World Series of Poker

Introduction

The World Series of Poker, also known as 'Final Table Bonus', is a unique video poker game created by WMS. I've come across this game in various casinos such as Bally's, Caesars Palace, and Harrah's, both in Las Vegas and Laughlin. The gameplay resembles typical video poker, but players have the option to place an additional bet to be eligible for the 'Final Table Bonus.' Below are the detailed rules of the game.

Rules

1. Players initiate the game by placing two equal bets. One of these bets will be designated as the 'video poker' bet, while the other is referred to as the 'bonus' bet.
2. The video poker bet operates just like regular video poker games.
3. Following the draw in the standard video poker format, players will receive a 'Bonus Hand' consisting of two extra cards dealt from a separate deck of 52 cards.
4. Should the bonus hand contain exactly one ace, any winnings obtained from the video poker hand will be multiplied by three.
5. If the bonus hand reveals two aces, the payout from the video poker hand will be multiplied by nine.
6. A player qualifies to play the Final Table Bonus if their bonus hand includes a pair of jacks or better; however, if the hand is lower than a pair of jacks, there are still possibilities for playing the bonus (see rule 16).
7. In the Final Table Bonus round, players will compete against up to nine opponents one at a time, beginning in tenth place. Each opponent defeated allows the player to move up one rank, with the final position determining the payout at the end of the round.
8. During the double bonus variant, any four of a kind won in the video poker hand will be doubled if the player reaches the bonus round. In the double double bonus variant, the same win will be quadrupled if the player progresses to the bonus round.
9. For the player's bonus hand, these cards will be compared against the first opponent. The player has the option to keep these cards or exchange them for two new cards from a fresh deck. The player is allowed to discard their second hand, but the third hand they choose will be final. Essentially, players can make up to two exchanges for their initial hole cards.
10. Once the player opts to keep the initial two cards, the opponent will receive two cards from the same deck.
11. Next, three community cards known as the 'flop' will be dealt, followed by a fourth card called the 'turn', and a fifth card known as the 'river'. Throughout this process, the game's software will update the winning probabilities for both the player and opponent.
12. Both the player and opponent will construct the strongest five-card poker hand by combining their two hole cards with the five community cards. The player with the superior hand wins the round.
13. If the player either beats or ties with the opponent, they will proceed to the next opponent. For all the upcoming opponents, the initial set of hole cards will be dealt from a freshly shuffled deck.
14. The player will continue this pattern until they either defeat all nine opponents or are eliminated in the attempt.
15. If the player's bonus hand is below a pair of jacks, they could still receive a 'free seat' in the bonus round. The odds of obtaining a free seat during the bonus round depend on the specific game in play. Similar to an earned bonus, the player's first set of hole cards will be carried over from the bonus round.
16. Should the player lose with a four of a kind or better, they will receive a 'Bad Beat Bonus' valued at 10,000 times their bonus bet. My understanding of the rules indicates that players are not required to use the two hole cards for this bad beat bonus.

Players have the choice of selecting from a list of six different games, five of which are detailed below. These payout tables are based on those observed at Harrah's in Laughlin, with additional pay tables available from WMS, the game's developer.

Pictures

In the displayed example, I wagered 10 coins, which resulted in a 5-coin win for a pair of kings being tripled to 15, thanks to an ace drawn in the bonus hand.

In another example, I encounter my first opponent during the bonus round. My pair of jacks from the bonus hand serves as my opening hand. The lower right corner of the screen indicates that I can either keep this hand or exchange it for a new two-card hand at random.

Return

In the 97.30% version of Jacks or Better The chances of securing a free seat are approximately 1 in 850, according to information provided by WMS gaming.

Below is the return table specific to the video poker bet.

The following table outlines the expected returns for various segments of the complete game.

Named 'Four of a Kind Poker' on the menu, this game has the same payout table as that of the standard variant. Bonus Poker While I was not informed about the probability of receiving a free seat, based on materials from WMS regarding this game, I estimate it to be around 1 in 700.

Below is the return table specific to the video poker bet.

The following table outlines the expected returns for various segments of the complete game.

Labeled as '2X Four of a Kind' in the menu, I wasn't given the free seat probability, but my estimates from WMS literature suggest it is about 1 in 950.

The return table presented here is specific to the video poker bet. The probabilities do not align with those of a conventional 7/5 Double Bonus, as the multiplier for four of a kind influences the optimal strategy by encouraging greater emphasis on four of a kind payouts. The strategy utilized for the following table relies on four of a kind pays of 162.90, 81.45, and 50.90.

The following table outlines the expected returns for various segments of the complete game.

Named '4X Four of a Kind' on the gaming menu, I was not provided the probability for a free seat, yet based on WMS literature, I estimate it to be around 1 in 900.

This section includes the return table relevant to the video poker bet. The provided probabilities differ from those associated with the standard 8/5 Double Double Bonus game, as the multiplier on four of a kind will affect players' strategic focus on those hands. The strategy for the table reflects four of a kind pays of 421.72, 168.69, 84.34, and 52.71.

The following table outlines the expected returns for various segments of the complete game.

I was not informed about the free seat probability, but based on WMS game documentation, I estimate it to be approximately 1 in 627. It's important to note that deuces only act as wild cards during normal video poker play, excluding the bonus hand.

The following table outlines the expected returns for various segments of the complete game.

I did not receive a clear figure on the free seat probability, but based on WMS sources, I estimate it to be around 1 in 504. I also presume there are no jokers utilized in the bonus hand or its associated bonus game.

The following table outlines the expected returns for various segments of the complete game.

Strategy

With the exception of double bonus and double double bonus variations, the video poker strategies remain consistent with standard video poker gameplay. However, in the two variants that include a four of a kind multiplier, players are advised to adopt a slightly more aggressive strategy in pursuit of four of a kinds than what the pay table may suggest. The actual values for four of a kind in these variants are indicated above.

The strategy utilized during the bonus round will evolve as the player advances through the series of opponents, given the tension between trying to win against the next opponent while also aiming for a bad beat jackpot. Earlier rounds in the bonus game hold more value for the bad beat bonus, leading players to lean towards retaining marginal hands.

The following table illustrates the strategic approach for the bonus round when positioned in 10th place.

The subsequent table outlines the strategy for the bonus round when in 9th place.

This table presents the strategy considerations for the bonus round while in 8th place.

This table details the strategies potential for the bonus round while in 7th place.

The subsequent table outlines potential strategies for positions ranked from 2nd to 6th place.

Bad Beat Probabilities

The following table depicts the odds of receiving a bad beat with any particular starting hand.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Scott at Online Poker Room Reviews Regarding the bad beat probability table noted above, I would like to extend my gratitude to WMS Gaming for their assistance in clarifying game rules and supporting my mathematical analysis.

Written by: Michael Shackleford