65 |
| 8/5 | 96.79% | 3.21% | $24.08 |
| 7/5 | 95.71% | 4.29% | $32.18 |
| 6/5 | 94.66% | 5.34% | $40.05 |
The jump from 9/6 to 8/5 costs you an extra $16.43 per hour at quarters. At dollar denomination, that gap becomes $65.70 per hour.
Why DDB Is More Volatile Than JoB
Two Pair is the most common paying hand in video poker — you'll hit it roughly once every five hands. In JoB, Two Pair pays 2-for-1, giving you a steady stream of returns. In DDB, Two Pair pays only 1-for-1 (even money), so you're just getting your bet back.
This means DDB players need a larger bankroll to survive the gaps between Four of a Kind hits. A reasonable session bankroll for 9/6 DDB is 400 to 500 max bets, about double what you'd need for 9/6 Jacks or Better.
Strategy Differences from Jacks or Better
DDB strategy involves holds that would be wrong in JoB. The kicker bonuses change the math:
- Hold a lone Ace more often, because Four Aces with kicker is worth 400-for-1.
- Hold a low kicker (2/3/4) alongside a pair of Aces, even if it means breaking a paying hand in some cases.
- Three of a Kind with Aces is more valuable than in JoB because of the 160-for-1 bonus for Four Aces.
Using JoB strategy on a DDB machine costs you about 0.3% in return. Always use the correct strategy for the game you're playing.
Bottom Line
DDB rewards players who hit the kicker bonuses, but it punishes everyone else harder than most games. Find a 9/6 machine (or the unicorn 10/6), use DDB-specific strategy, and bring a bankroll that can handle the swings.