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Super Look Ahead Poker

Introduction

Any skilled gambler, or even someone cheating, acknowledges that knowing the next card that will be dealt offers a significant edge to the player. This concept is integral to Super Look Ahead Poker. After the initial deal, the game allows you to see the next card, which can either be accepted or rejected. However, it's important to note that IGT isn't naive enough to provide this information without a cost. It requires three additional coins on top of the regular five, which also enhances the pay table slightly. Below you'll find the complete set of rules.

Rules

  1. The gameplay is generally based on typical single-play video poker rules, unless stated otherwise.
  2. Players can engage normally by betting between one to five coins or opt for an eight-coin bet to activate the Look Ahead feature.
  3. All wagers must be placed prior to the deal being made.
  4. When the Look Ahead feature is activated, the game reveals the next card after the initial deal.
  5. Players can then select that next card if they wish to use it in their hand.
  6. Players will also indicate the cards they aim to hold, following the usual procedure.
  7. Choosing to keep the next card means it will be the first card drawn for the player.
  8. If the player decides not to take the next card, it will be discarded and will not be available during the deal.
  9. In addition to the three extra coins required for the Look Ahead feature, it also enhances the pay table for some hands.

Example

After placing an eight-coin bet, I received a specific hand on the deal. The small nine of spades displayed on the left is the next card available, which I can accept or decline.

I decide to hold onto the two aces and the nine of hearts, and I also accept the nine of spades as my next card, potentially allowing me to achieve at least two pair or even a full house.

As promised, the game replaced my first discarded card, the four of clubs, with the accepted nine of spades. Unfortunately, the draw did not yield a full house, so I was paid out for two pairs.

One reader questioned my strategy of keeping the two pairs, proposing that perhaps holding just the aces would yield a better outcome. After calculations, I've determined that the expected value of sticking with the two pairs is 13.04 coins, compared to just 7.81 for holding the aces alone.

Using my video poker hand analyzer The calculations may not yield accurate results because, after the Look Ahead card, you are drawing from a deck of 46 cards, not 47.

Games and Pay Tables

After I completed my analysis of the six different pay tables found at the Rampart Casino in Las Vegas, IGT graciously supplied me with a comprehensive list of all the games and pay tables where Super Look Ahead Poker is offered. Thankfully, my findings were consistent with this information.

The return rates shown in the following tables are calculated based on a full bet of eight coins.

Bonus Poker

BONUS POKER 99.47% 98.25% 96.17% 94.76%
ROYAL FLUSH 800 800 800 800
STRAIGHT FLUSH 75 100 70 50
FOUR ACES 100 100 100 100
FOUR 2's, 3's, 4's 60 60 60 60
FOUR 5's THROUGH K's 30 30 30 30
FULL HOUSE 10 9 8 11
FLUSH 6 6 6 9
STRAIGHT 5 5 5 5
THREE OF A KIND 3 3 3 3
TWO PAIR 2 2 2 1
JACKS OR BETTER 1 1 1 1

Bonus Poker Deluxe

BONUS POKER DELUXE 99.80% 98.68% 97.78% 96.52% 95.64%
ROYAL FLUSH 800 800 800 800 800
STRAIGHT FLUSH 110 110 150 75 120
FOUR OF A KIND 95 90 90 90 90
FULL HOUSE 10 10 10 9 8
FLUSH 6 6 5 6 6
STRAIGHT 5 5 5 5 5
THREE OF A KIND 3 3 3 3 3
TWO PAIR 1 1 1 1 1
JACKS OR BETTER 1 1 1 1 1

Deuces Wild

DEUCES WILD 99.15% 97.77% 97.40% 97.18% 96.38% 95.30%
ROYAL FLUSH NO DEUCES 800 800 800 800 800 800
FOUR DEUCES 200 200 210 200 200 270
ROYAL FLUSH WITH DEUCE 30 30 30 30 30 30
FIVE OF A KIND 20 15 15 23 14 20
STRAIGHT FLUSH 10 11 10 14 9 11
FOUR OF A KIND 5 5 5 5 5 5
FULL HOUSE 4 4 4 3 4 3
FLUSH 3 3 3 2 3 2
STRAIGHT 2 2 2 2 2 2
THREE OF A KIND 1 1 1 1 1 1

Deuces Wild Bonus Poker

DEUCES WILD BONUS POKER 99.92% 99.28% 97.71% 96.44% 95.71%
ROYAL FLUSH NO DEUCES 800 800 800 800 800
FOUR DEUCES + ONE ACE 400 400 400 400 400
FOUR DEUCES 230 260 260 270 290
ROYAL FLUSH WITH DEUCE 30 30 30 30 30
FIVE ACES 80 80 80 80 80
FIVE 3's, 4's, 5's 40 40 40 40 40
FIVE 6's THROUGH K's 20 20 20 20 20
STRAIGHT FLUSH 10 14 11 13 11
FOUR OF A KIND 5 5 5 5 5
FULL HOUSE 4 3 3 3 3
FLUSH 3 3 3 2 2
STRAIGHT 1 1 1 1 1
THREE OF A KIND 1 1 1 1 1

Double Bonus

DOUBLE BONUS POKER 99.40% 98.02% 96.56% 94.34%
ROYAL FLUSH 800 800 800 800
STRAIGHT FLUSH 100 120 140 100
FOUR ACES 200 200 200 200
FOUR 2's, 3's, 4's 120 120 120 120
FOUR 5's THROUGH K's 60 60 60 60
FULL HOUSE 10 10 10 9
FLUSH 7 6 6 6
STRAIGHT 5 5 4 4
THREE OF A KIND 3 3 3 3
TWO PAIR 1 1 1 1
JACKS OR BETTER 1 1 1 1

Double Double Bonus

DOUBLE DOUBLE BONUS POKER 99.42% 98.32% 97.21% 96.18% 95.07%
ROYAL FLUSH 800 800 800 800 800
STRAIGHT FLUSH 100 130 150 170 110
FOUR A's + ANY 2, 3 OR 4 400 400 400 400 400
FOUR 2's, 3's, 4's + ANY A, 2, 3, 4 200 200 200 200 200
FOUR ACES 200 200 200 200 200
FOUR 2's, 3's, 4's 100 100 100 100 100
FOUR 5's THROUGH K's 70 70 70 70 70
FULL HOUSE 10 10 9 8 8
FLUSH 6 5 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

Jacks or Better

JACKS OR BETTER 99.84% 98.68% 97.41% 96.36% 95.31%
ROYAL FLUSH 800 800 800 800 800
STRAIGHT FLUSH 160 100 120 150 120
FOUR OF A KIND 30 30 30 30 35
FULL HOUSE 10 11 10 9 8
FLUSH 7 6 6 6 6
STRAIGHT 5 5 5 5 5
THREE OF A KIND 3 3 3 3 3
TWO PAIR 2 2 2 2 2
JACKS OR BETTER 1 1 1 1 1

Triple Double Bonus

TRIPLE DOUBLE BONUS POKER 99.95% 98.70% 97.56% 96.46% 95.56%
ROYAL FLUSH 800 800 800 800 800
STRAIGHT FLUSH 80 70 100 70 50
FOUR A's + ANY 2, 3 OR 4 800 800 800 800 800
FOUR 2's, 3's, 4's + ANY A, 2, 3, 4 400 400 400 400 400
FOUR ACES 200 200 200 200 200
FOUR 2's, 3's, 4's 100 100 100 100 100
FOUR 5's THROUGH K's 55 60 60 65 70
FULL HOUSE 10 10 10 9 8
FLUSH 7 6 5 5 5
STRAIGHT 4 4 4 4 4
THREE OF A KIND 2 2 2 2 2
TWO PAIR 1 1 1 1 1
JACKS OR BETTER 1 1 1 1 1

Rampart Games

The next table details the games and pay tables accessible at Rampart Casino in Las Vegas. These tables mostly reflect what I observed at the $1 denomination machines. They show the winning amount per coin for both five-coin and eight-coin bets in Look Ahead mode, with Look Ahead mode winnings multiplied by five. It's important to remember that the additional three coins are just a fee for the feature and are non-refundable.

Known Pay Tables

Base Game Five Coins Bet Eight Coins Bet
Bonus Deuces 1-1-3-3-4-10-20-40-80-25-200-400-800 1-1-3-3-5-11-20-40-80-30-260-400-800
Bonus Poker 1-2-3-4-5-6-25-40-80-50-800 1-2-3-5-6-8-30-60-100-120-800
Bonus Poker Deluxe 1-1-3-4-5-8-80-50-800 1-1-3-5-5-10-90-150-800
Deuces Wild 1-2-3-4-4-9-12-20-200-800 1-2-3-4-5-10-15-30-210-800
Double Bonus 1-1-3-5-6-9-50-80-160-50-800 1-1-3-5-6-10-60-120-200-120-800
Double Double Bonus 1-1-3-4-5-8-50-80-160-160-400-50-800 1-1-3-4-5-9-70-100-200-200-400-150-800
Jacks or Better 1-2-3-4-5-7-25-50-800 1-2-3-5-6-9-30-150-800
Jacks or Better 1-2-3-4-5-8-25-50-800 1-2-3-5-6-10-30-120-800

Analysis

My computer takes approximately three days to analyze all possible combinations for any given pay table when using a single core, so please understand why only a limited number of pay tables have been examined for this game. As always, these tables assume that players are employing optimal strategies.

In these tables, the return is calculated by taking the product of the win amount, the probability, and the ratio of 5 to 8. This multiplication by 5/8 is necessary because players are required to bet eight coins, yet the win amount reflects only five times what the pay table indicates.

The initial pay table listed was found on a $1 machine at Rampart Casino in Las Vegas. Notably, the bottom right cell indicates a return rate of 97.21%. This is designed to work alongside the standard '8-5' pay table for one to five coins, which returns 96.79%. Thus, making the maximum eight-coin bet provides a 0.42% better return in this particular game.

9-5-4 Double Double Bonus

Hand Pays Combinations Probability Return
Royal flush 800 87,974,754,408 0.000053 0.026271  
Straight flush 150 511,450,150,320 0.000305 0.028636  
Four aces + 2-4 400 191,693,040,912 0.000114 0.028621  
Four 2-4 + A-4 200 435,357,510,696 0.000260 0.032501  
Four aces + 5-K 200 453,386,164,320 0.000271 0.033847  
Four 2-4 100 927,656,831,448 0.000554 0.034627  
Four 5-K 70 4,130,590,654,512 0.002467 0.107928  
Full house 9 39,822,764,850,144 0.023783 0.133782  
Flush 5 43,666,000,676,280 0.026079 0.081496  
Straight 4 44,756,833,216,392 0.026730 0.066826  
Three of a kind 3 150,797,450,143,008 0.090061 0.168864  
Two pair 1 298,078,596,633,312 0.178022 0.111264  
Jacks or better 1 314,575,758,077,112 0.187875 0.117422  
Nothing 0 775,955,850,741,936 0.463426 0.000000  
Total   1,674,391,363,444,800 1.000000 0.972084  

The subsequent pay table was also observed on a $1 machine at Rampart Casino in Las Vegas, showing a return of 97.40%. This is paired with the regular '20-12-9-4' pay table for one to five coins, which returns 97.06%. Therefore, the maximum eight-coin bet yields a 0.34% higher return for this game.

30-15-10-5-4-3-2 Deuces Wild

Hand Pays Combinations Probability Return
Natural royal flush 800 83,918,830,752 0.000050 0.025060  
Four deuces 210 461,394,275,328 0.000276 0.036167  
Wild royal flush 30 6,199,475,041,824 0.003703 0.069422  
Five of a kind 15 9,469,688,280,192 0.005656 0.053021  
Straight flush 10 13,584,349,973,400 0.008113 0.050706  
Four of a kind 5 140,427,624,551,424 0.083868 0.262087  
Full house 4 91,740,005,743,392 0.054790 0.136975  
Flush 3 68,060,026,344,744 0.040648 0.076214  
Straight 2 135,383,947,846,632 0.080856 0.101070  
Three of a kind 1 437,313,146,108,112 0.261177 0.163236  
Nothing 0 771,667,786,449,000 0.460865 0.000000  
Total   1,674,391,363,444,800 1.000000 0.973958  

This third pay table was seen on a $1 machine at the Rampart Casino in Las Vegas, presenting a return rate of 97.41%. It is accompanied by the standard '8-5' pay table for one to five coins, which returns 97.30%. The maximum eight-coin bet results in a 0.11% increase in return for this particular game.

120-30-10-6 Jacks or Better

Hand Pays Combinations Probability Return
Royal flush 800 87,215,339,304 0.000052 0.026044  
Straight flush 120 479,009,969,424 0.000286 0.021456  
Four of a kind 30 5,907,654,412,128 0.003528 0.066154  
Full house 10 42,952,393,437,984 0.025653 0.160328  
Flush 6 43,142,933,475,144 0.025766 0.096624  
Straight 5 53,810,214,093,000 0.032137 0.100429  
Three of a kind 3 142,049,396,498,112 0.084836 0.159068  
Two pair 2 316,361,572,029,504 0.188941 0.236177  
Jacks or better 1 288,962,118,973,584 0.172577 0.107861  
Nothing 0 780,638,855,216,616 0.466222 0.000000  
Total   1,674,391,363,444,800 1.000000 0.974141  

This fourth pay table is for a Bonus Poker This game was observed on a $1 machine at Rampart Casino in Las Vegas, where the lower right cell indicates a return of 96.98%. It is coupled with the conventional '6-5' pay table for one to five coins, yielding a return of 96.87%. Therefore, the maximum eight-coin bet offers a 0.11% improved return for this game.

120-100-60-30-8-6-5 Bonus Poker

Hand Pays Combinations Probability Return
Royal flush 800 87,161,846,904 0.000052 0.026028  
Straight flush 120 476,464,571,136 0.000285 0.021342  
Four aces 100 485,617,017,312 0.000290 0.018127  
Four 2-4 60 1,358,845,897,248 0.000812 0.030433  
Four 5-K 30 4,084,216,353,504 0.002439 0.045735  
Four 5-K 8 43,027,630,882,848 0.025697 0.128487  
Flush 6 43,115,409,755,352 0.025750 0.096562  
Straight 5 52,517,457,440,136 0.031365 0.098016  
Three of a kind 3 142,912,752,207,264 0.085352 0.160035  
Two pair 2 317,563,998,665,184 0.189659 0.237074  
Jacks or better 1 289,321,314,676,128 0.172792 0.107995  
Nothing 0 779,440,494,131,784 0.465507 0.000000  
Total   1,674,391,363,444,800 1.000000 0.969835  

This fourth pay table is for a Bonus Poker Deluxe This game was also seen on a $1 machine at Rampart Casino in Las Vegas, noted for a return of 97.78%. It is linked with the '6-5' pay table for smaller bets (one to five coins), which provides a return of just 95.36%. Hence, betting the maximum of eight coins enhances the return by 2.42% in this case.

120-100-60-30-8-6-5 Bonus Poker

Hand Pays Combinations Probability Return
Royal flush 800 86,187,628,008 0.000051 0.025737  
Straight flush 150 487,101,302,928 0.000291 0.027273  
Four of a kind 90 5,964,527,372,832 0.003562 0.200374  
Full house 10 43,148,140,961,760 0.025769 0.161059  
Flush 5 42,998,298,155,208 0.025680 0.080250  
Straight 5 50,806,022,851,656 0.030343 0.094822  
Three of a kind 3 144,253,932,209,280 0.086153 0.161537  
Two pair 1 319,221,563,756,544 0.190649 0.119156  
Jacks or better 1 288,125,881,337,448 0.172078 0.107549  
Nothing 0 779,299,707,869,136 0.465423 0.000000  
Total   1,674,391,363,444,800 1.000000 0.977756  

This fifth pay table is for a Double Bonus Poker This game appeared on a $1 machine at Rampart Casino in Las Vegas, with a recorded return of 98.02%. It corresponds with the '9-6-5' pay table for one to five coins, which returns 97.81%. Therefore, this indicates a 0.21% better return for the maximum eight-coin wager within this game.

120-200-120-60-10-6-5 Double Bonus Poker

Hand Pays Combinations Probability Return
Royal flush 800 87,903,486,864 0.000052 0.026249  
Straight flush 120 477,063,459,576 0.000285 0.021369  
Four aces 200 634,588,268,832 0.000379 0.047375  
Four 2-4 120 1,360,769,140,080 0.000813 0.060952  
Four 5-K 60 4,074,588,838,656 0.002433 0.091255  
Four 5-K 10 39,551,726,324,304 0.023622 0.147635  
Flush 6 43,230,099,657,240 0.025818 0.096819  
Straight 5 53,380,897,565,688 0.031881 0.099627  
Three of a kind 3 147,488,441,293,440 0.088085 0.165159  
Two pair 1 292,704,495,261,408 0.174812 0.109258  
Jacks or better 1 306,800,841,320,568 0.183231 0.114520  
Nothing 0 784,599,948,828,144 0.468588 0.000000  
Total   1,674,391,363,444,800 1.000000 0.980218  

This sixth pay table is for a Bonus Deuces Wild This game was noted on a $1 machine at Rampart Casino in Las Vegas, showcasing a return of 97.71%. It goes hand in hand with the '9-6-5' pay table for one to five coins, which offers a return of 97.36%. As such, the maximum bet of eight coins yields a 0.35% higher return in this particular game.

260-30-80-40-20-11-5 Bonus Deuces Wild

Hand Pays Combinations Probability Return
Natural royal flush 800 86,762,530,944 0.000052 0.025909  
Four deuces plus ace 400 79,406,139,840 0.000047 0.011856  
Four deuces 260 334,897,167,648 0.000200 0.032502  
Wild royal flush 30 6,704,794,633,056 0.004004 0.075081  
Five aces 80 1,085,585,492,160 0.000648 0.032417  
Five 3-5 40 2,731,647,700,512 0.001631 0.040786  
Five 6-K 20 6,901,784,407,584 0.004122 0.051525  
Straight flush 11 12,742,735,506,936 0.007610 0.052321  
Four of a kind 5 150,279,034,967,232 0.089751 0.280473  
Full house 3 72,815,935,161,312 0.043488 0.081540  
Flush 3 70,269,531,218,856 0.041967 0.078689  
Straight 1 62,500,654,811,304 0.037327 0.023330  
Three of a kind 1 510,726,200,146,128 0.305022 0.190639  
Nothing 0 777,132,393,561,288 0.464128 0.000000  
Total   1,674,391,363,444,800 1.000000 0.977066  

The following table provides an overview of the return rates from the tables above.

Summary

Game Pay Table Return
Bonus Deuces 1-1-3-3-5-11-20-40-80-30-260-400-800 97.71%
Bonus Poker 1-2-3-5-6-8-30-60-100-120-800 96.98%
Bonus Poker Deluxe 1-1-3-5-5-10-90-150-800 97.78%
Deuces Wild 1-2-3-4-5-10-15-30-210-800 97.40%
Double Bonus 1-1-3-5-6-10-60-120-200-120-800 98.02%
Double Double Bonus 1-1-3-4-5-9-70-100-200-200-400-150-800 97.21%
Jacks or Better 1-2-3-5-6-10-30-120-800 97.41%

Strategy

Sorry, you're on your own with that.

Comparison to Look Ahead Poker

There is a similar game called Look Ahead Poker . The only differences are:

  • In Super Look Ahead Poker, players have the option to reject the Look Ahead card, unlike in Look Ahead Poker, where acceptance is compulsory.
  • In Super Look Ahead Poker, players are required to pay an additional three coins for accessing the Look Ahead feature, compared to just two coins in traditional Look Ahead Poker.