What is the kicker rule in Double Double Bonus poker?

In Double Double Bonus, certain Four of a Kind hands pay extra when accompanied by a specific fifth card (the kicker). Four Aces with a 2, 3, or 4 kicker pays 2,000 coins at max bet (400-for-1). Four 2s, 3s, or 4s with an A/2/3/4 kicker pays 800 coins (160-for-1). The kicker must arrive naturally on the draw — you cannot hold it intentionally.

Should I break a flush to hold three Aces in Double Double Bonus?

Yes. Three Aces in DDB have an expected value of approximately 7.69 due to the enormous premium on Four Aces (160-for-1) and Four Aces with kicker (400-for-1). A made flush only pays 6. Always break a flush to hold three Aces in Double Double Bonus strategy.

What is the RTP of Double Double Bonus with perfect play?

The 9/6 Double Double Bonus pay table returns 98.98% with perfect strategy. The 10/6 version returns 100.07% (player-favorable). DDB has very high variance due to the kicker payouts concentrating return into rare hands, so bankroll management is critical.

Can I intentionally hold a kicker in Double Double Bonus?

No. You cannot strategically hold a kicker card. The kicker bonus only applies when the fifth card naturally accompanies Four of a Kind after the draw. If you are dealt three Aces plus a 2, discard the 2 and draw two cards — the kicker will either appear randomly or it will not. Holding the 2 as a deliberate kicker is always incorrect.

How much bankroll do I need for Double Double Bonus?

DDB is one of the highest-variance video poker games. A minimum of 600 max-bets is recommended, with 1,200+ bets for comfortable play. The game concentrates a large portion of its return into the rare Aces+kicker hands (1 in ~16,000 dealt hands), meaning extended losing streaks are normal.

Double Double Bonus Strategy

KICKER PAYOUTS, ACE PRIORITY & OPTIMAL HOLD CHART — 98.98% RTP

Double Double Bonus (DDB) is one of the most popular high-variance video poker games because of its massive kicker payouts. Four Aces with a 2, 3, or 4 kicker pays 400-for-1 — the highest non-Royal payout in standard video poker. This double double bonus poker strategy guide covers the kicker mechanics, Ace-priority adjustments from standard Jacks or Better, and a complete hold chart for the 9/6 pay table returning 98.98% with perfect play.

Understanding DDB Kicker Payouts

The “double double” in the name refers to two layers of bonus payouts on top of standard video poker. These kicker bonuses fundamentally change optimal strategy:

HAND	KICKER	PAYOUT (MAX BET)	ODDS
Four Aces	2, 3, or 4	2,000 coins (400×)	1 in 16,236
Four Aces	Any other	800 coins (160×)	1 in 5,030
Four 2s, 3s, or 4s	A, 2, 3, or 4	800 coins (160×)	1 in 4,819
Four 2s, 3s, or 4s	Any other	400 coins (80×)	1 in 1,776
Four 5s through Kings	Any	250 coins (50×)	1 in 622

Key Point: You cannot intentionally hold a kicker. The bonus applies to whatever fifth card you end up with after the draw. Strategy focuses on maximizing your chance of hitting Four of a Kind — the kicker is pure luck after that.

Double Double Bonus Strategy Chart

The following chart shows the correct hold priority for 9/6 DDB. Ace-heavy hands are promoted significantly compared to Jacks or Better due to the premium kicker payouts.

#	HAND	HOLD	EV
1	Royal Flush	All 5	800.00
2	Straight Flush	All 5	50.00
3	Four Aces + kicker (2/3/4)	All 5	400.00
4	Four Aces (no kicker)	All 5	160.00
5	Four 2-4 + kicker (A/2/3/4)	All 5	160.00
6	4 to a Royal Flush	4 cards, draw 1	18.66
7	Four 2-4 (no kicker)	All 5	80.00
8	Four 5-K	All 5	50.00
9	Full House	All 5	9.00
10	Flush	All 5	6.00
11	Three Aces	3 Aces, draw 2	7.69
12	Straight	All 5	4.00
13	Three 2s, 3s, or 4s	3 cards, draw 2	4.93
14	4 to a Straight Flush	4 cards, draw 1	3.40
15	Three 5s–Kings	3 cards, draw 2	3.52
16	Two Pair	Both pairs, draw 1	2.40
17	Pair of Aces	Pair, draw 3	1.88
18	3 to a Royal Flush	3 cards, draw 2	1.41
19	4 to a Flush	4 cards, draw 1	1.22
20	High Pair (JJ, QQ, KK)	Pair, draw 3	1.36
21	Pair of 2s, 3s, or 4s	Pair, draw 3	0.93
22	Low Pair (5s–10s)	Pair, draw 3	0.75
23	4 to Open-Ended Straight	4 cards, draw 1	0.68
24	2 Suited High Cards	2 cards, draw 3	0.58
25	2 Unsuited High Cards	2 cards, draw 3	0.49
26	1 High Card (J/Q/K/A)	1 card, draw 4	0.47
27	Nothing	Discard all 5	0.33

Key DDB Strategy Differences from Jacks or Better

1. Three Aces Beats a Made Flush

In standard JoB, you never break a flush. In DDB, three Aces (EV 7.69) far exceed a flush (EV 6.00) because of the 160× and 400× quad Ace payouts. Always break a flush to hold three Aces.

2. Three Aces Beats a Made Straight

Three Aces (EV 7.69) vs. Straight (EV 4.00) — not even close. Always hold the three Aces.

3. Pair of Aces Is Stronger Than in JoB

A pair of Aces (EV 1.88) outranks a high pair of Kings or Queens (EV 1.36) and also beats three to a Royal (EV 1.41) in DDB. This is because Aces have a path to the premium 160× and 400× payouts.

4. Low Card Pairs (2s, 3s, 4s) Get a Boost

A pair of 2s, 3s, or 4s (EV 0.93) is stronger than a pair of 5s–10s (EV 0.75) because Four 2-4 pays 80× or 160× vs. 50× for higher quads.

5. Never Hold a Kicker Intentionally

If dealt A-A-A-2-7, discard both the 2 and the 7. Do NOT keep the 2 “hoping for the kicker.” Keeping it reduces your draw from 2 cards to 1, cutting your chance of hitting the fourth Ace in half.

Variance Warning: DDB has among the highest variance in standard video poker. About 20% of the game’s total return comes from the Four Aces + kicker hand, which hits only once every ~16,000 hands. Expect deep losing streaks. A 600+ bet bankroll is the minimum for serious play.

9/6 Double Double Bonus Pay Table

HAND	PAYOUT (PER COIN)
Royal Flush	800 (at max bet)
Straight Flush	50
Four Aces w/ 2-4 kicker	400
Four Aces (no kicker)	160
Four 2-4 w/ A-4 kicker	160
Four 2-4 (no kicker)	80
Four 5-K	50
Full House	9
Flush	6
Straight	4
Three of a Kind	3
Two Pair	1
Jacks or Better	1

Note: Two Pair only pays 1-for-1 in DDB (vs. 2-for-1 in JoB). This is a major contributor to the game’s high variance — your most frequent winning hand pays less.

Practice Double Double Bonus Strategy

Train your DDB decision-making with our free games. The built-in AI coach highlights every hold error so you can internalize the Ace-priority adjustments.

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