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Royal or Bust

Introduction

This page is designed to address questions like, 'With a bankroll of $2,000, what are my odds of hitting a royal flush before depleting my funds?' While this information won't enhance a player's chances, it can assist them in budgeting effectively if their aim is to achieve a royal or exhaust their funds in the process.

Alongside the 'royal or bust' table, we will also examine the bankroll required to achieve four deuces or a superior hand in two deuces wild scenarios. Additionally, we have a table outlining the likelihood of bankruptcy correlated with bankroll size if the objective is to secure a win of 25 or greater, which represents four of a kind or better in non-wild card games, and a wild royal or superior hand in deuces wild games.

In the provided tables, bankroll is represented in terms of full bets. For instance, a bankroll of 100 in a $1 game equates to $500, as the player should be wagering five coins or $5 at a time.

Games

Below is a compilation of games included in this analysis.

Game Summary

Abbreviation Full Name Full Pay Table Royal Probability Return
9-6 DDB Double Double Bonus 1,1,3,4,6,9,50,80,160,160,400,50,800 1 in 40799 98.98%
9-6 JoB Jacks or Better 1,2,3,4,6,9,25,50,800 1 in 40391 99.54%
FPDW Full pay Deuces Wild 1,2,2,3,5,9,15,25,200,800 1 in 45282 100.76%
NSUD Not so ugly ducks ( Deuces Wild ) 1,2,3,4,4,10,16,25,200,800 1 in 43456 99.73%
10-7 DB Double Bonus 1,1,3,5,7,10,50,80,160,50,800 1 in 48048 100.17%
8-5 BP Bonus Poker 1,2,3,4,5,8,25,40,80,50,800 1 in 40233 99.17%
FPJ Full pay Joker Wild 1(kings),1,2,3,5,7,20,50,100,200,800 1 in 41214 100.65%
FPA8 Full pay Aces and Eights 1,2,3,4,5,8,25,50,80,50,800 1 in 40233 99.78%

Royal or Bust



It appears that casual players often set a weekend goal of achieving a royal flush, after which they typically stop playing. The subsequent table attempts to determine the probability of success based on different bankroll sizes and common game types.

For illustration, imagine a player with a $2,000 bankroll playing a 9-6 Jacks or Better on a 25¢ machine. The optimal bet, which is recommended for video poker players, is five quarters, amounting to $1.25. This results in a calculated bankroll of $2,000 divided by $1.25, equaling 1,600 total bets. The table indicates there is a 78.03% likelihood that the player will hit a royal flush before running out of funds.

Royal or Bust

Bankroll 9-6 DDB 9-6 JoB FPDW NSUD 10-7 DB 8-5 BP FPJ FPA8
100 6.26% 9.05% 12.08% 8.52% 9.10% 7.89% 11.72% 9.51%
200 12.12% 17.27% 22.73% 16.32% 17.34% 15.16% 22.13% 18.11%
300 17.62% 24.78% 32.08% 23.46% 24.86% 21.85% 31.29% 25.88%
400 22.78% 31.59% 40.25% 29.96% 31.70% 28.04% 39.35% 32.91%
500 27.62% 37.77% 47.50% 35.93% 37.93% 33.69% 46.51% 39.29%
600 32.15% 43.37% 53.84% 41.36% 43.56% 38.92% 52.82% 45.03%
700 36.40% 48.48% 59.41% 46.38% 48.69% 43.74% 58.39% 50.26%
800 40.38% 53.12% 64.34% 50.95% 53.38% 48.17% 63.27% 54.96%
900 44.10% 57.34% 68.64% 55.15% 57.61% 52.26% 67.57% 59.24%
1000 47.61% 61.21% 72.42% 58.99% 61.49% 56.03% 71.38% 63.12%
1100 50.89% 64.73% 75.76% 62.50% 65.00% 59.51% 74.72% 66.63%
1200 53.96% 67.91% 78.69% 65.67% 68.19% 62.70% 77.70% 69.79%
1300 56.84% 70.81% 81.25% 68.59% 71.08% 65.66% 80.34% 72.67%
1400 59.55% 73.46% 83.51% 71.26% 73.73% 68.36% 82.64% 75.24%
1500 62.09% 75.86% 85.49% 73.69% 76.13% 70.89% 84.70% 77.59%
1600 64.46% 78.03% 87.23% 75.90% 78.29% 73.20% 86.50% 79.74%
1700 66.69% 80.01% 88.74% 77.97% 80.27% 75.31% 88.08% 81.68%
1800 68.77% 81.81% 90.10% 79.83% 82.05% 77.23% 89.48% 83.42%
1900 70.72% 83.46% 91.29% 81.54% 83.67% 79.04% 90.71% 84.99%
2000 72.56% 84.95% 92.33% 83.11% 85.15% 80.68% 91.79% 86.43%
2100 74.28% 86.30% 93.26% 84.52% 86.49% 82.23% 92.77% 87.72%
2200 75.88% 87.54% 94.08% 85.85% 87.70% 83.62% 93.61% 88.89%
2300 77.39% 88.67% 94.79% 87.06% 88.81% 84.91% 94.37% 89.94%
2400 78.80% 89.69% 95.42% 88.17% 89.84% 86.11% 95.03% 90.89%
2500 80.13% 90.63% 95.97% 89.17% 90.76% 87.21% 95.61% 91.75%
2600 81.38% 91.49% 96.47% 90.10% 91.59% 88.22% 96.13% 92.54%
2700 82.54% 92.26% 96.90% 90.95% 92.35% 89.15% 96.59% 93.25%
2800 83.63% 92.96% 97.26% 91.71% 93.04% 90.00% 96.99% 93.88%
2900 84.65% 93.59% 97.59% 92.41% 93.67% 90.78% 97.34% 94.45%
3000 85.61% 94.16% 97.88% 93.06% 94.25% 91.51% 97.66% 94.98%
3100 86.51% 94.68% 98.13% 93.65% 94.78% 92.18% 97.93% 95.46%
3200 87.36% 95.16% 98.35% 94.20% 95.26% 92.80% 98.17% 95.90%
3300 88.15% 95.60% 98.55% 94.70% 95.69% 93.37% 98.39% 96.29%
3400 88.89% 96.00% 98.73% 95.15% 96.09% 93.89% 98.59% 96.65%
3500 89.58% 96.36% 98.88% 95.57% 96.43% 94.38% 98.75% 96.96%
3600 90.23% 96.69% 99.02% 95.95% 96.76% 94.83% 98.90% 97.25%
3700 90.84% 96.99% 99.14% 96.30% 97.05% 95.24% 99.03% 97.51%
3800 91.42% 97.26% 99.25% 96.61% 97.32% 95.61% 99.15% 97.75%
3900 91.96% 97.51% 99.34% 96.90% 97.57% 95.96% 99.25% 97.96%
4000 92.46% 97.73% 99.42% 97.17% 97.79% 96.28% 99.34% 98.15%
5000 96.04% 99.13% 99.84% 98.85% 99.14% 98.37% 99.81% 99.32%
6000 97.92% 99.65% 99.96% 99.53% 99.67% 99.28% 99.95% 99.75%
7000 98.92% 99.86% 99.99% 99.81% 99.88% 99.68% 99.99% 99.91%
8000 99.43% 99.94% 100.00% 99.92% 99.95% 99.86% 100.00% 99.97%
9000 99.70% 99.98% 100.00% 99.97% 99.98% 99.94% 100.00% 99.99%
10000 99.85% 99.99% 100.00% 99.99% 99.99% 99.97% 100.00% 100.00%
11000 99.92% 100.00% 100.00% 99.99% 100.00% 99.99% 100.00% 100.00%
12000 99.96% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
13000 99.98% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
14000 99.99% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
15000 99.99% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Here is the average bankroll necessary to achieve a royal flush based on the game.

  • 9-6 Double Double Bonus: 1547.76
  • 9-6 Jacks or Better: 1056.41
  • Full pay Deuces Wild: 777.43
  • Not so ugly ducks Deuces Wild: 1123.74
  • 10-7 Double Bonus: 1049.43
  • 8-5 Bonus Poker: 1216.61
  • Full pay Joker Wild: 799.79
  • 8-5 Aces and Eights: 1002.47

Win of 200 or Bust

The next table illustrates the probabilities of hitting four deuces or better, which awards 200 to 1, in two different Deuces Wild games. It also provides the same data for achieving a five of a kind or better in full pay Joker Wild (kings or better), which also pays out 200.

Win of 200 or More or Bust

Bankroll FPDW NSUD FPJ
25 9.33% 7.83% 6.90%
50 17.78% 15.06% 13.30%
75 25.45% 21.72% 19.26%
100 32.39% 27.84% 24.82%
125 38.70% 33.50% 29.98%
150 44.43% 38.71% 34.80%
175 49.61% 43.51% 39.28%
200 54.31% 47.95% 43.45%
225 58.55% 52.03% 47.33%
250 62.42% 55.79% 50.95%
275 65.93% 59.25% 54.33%
300 69.11% 62.45% 57.46%
325 71.99% 65.39% 60.38%
350 74.60% 68.11% 63.11%
375 76.97% 70.61% 65.64%
400 79.12% 72.91% 68.00%
425 81.06% 75.04% 70.20%
450 82.83% 77.00% 72.24%
475 84.43% 78.80% 74.16%
500 85.88% 80.46% 75.93%
600 90.45% 85.90% 81.89%
700 93.55% 89.83% 86.39%
800 95.64% 92.66% 89.76%
900 97.06% 94.71% 92.30%
1000 98.01% 96.18% 94.22%
1100 98.65% 97.25% 95.66%
1200 99.09% 98.01% 96.73%
1300 99.38% 98.57% 97.55%
1400 99.58% 98.96% 98.15%
1500 99.72% 99.25% 98.61%
1600 99.81% 99.46% 98.96%
1700 99.87% 99.61% 99.22%
1800 99.91% 99.72% 99.41%
1900 99.94% 99.80% 99.56%
2000 99.96% 99.85% 99.67%
2100 99.97% 99.89% 99.75%
2200 99.98% 99.92% 99.81%
2300 99.99% 99.94% 99.86%
2400 99.99% 99.96% 99.89%
2500 99.99% 99.97% 99.92%
2600 100.00% 99.98% 99.94%
2700 100.00% 99.98% 99.96%
2800 100.00% 99.99% 99.97%
2900 100.00% 99.99% 99.98%
3000 100.00% 99.99% 99.98%

Presented here is the average bankroll required to attain a payout of 200 or more according to each game.

  • Full pay Deuces Wild: 255.90
  • Not so ugly ducks Deuces Wild: 306.79
  • Full pay Joker Wild: 351.40

Win of 25 or More or Bust



The following table reveals the probabilities of obtaining a win of 25 or higher for various bankroll sizes. I selected 25 because it typically represents the minimum payout for a four of a kind in non-wild card games. This figure also reflects a common win for a wild royal in deuces wild games.

For example, suppose a player using a 9-6 Jacks or Better strategy feeds a $100 bill into a 25¢ machine. What are the chances he will secure a payout of 25 bet units or more before running out of money? $100 will allow for 100 divided by 1.25, resulting in 80 full bets on that machine. The table displays that the probability of achieving a four of a kind or better before depleting the $100 is 83.86%.

Win of 25 or More or Bust

Bankroll 9-6 DDB 9-6 JoB FPDW NSUD 10-7 DB 8-5 BP FPA8
10 10.36% 20.39% 16.00% 15.55% 12.25% 17.91% 17.92%
20 19.66% 36.61% 29.45% 28.69% 23.00% 32.61% 32.63%
30 27.99% 49.53% 40.74% 39.77% 32.44% 44.69% 44.70%
40 35.46% 59.82% 50.22% 49.14% 40.72% 54.59% 54.60%
50 42.15% 68.01% 58.18% 57.06% 47.99% 62.73% 62.73%
60 48.15% 74.53% 64.87% 63.73% 54.36% 69.41% 69.41%
70 53.53% 79.72% 70.50% 69.37% 59.96% 74.88% 74.89%
80 58.34% 83.86% 75.22% 74.14% 64.87% 79.38% 79.39%
90 62.67% 87.15% 79.18% 78.16% 69.18% 83.07% 83.08%
100 66.54% 89.77% 82.51% 81.55% 72.95% 86.11% 86.11%
110 70.01% 91.85% 85.31% 84.42% 76.26% 88.59% 88.60%
120 73.12% 93.51% 87.66% 86.84% 79.18% 90.64% 90.64%
130 75.90% 94.83% 89.63% 88.89% 81.73% 92.31% 92.32%
140 78.40% 95.89% 91.29% 90.62% 83.97% 93.69% 93.69%
150 80.64% 96.73% 92.69% 92.08% 85.93% 94.82% 94.82%
160 82.65% 97.39% 93.86% 93.31% 87.65% 95.74% 95.75%
170 84.45% 97.93% 94.84% 94.35% 89.17% 96.51% 96.51%
180 86.06% 98.35% 95.66% 95.23% 90.50% 97.13% 97.14%
190 87.50% 98.69% 96.36% 95.97% 91.66% 97.65% 97.65%
200 88.80% 98.95% 96.94% 96.59% 92.68% 98.07% 98.07%
250 93.52% 99.67% 98.72% 98.54% 96.19% 99.28% 99.28%
300 96.25% 99.89% 99.47% 99.37% 98.02% 99.73% 99.73%
350 97.83% 99.97% 99.78% 99.73% 98.97% 99.90% 99.90%
400 98.74% 99.99% 99.91% 99.88% 99.46% 99.96% 99.96%
450 99.27% 100.00% 99.96% 99.95% 99.72% 99.99% 99.99%
500 99.58% 100.00% 99.98% 99.98% 99.86% 99.99% 99.99%

Here is the average bankroll needed to realize a win of 25 or more based on the game.

  • 9-6 Double Double Bonus: 91.86
  • 9-6 Jacks or Better: 44.37
  • Full pay Deuces Wild: 57.85
  • Not so ugly ducks Deuces Wild: 59.66
  • 10-7 Double Bonus: 76.99
  • 8-5 Bonus Poker: 51.17
  • 8-5 Aces and Eights: 51.16

Methodology

For this analysis, a random simulation model was employed. As always, it is presumed that optimal player strategy is utilized.

External Links

Further discussion on this topic can be found in the section titled Bankroll Requirement to Hit a Royal at my forum at Wizard of Vegas.