Fortune X Poker

Introduction

Fortune X Poker introduces a unique version of video poker where players can receive random bonuses. When awarded, players face the choice of maintaining a hand with a single multiplier or opting out for a chance at a greater multiplier on the following hand. As is standard, activating this feature does require an additional wager.

Rules

The subsequent rules are derived from standards established at VideoPoker.com.

1. This game serves as an optional feature to traditional 3-, 5-, or 10-play video poker.
2. When players bet between 1 to 5 coins for each round, the rules follow the conventional multi-play video poker format.
3. Should a player wager 10 coins per round, they unlock eligibility for the bonus feature. When active, payouts are calculated based on a 5-coin bet per round, with the additional 5 coins acting as a fee to activate the bonus feature. The remaining rules will only take effect while this feature is operational.
4. The bonus feature will activate upon dealing with a specific probability. For example, in the case of 9-6 Double Double Bonus, this chance appears to be 11%, despite the display indicating 10.96%.
5. Once the player activates the feature, they can choose to accept a 2x multiplier for that current hand or opt out.
6. If a player decides to forgo the multiplier, no action is required as the game will automatically decline all multipliers except for the maximum of 12x. Acceptance of a multiplier involves clicking the box on the screen that shows the multiplier in the lower right corner.
7. Choosing to decline a multiplier means that for the hand where the player has placed a full bet, they will receive a larger multiplier.
8. The multiplier progression follows the sequence of 2x, 3x, 5x, 8x, and finally 12x.
9. Reaching a 12x multiplier will result in automatic acceptance of that multiplier.
10. If a player exits the game or switches to a different game while a multiplier is still available for the next hand, the subsequent player will then be able to claim it.

If there’s any ambiguity regarding these rules, please refer directly to the rule screen within the game.

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Example

In the image provided, the feature was successfully granted. My options included retaining the 2x multiplier with a weak pair on the deal or rejecting it. Ultimately, I opted to decline, proceeding with the hand in the usual manner. I held a pair of nines that turned into two pairs, yielding a payout of 10 after the draw (the draw is not included in the image).

Having turned down the 2x multiplier previously, my current hand makes me eligible for a 3x multiplier. With only a potential straight draw on the deal, I chose again to decline the multiplier. After the draw, two of my hands evolved into a straight (not displayed), resulting in a win of 2×20 = 40.

In my next hand, I was dealt a pair of nines. Now the multiplier stands at 5x. Since a low pair is not satisfactory enough to keep the multiplier, I opted to decline it. My hand then improved to a two pair and a three of a kind (not displayed), leading to a win of 5 + 15 = 20.

In my subsequent round, I was dealt a pair of eights, stepping into the fourth stage of the multiplier progression at an 8x. Similar to the last hand, a low pair was once again insufficient to secure the multiplier, so I declined. My hand improved to two three of a kinds (not displayed), culminating in a win of 2×15 = 30.

The fifth and concluding hand of the progression presented a 12x multiplier. On the deal, I was initially dealt a pair of aces.

My pair of aces upgraded to two high pairs (each yielding 5), one two pair (yielding 5), and two three of a kinds (each yielding 15) by the draw. With the 12x multiplier, my total win was calculated as 12×(2×5 + 5 + 2×15) = 12×45 = 540.

Strategy

I demonstrate that a player should have no bias towards accepting a multiplier based on the expected values at the deal, specifically for the 9-6 Double Double Bonus. These expected values account for a single-coin bet (for instance, the expected value of a royal flush dealt is 800). If the actual expected value is greater, the multiplier should be accepted; if lesser, it should be declined.

• 2X multiplier: Indifferent EV = 8.901087
• 3X multiplier: Indifferent EV = 4.889740
• 5X multiplier: Indifferent EV = 2.567263
• 8X multiplier: Indifferent EV = 1.411099

For games differing from 9-6 Double Double Bonus, the break-even points should remain relatively comparable, but with some variances.

Analysis

The following table outlines my comprehensive analysis for the 9-6 format. Double Double Bonus As a reminder, this conventional video poker game boasts a return rate of 98.98%. The chance of activating the feature when it's not currently engaged is 11%. The table below illustrates the probabilities associated with various hand combinations and multipliers. The return entry reflects the product of the base win, the multiplier, the probability, and 0.5. The division by 2 exists because activating the feature requires the player to double their bet. The bottom-right cell indicates a return rate of 99.01% when including the feature.

The table below summarizes the potential outcomes in 9-6 Double Double Bonus without the detailed breakdown of each hand. Again, the lower right corner predicts a return rate of 99.01%.

External Links

• Play Fortune X Poker for fun at VideoPoker.com .
• Participate in discussions about Fortune X Poker on my forum at Wizard of Vegas .

Written by: Michael Shackleford