I first learned about the concept of 2nd Chance Royal back in 2006 when the game's creators contacted me for a mathematical analysis. Eventually, they teamed up with IGT to promote the game. After a lengthy period of four years and two months, it finally launched at the Santa Fe Station in Las Vegas. This timeline could be insightful for other game designers regarding the lengthy process of getting a game into a casino setting, provided they reach that stage.
The premise of 2nd Chance Royal is intriguing: when players place the maximum bet of five coins and achieve four cards towards a royal flush after the initial draw, they are granted an additional draw at no extra cost. However, in the casino environment, nothing comes without a catch; thus, the casino may slightly lower the payout to offset this feature. Players will receive their winnings from both the first and second draws, although a royal flush earned in the second draw will only pay out 200 times the bet, as opposed to the standard 800 times.
Strategy
Unfortunately, I can't provide specific strategies for you. It's important to note that the value of the 2nd Chance feature stands at approximately 1.5%. This means players are generally encouraged to pursue royal flushes rather than sticking to traditional video poker strategies.
Return
I'm pleased to confirm that my mathematical assessment from 2006 aligned perfectly with the findings from IGT's team of mathematicians. IGT kindly furnished me with the following table, presenting the expected returns for all available games and pay tables based on optimal strategy. In 2006, I focused my analysis on six of these options.
2nd Chance Royal Return Summary
Game
Return
JACKS OR BETTER POKER - 8/6
99.96%
JACKS OR BETTER POKER - 8/5
98.82%
JACKS OR BETTER POKER - 7/5
97.67%
JACKS OR BETTER POKER - 6/5
96.52%
BONUS POKER - 7/5
99.51%
BONUS POKER - 6/5
98.37%
DOUBLE BONUS POKER - 9/6/5
99.37%
DOUBLE BONUS POKER - 9/6/4
97.95%
DOUBLE BONUS POKER - 8/5
95.69%
DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS POKER - 9/5
99.37%
DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS POKER - 8/5
98.28%
DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS POKER - 7/5
97.22%
DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS POKER - 6/5
96.17%
DEUCES WILD POKER - 20/12/10/4/4/3
99.06%
DEUCES WILD POKER - 20/12/9/4/4/3
98.54%
DEUCES WILD POKER - 25/16/13/4/3/2
98.31%
DEUCES WILD POKER - 20/10/8/4/4/3
97.46%
DEUCES WILD POKER - 25/15/10/4/3/2
96.38%
BONUS POKER DELUXE - 8/6
100.08%
BONUS POKER DELUXE - 8/5
98.90%
BONUS POKER DELUXE - 7/5
97.77%
BONUS POKER DELUXE - 6/5
96.88%
SUPER ACES BONUS POKER - 6/5
99.30%
SUPER DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS POKER - 7/5
100.08%
SUPER DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS POKER - 6/5
99.17%
TRIPLE DOUBLE BONUS POKER - 9/6
99.70%
TRIPLE DOUBLE BONUS POKER - 9/5
98.53%
TRIPLE DOUBLE BONUS POKER - 8/5
97.48%
TRIPLE DOUBLE BONUS POKER - 7/5
96.43%
DEUCES WILD BONUS POKER - 10/4/3/3
99.07%
DEUCES WILD BONUS POKER - 12/4/3/2
97.84%
DEUCES WILD BONUS POKER - 10/4/3/2
96.97%
Here are the pay tables that were present at the Santa Fe Station for the 25¢ and $1 coin levels, with the most favorable payout being the 9-6 Triple Double Bonus at the $1 level.
25 Cent Santa Fe Station Pay Tables
Game
Pay Table
Return
Bonus Poker Deluxe
7-5
97.77%
Bonus Poker
6-5
98.37%
Bonus Deuces
25-12-4-3-2
97.84%
Deuces Wild
25-16-13-4-3-2
98.31%
Double Bonus
9-6-4
97.95%
Double Double Bonus
8-5
98.28%
Super Double Double Bonus
6-5
99.17%
Triple Double Bonus
9-5
98.53%
$1 Santa Fe Station Pay Tables
Game
Pay Table
Return
Bonus Poker Deluxe
8-5
98.90%
Bonus Poker
7-5
99.51%
Bonus Deuces
25-10-4-3-3
99.07%
Deuces Wild
20-12-10-4-4-3-2
99.06%
Double Bonus
9-6-4
97.95%
Double Double Bonus
9-5
99.37%
Super Double Double Bonus
6-5
99.17%
Triple Double Bonus
9-6
99.70%
The return tables I created in 2006 highlight the top row where the player held four cards towards a royal flush after their first draw. The 'event' indicates the player's hands during both draws. For instance, if a player held 2h Th Jh Qh Kh after the first draw and Ks Th Jh Qh Kh after the second, it would be categorized as 'Flush -> Pair.' The subsequent rows represent hands where four to a royal was not reached after the first draw.
7-5 Jacks or Better — 2nd Chance Royal
Event
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
Straight flush->Royal
250
714,320,808
0.000000
0.000107
Straight flush->Straight flush
100
0
0.000000
0.000000
Straight flush->Flush
55
4,861,484,064
0.000003
0.000160
Straight flush->Straight
54
4,102,696,740
0.000002
0.000132
Straight flush->Pair
51
6,259,051,032
0.000004
0.000191
Straight flush->Nothing
50
16,349,344,572
0.000010
0.000488
Flush ->Royal
205
16,822,740,960
0.000010
0.002060
Flush ->Str flush
55
2,870,195,688
0.000002
0.000094
Flush ->Flush
10
109,706,174,952
0.000066
0.000655
Flush ->Straight
9
56,284,754,832
0.000034
0.000303
Flush ->Pair
6
156,852,688,692
0.000094
0.000562
Flush ->Nothing
5
409,556,271,564
0.000245
0.001223
Straight->Royal
204
8,144,383,692
0.000005
0.000992
Straight->Str flush
54
2,526,112,752
0.000002
0.000081
Straight->Flush
9
59,511,381,732
0.000036
0.000320
Straight->Straight
8
22,806,715,944
0.000014
0.000109
Straight->Pair
5
74,815,496,388
0.000045
0.000223
Straight->Nothing
4
195,514,505,412
0.000117
0.000467
Pair ->Royal
201
24,401,319,480
0.000015
0.002929
Pair ->Str flush
51
4,354,973,892
0.000003
0.000133
Pair ->Flush
6
182,197,551,480
0.000109
0.000653
Pair ->Straight
5
82,623,134,268
0.000049
0.000247
Pair ->Pair
2
209,171,193,168
0.000125
0.000250
Pair ->Nothing
1
590,728,815,504
0.000353
0.000353
Nothing ->Royal
200
53,595,021,636
0.000032
0.006402
Nothing ->Str flush
50
9,579,586,080
0.000006
0.000286
Nothing ->Flush
5
400,318,657,416
0.000239
0.001195
Nothing ->Straight
4
180,484,232,028
0.000108
0.000431
Nothing ->Pair
1
496,813,605,192
0.000297
0.000297
Nothing ->Nothing
0
1,255,382,291,808
0.000750
0.000000
Royal Flush
800
50,974,846,272
0.000030
0.024355
Straight Flush
50
148,341,682,944
0.000089
0.004430
Four of a kind
25
3,934,692,381,312
0.002350
0.058748
Full House
7
19,205,184,535,488
0.011470
0.080290
Flush
5
17,966,298,283,920
0.010730
0.053650
Straight
4
18,444,057,812,208
0.011015
0.044062
Three of a kind
3
123,903,222,310,224
0.073999
0.221997
Two pair
2
215,599,195,914,480
0.128763
0.257525
Pair
1
352,111,195,951,200
0.210292
0.210292
Nonpaying hand
0
918,390,851,024,976
0.548492
0.000000
Total
0
1,674,391,363,444,800
1.000000
0.976691
6-5 Bonus Poker — 2nd Chance Royal
Event
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
St flush->Royal
250
714,803,808
0.000000
0.000107
St flush->Str flush
100
0
0.000000
0.000000
St flush->Flush
55
4,865,017,776
0.000003
0.000160
St flush->Straight
54
4,105,110,732
0.000002
0.000132
St flush->Pair
51
6,262,914,024
0.000004
0.000191
St flush->Nothing
50
16,360,939,596
0.000010
0.000489
Flush ->Royal
205
16,827,666,384
0.000010
0.002060
Flush ->Str flush
55
2,869,120,488
0.000002
0.000094
Flush ->Flush
10
109,744,994,040
0.000066
0.000655
Flush ->Straight
9
56,294,928,744
0.000034
0.000303
Flush ->Pair
6
156,899,699,460
0.000094
0.000562
Flush ->Nothing
5
409,671,317,124
0.000245
0.001223
Straight->Royal
204
8,145,000,840
0.000005
0.000992
Straight->Str flush
54
2,525,763,984
0.000002
0.000081
Straight->Flush
9
59,518,046,628
0.000036
0.000320
Straight->Straight
8
22,806,939,720
0.000014
0.000109
Straight->Pair
5
74,822,403,708
0.000045
0.000223
Straight->Nothing
4
195,526,360,752
0.000117
0.000467
Pair ->Royal
201
24,405,334,848
0.000015
0.002930
Pair ->Str flush
51
4,352,967,972
0.000003
0.000133
Pair ->Flush
6
182,234,779,944
0.000109
0.000653
Pair ->Straight
5
82,628,421,732
0.000049
0.000247
Pair ->Pair
2
209,206,496,856
0.000125
0.000250
Pair ->Nothing
1
590,822,102,376
0.000353
0.000353
Nothing ->Royal
200
53,604,894,744
0.000032
0.006403
Nothing ->Str flush
50
9,575,924,016
0.000006
0.000286
Nothing ->Flush
5
400,413,678,048
0.000239
0.001196
Nothing ->Straight
4
180,500,942,400
0.000108
0.000431
Nothing ->Pair
1
496,908,758,880
0.000297
0.000297
Nothing ->Nothing
0
1,255,595,961,096
0.000750
0.000000
Royal Flush
800
50,979,917,520
0.000030
0.024357
Straight Flush
50
147,300,776,784
0.000088
0.004399
Four A
80
329,176,528,128
0.000197
0.015728
Four 2-4
40
882,720,584,928
0.000527
0.021088
Four 5-K
25
2,730,865,834,368
0.001631
0.040774
Full House
6
19,032,059,150,496
0.011367
0.068199
Flush
5
17,947,143,920,160
0.010719
0.053593
Straight
4
18,431,099,993,376
0.011008
0.044031
Three of a kind
3
124,077,856,066,416
0.074103
0.222310
Two pair
2
215,613,096,595,344
0.128771
0.257542
Pair
352,229,647,908,096
0.210363
0.210363
Nonpaying hand
918,281,204,878,464
0.548427
0.000000
0
1,674,391,363,444,800
1.000000
0.983730
7-5 Bonus Poker — 2nd Chance Royal
Event
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
St flush->Royal
250
714,180,192
0.000000
0.000107
St flush->Str flush
100
0
0.000000
0.000000
St flush->Flush
55
4,860,650,448
0.000003
0.000160
St flush->Straight
54
4,102,002,732
0.000002
0.000132
St flush->Pair
51
6,257,937,192
0.000004
0.000191
St flush->Nothing
50
16,345,928,460
0.000010
0.000488
Flush ->Royal
205
16,827,672,096
0.000010
0.002060
Flush ->Str flush
55
2,869,203,144
0.000002
0.000094
Flush ->Flush
10
109,743,986,712
0.000066
0.000655
Flush ->Straight
9
56,296,054,344
0.000034
0.000303
Flush ->Pair
6
156,899,731,716
0.000094
0.000562
Flush ->Nothing
5
409,669,691,220
0.000245
0.001223
Straight->Royal
204
8,146,414,056
0.000005
0.000993
Straight->Str flush
54
2,525,834,544
0.000002
0.000081
Straight->Flush
9
59,528,795,940
0.000036
0.000320
Straight->Straight
8
22,810,298,376
0.000014
0.000109
Straight->Pair
5
74,835,033,948
0.000045
0.000223
Straight->Nothing
4
195,560,120,688
0.000117
0.000467
Pair ->Royal
201
24,409,387,008
0.000015
0.002930
Pair ->Str flush
51
4,353,883,236
0.000003
0.000133
Pair ->Flush
6
182,265,036,072
0.000109
0.000653
Pair ->Straight
5
82,643,565,924
0.000049
0.000247
Pair ->Pair
2
209,241,603,480
0.000125
0.000250
Pair ->Nothing
1
590,914,685,160
0.000353
0.000353
Nothing ->Royal
200
53,609,203,944
0.000032
0.006403
Nothing ->Str flush
50
9,576,169,968
0.000006
0.000286
Nothing ->Flush
5
400,444,473,456
0.000239
0.001196
Nothing ->Straight
4
180,515,306,400
0.000108
0.000431
Nothing ->Pair
1
496,947,127,392
0.000297
0.000297
Nothing ->Nothing
0
1,255,696,424,424
0.000750
0.000000
Royal Flush
800
50,982,344,784
0.000030
0.024359
Straight Flush
50
146,615,161,392
0.000088
0.004378
Four A
80
321,281,505,216
0.000192
0.015350
Four 2-4
40
882,721,798,560
0.000527
0.021088
Four 5-K
25
2,730,929,289,984
0.001631
0.040775
Full House
7
19,206,597,463,200
0.011471
0.080296
Flush
5
17,931,593,479,968
0.010709
0.053547
Straight
4
18,423,450,124,128
0.011003
0.044012
Three of a kind
3
123,915,851,971,632
0.074007
0.222020
Two pair
2
215,621,230,877,136
0.128776
0.257552
Pair
1
352,335,346,586,496
0.210426
0.210426
Nonpaying hand
0
918,186,152,440,032
0.548370
0.000000
Total
1,674,391,363,444,800
1.000000
0.995149
7-5 Bonus Poker Deluxe — 2nd Chance Royal
Event
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
St flush->Royal
250
747,271,788
0.000000
0.000112
St flush->Str flush
100
0
0.000000
0.000000
St flush->Flush
55
5,096,461,080
0.000003
0.000167
St flush->Straight
54
4,304,213,796
0.000003
0.000139
St flush->Pair
51
6,546,204,204
0.000004
0.000199
St flush->Nothing
50
17,083,472,508
0.000010
0.000510
Flush ->Royal
205
16,908,482,220
0.000010
0.002070
Flush ->Str flush
55
2,880,130,656
0.000002
0.000095
Flush ->Flush
10
110,445,021,144
0.000066
0.000660
Flush ->Straight
9
56,599,312,632
0.000034
0.000304
Flush ->Pair
6
157,484,976,240
0.000094
0.000564
Flush ->Nothing
5
411,884,915,940
0.000246
0.001230
Straight->Royal
204
8,111,467,848
0.000005
0.000988
Straight->Str flush
54
2,518,077,696
0.000002
0.000081
Straight->Flush
9
59,340,646,500
0.000035
0.000319
Straight->Straight
8
22,715,385,312
0.000014
0.000109
Straight->Pair
5
74,417,791,104
0.000044
0.000222
Straight->Nothing
4
194,894,605,332
0.000116
0.000466
Pair ->Royal
201
24,633,332,856
0.000015
0.002957
Pair ->Str flush
51
4,413,612,960
0.000003
0.000134
Pair ->Flush
6
184,121,115,252
0.000110
0.000660
Pair ->Straight
5
83,557,337,688
0.000050
0.000250
Pair ->Pair
2
210,999,016,272
0.000126
0.000252
Pair ->Nothing
1
596,981,959,884
0.000357
0.000357
Nothing ->Royal
200
53,504,847,336
0.000032
0.006391
Nothing ->Str flush
50
9,561,348,864
0.000006
0.000286
Nothing ->Flush
5
400,152,291,120
0.000239
0.001195
Nothing ->Straight
4
180,361,028,484
0.000108
0.000431
Nothing ->Pair
1
495,285,250,140
0.000296
0.000296
Nothing ->Nothing
0
1,254,128,344,872
0.000749
0.000000
Royal Flush
800
51,147,204,192
0.000031
0.024437
Straight Flush
50
150,843,716,352
0.000090
0.004504
Four of a kind
80
4,041,340,553,376
0.002414
0.193089
Full House
7
16,076,668,888,224
0.009602
0.067211
Flush
5
18,046,806,856,848
0.010778
0.053891
Straight
4
21,115,325,908,656
0.012611
0.050443
Three of a kind
3
127,897,042,056,336
0.076384
0.229153
Two pair
1
182,950,375,314,672
0.109264
0.109264
Pair
1
375,449,316,387,264
0.224230
0.224230
Nonpaying hand
0
923,962,818,637,152
0.551820
0.000000
Total
1,674,391,363,444,800
1.000000
0.977665
9-6-4 Double Bonus — 2nd Chance Royal
Event
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
St flush->Royal
250
748,246,440
0.000000
0.000112
St flush->Str flush
100
0
0.000000
0.000000
St flush->Flush
56
5,103,772,272
0.000003
0.000171
St flush->Straight
54
4,308,802,296
0.000003
0.000139
St flush->Pair
51
6,551,208,756
0.000004
0.000200
St flush->Nothing
50
17,110,281,276
0.000010
0.000511
Flush ->Royal
206
17,313,845,220
0.000010
0.002130
Flush ->Str flush
56
2,907,466,776
0.000002
0.000097
Flush ->Flush
12
113,052,479,424
0.000068
0.000810
Flush ->Straight
10
57,741,508,428
0.000034
0.000345
Flush ->Pair
7
161,200,537,404
0.000096
0.000674
Flush ->Nothing
6
421,466,856,588
0.000252
0.001510
Straight->Royal
204
7,991,440,500
0.000005
0.000974
Straight->Str flush
54
2,428,345,284
0.000001
0.000078
Straight->Flush
10
58,542,640,368
0.000035
0.000350
Straight->Straight
8
22,168,798,320
0.000013
0.000106
Straight->Pair
5
73,317,157,164
0.000044
0.000219
Straight->Nothing
4
192,077,195,436
0.000115
0.000459
Pair ->Royal
201
24,085,774,404
0.000014
0.002891
Pair ->Str flush
51
4,317,151,140
0.000003
0.000131
Pair ->Flush
7
180,157,577,604
0.000108
0.000753
Pair ->Straight
5
81,527,146,560
0.000049
0.000243
Pair ->Pair
2
205,810,243,032
0.000123
0.000246
Pair ->Nothing
1
584,064,432,828
0.000349
0.000349
Nothing ->Royal
200
54,536,327,436
0.000033
0.006514
Nothing ->Str flush
50
9,561,078,468
0.000006
0.000286
Nothing ->Flush
6
407,683,681,308
0.000243
0.001461
Nothing ->Straight
4
182,987,799,372
0.000109
0.000437
Nothing ->Pair
1
504,605,660,904
0.000301
0.000301
Nothing ->Nothing
0
1,277,540,468,880
0.000763
0.000000
Royal Flush
800
51,492,395,808
0.000031
0.024602
Straight Flush
50
153,799,733,808
0.000092
0.004593
Four A
160
378,848,925,504
0.000226
0.036202
Four 2-4
80
882,842,208,192
0.000527
0.042181
Four 5-K
50
2,721,183,304,896
0.001625
0.081259
Full House
9
18,072,340,816,320
0.010793
0.097140
Flush
6
18,325,035,200,304
0.010944
0.065666
Straight
4
20,940,967,776,960
0.012507
0.050026
Three of a kind
3
125,240,622,359,328
0.074798
0.224393
Two pair
1
204,900,815,046,816
0.122373
0.122373
Pair
1
349,285,753,210,464
0.208605
0.208605
Nonpaying hand
0
928,756,754,542,512
0.554683
0.000000
Total
1,674,391,363,444,800
1.000000
0.979537
7-5 Double Double Bonus — 2nd Chance Royal
Event
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
St flush->Royal
250
743,391,912
0.000000
0.000111
St flush->Str flush
100
0
0.000000
0.000000
St flush->Flush
55
5,071,643,532
0.000003
0.000167
St flush->Straight
54
4,285,486,836
0.000003
0.000138
St flush->Pair
51
6,511,382,844
0.000004
0.000198
St flush->Nothing
50
16,995,376,332
0.000010
0.000508
Flush ->Royal
205
16,462,823,748
0.000010
0.002016
Flush ->Str flush
55
2,863,418,436
0.000002
0.000094
Flush ->Flush
10
107,412,844,584
0.000064
0.000642
Flush ->Straight
9
55,182,128,304
0.000033
0.000297
Flush ->Pair
6
153,872,441,916
0.000092
0.000551
Flush ->Nothing
5
400,122,152,676
0.000239
0.001195
Straight->Royal
204
7,640,388,540
0.000005
0.000931
Straight->Str flush
54
2,403,196,356
0.000001
0.000078
Straight->Flush
9
55,911,072,576
0.000033
0.000301
Straight->Straight
8
21,437,225,688
0.000013
0.000102
Straight->Pair
5
70,342,577,388
0.000042
0.000210
Straight->Nothing
4
183,267,419,580
0.000109
0.000438
Pair ->Royal
201
23,070,035,400
0.000014
0.002769
Pair ->Str flush
51
4,268,389,140
0.000003
0.000130
Pair ->Flush
6
172,587,325,068
0.000103
0.000618
Pair ->Straight
5
78,519,005,424
0.000047
0.000234
Pair ->Pair
2
197,945,757,228
0.000118
0.000236
Pair ->Nothing
1
558,988,391,628
0.000334
0.000334
Nothing ->Royal
200
51,917,207,520
0.000031
0.006201
Nothing ->Str flush
50
9,472,873,428
0.000006
0.000283
Nothing ->Flush
5
387,788,400,756
0.000232
0.001158
Nothing ->Straight
4
175,243,426,092
0.000105
0.000419
Nothing ->Pair
1
482,344,863,156
0.000288
0.000288
Nothing ->Nothing
0
1,213,995,297,624
0.000725
0.000000
Royal Flush
800
49,390,211,808
0.000029
0.023598
Straight Flush
50
147,793,555,728
0.000088
0.004413
Four A + 2-4
400
102,390,364,944
0.000061
0.024460
Four 2-4 + A-4
160
245,545,316,352
0.000147
0.023464
Four A
160
289,047,565,296
0.000173
0.027621
Four 2-4
80
661,410,285,984
0.000395
0.031601
Four 5-K
50
2,719,373,649,552
0.001624
0.081205
Full House
7
17,588,592,259,056
0.010504
0.073531
Flush
5
18,083,246,981,184
0.010800
0.053999
Straight
4
20,929,476,155,616
0.012500
0.049999
Three of a kind
3
126,137,734,929,360
0.075333
0.226000
Two pair
1
205,357,562,459,280
0.122646
0.122646
Pair
1
349,901,722,206,288
0.208972
0.208972
Nonpaying hand
0
927,711,411,560,640
0.554059
0.000000
Total
1,674,391,363,444,800
1.000000
0.972157
Acknowledgement
Vegas Royalty Enterprises : A heartfelt thanks to the game inventors for alerting me about the Santa Fe Station placement and for their assistance with this page.
IGT : I appreciate the game developers for sharing the return summary table above and their support with this page.
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