Double Bonus 50/8/5/4 Strategy
Double Bonus 50/8/5/4 returns 94.19% with perfect play at medium volatility. The pay table and numbers below are computed combinatorially, not estimated.
Pay table
| Hand | Pays (per coin) | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 800 | 1.98% |
| Four Aces | 160 | 3.58% |
| Four 2s–4s | 80 | 4.22% |
| Four 5s–Kings | 50 | 8.71% |
| Full House | 8 | 8.67% |
| Flush | 5 | 5.45% |
| Straight | 4 | 5.24% |
| Three Of A Kind | 3 | 22.50% |
| Jacks Or Better | 1 | 33.84% |
Royal-flush payouts above show the per-coin value at max bet — always bet five coins to earn the full royal jackpot.
Key numbers
- Return with perfect play: 94.19%
- Royal flush: about 1 in 40,446 hands
- Hit frequency (paying hand or better): 45.1%
- Volatility: Medium
How strategy works
From the five cards you're dealt, the correct hold is the one with the highest expected value — the average coins it returns over the long run. The biggest payouts here are Royal Flush (800), Four Aces (160), Four 2s–4s (80), which shape which draws are worth chasing. PerfectPLAY computes the optimal hold and its expected value for every possible hand, so you can learn the exact play rather than a rule of thumb.
You’re reading original analysis. Every hold and expected value here is calculated in-house by PerfectPLAY.vegas for this exact pay table — nothing aggregated, nothing taken from elsewhere. These are never generic charts copied from another site.
Hand-by-hand strategy
The optimal hold and its expected value for every key decision in Double Bonus 50/8/5/4, computed combinatorially by vpengine — not rules of thumb.
4 to a Royal Flush — over a made flush
Optimal hold: 4 to a Royal Flush — EV 91.06 coins. The optimal play discards a made flush (pays 25 coins).
4 to a Royal Flush — over a made straight
Optimal hold: 4 to a Royal Flush — EV 91.17 coins. The optimal play discards a made straight (pays 20 coins).
4 to a Royal Flush — vs 1 high pair: Jacks, Queens or Kings
Optimal hold: 4 to a Royal Flush — EV 91.48 coins. Next best: holding 1 High Pair — EV 7.17 coins (margin 84.31 coins).
4 to a Royal Flush — vs 1 pair of Aces
Optimal hold: 4 to a Royal Flush — EV 91.48 coins. Next best: holding 1 Pair of Aces — EV 8.70 coins (margin 82.78 coins).
4 to a Royal Flush — vs 1 pair: 2s thru 10s
Optimal hold: 4 to a Royal Flush — EV 91.59 coins. Next best: holding 1 Pair — EV 3.61 coins (margin 87.98 coins).
3 to a Royal Flush — vs 1 pair: 2s thru 10s
Optimal hold: 3 to a Royal Flush — EV 6.35 coins. Next best: holding 1 Pair — EV 4.03 coins (margin 2.32 coins).
3 to a Royal Flush — vs 4 to a Straight
Optimal hold: 3 to a Royal Flush — EV 6.26 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Straight — EV 4.04 coins (margin 2.22 coins).
2 to a Royal Flush — equal EV vs 1 high card: Ace
Optimal hold: 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 2.22 coins. Next best: holding 1 High Card — EV 2.22 coins (margin 0.00 coins).
Both holds have the same expected value, so either is a correct play.
2 to a Royal Flush — vs 1 high card: Ace
Optimal hold: 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 2.22 coins. Next best: holding 1 High Card — EV 2.21 coins (margin 0.01 coins).
2 to a Royal Flush — vs 2 to a Straight
Optimal hold: 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 2.20 coins. Next best: holding 2 to a Straight — EV 2.19 coins (margin 0.01 coins).
2 to a Royal Flush — vs 3 to a Straight Flush
Optimal hold: 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 2.84 coins. Next best: holding 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 2.83 coins (margin 0.01 coins).
2 to a Royal Flush — vs 4 to a Straight
Optimal hold: 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 2.66 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Straight — EV 2.34 coins (margin 0.32 coins).
4 to a Straight Flush — vs 1 high card
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight Flush — EV 10.85 coins. Next best: holding 1 High Card — EV 2.21 coins (margin 8.64 coins).
4 to a Straight Flush — vs 1 high card: Ace
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight Flush — EV 10.85 coins. Next best: holding 1 High Card — EV 2.28 coins (margin 8.57 coins).
4 to a Straight Flush — vs 1 high pair: Jacks, Queens or Kings
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight Flush — EV 11.06 coins. Next best: holding 1 High Pair — EV 7.17 coins (margin 3.89 coins).
4 to a Straight Flush — vs 1 pair of Aces
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight Flush — EV 11.06 coins. Next best: holding 1 Pair of Aces — EV 8.70 coins (margin 2.36 coins).
4 to a Straight Flush — vs 1 pair: 2s thru 10s
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight Flush — EV 10.85 coins. Next best: holding 1 Pair — EV 4.03 coins (margin 6.82 coins).
4 to a Straight Flush — vs 2 to a Straight
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight Flush — EV 11.17 coins. Next best: holding 2 to a Straight — EV 2.21 coins (margin 8.96 coins).
4 to a Straight Flush — vs 4 to a Straight
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight Flush — EV 10.85 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Straight — EV 3.72 coins (margin 7.13 coins).
3 to a Straight Flush — equal EV vs 1 high card: Ace
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 2.28 coins. Next best: holding 1 High Card — EV 2.27 coins (margin 0.01 coins).
Both holds have the same expected value, so either is a correct play.
3 to a Straight Flush — equal EV vs 2 to a Royal Flush
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 2.75 coins. Next best: holding 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 2.75 coins (margin 0.00 coins).
Both holds have the same expected value, so either is a correct play.
3 to a Straight Flush — equal EV vs 2 to a Straight
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 2.34 coins. Next best: holding 2 to a Straight — EV 2.34 coins (margin 0.00 coins).
Both holds have the same expected value, so either is a correct play.
3 to a Straight Flush — vs 1 high card
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 2.21 coins. Next best: holding 1 High Card — EV 2.17 coins (margin 0.04 coins).
3 to a Straight Flush — vs 1 high card: Ace
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 2.28 coins. Next best: holding 1 High Card — EV 2.27 coins (margin 0.01 coins).
3 to a Straight Flush — vs 2 to a Royal Flush
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 2.35 coins. Next best: holding 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 2.31 coins (margin 0.04 coins).
3 to a Straight Flush — vs 2 to a Straight
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 2.34 coins. Next best: holding 2 to a Straight — EV 2.31 coins (margin 0.03 coins).
3 to a Straight Flush — vs 4 to a Straight
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 1.81 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Straight — EV 1.70 coins (margin 0.11 coins).
3 to a Straight Flush — vs Nothing: Discard all cards
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 1.88 coins. Next best: holding Nothing — EV 1.60 coins (margin 0.28 coins).
4 to a Flush — vs 1 high card
Optimal hold: 4 to a Flush — EV 4.78 coins. Next best: holding 1 High Card — EV 2.21 coins (margin 2.57 coins).
4 to a Flush — vs 1 high card: Ace
Optimal hold: 4 to a Flush — EV 4.78 coins. Next best: holding 1 High Card — EV 2.28 coins (margin 2.50 coins).
4 to a Flush — vs 1 pair: 2s thru 10s
Optimal hold: 4 to a Flush — EV 4.78 coins. Next best: holding 1 Pair — EV 4.03 coins (margin 0.75 coins).
4 to a Flush — vs 2 to a Straight
Optimal hold: 4 to a Flush — EV 5.10 coins. Next best: holding 2 to a Straight — EV 2.34 coins (margin 2.76 coins).
4 to a Flush — vs 3 to a Straight Flush
Optimal hold: 4 to a Flush — EV 5.42 coins. Next best: holding 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 2.66 coins (margin 2.76 coins).
4 to a Flush — vs 4 to a Straight
Optimal hold: 4 to a Flush — EV 4.78 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Straight — EV 3.72 coins (margin 1.06 coins).
4 to a Flush — vs Nothing: Discard all cards
Optimal hold: 4 to a Flush — EV 4.78 coins. Next best: holding Nothing — EV 1.61 coins (margin 3.17 coins).
4 to a Straight — vs 1 high card
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight — EV 3.40 coins. Next best: holding 1 High Card — EV 2.21 coins (margin 1.19 coins).
4 to a Straight — vs 1 high card: Ace
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight — EV 3.40 coins. Next best: holding 1 High Card — EV 2.29 coins (margin 1.11 coins).
4 to a Straight — vs 2 to a Royal Flush
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight — EV 2.97 coins. Next best: holding 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 2.66 coins (margin 0.31 coins).
4 to a Straight — vs 3 to a Straight Flush
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight — EV 2.34 coins. Next best: holding 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 2.29 coins (margin 0.05 coins).
4 to a Straight — vs Nothing: Discard all cards
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight — EV 1.70 coins. Next best: holding Nothing — EV 1.60 coins (margin 0.10 coins).
3 to a Straight (JQK) — vs 3 to a Straight Flush
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight — EV 2.45 coins. Next best: holding 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 2.35 coins (margin 0.10 coins).
1 pair: 2s thru 10s — vs 2 to a Royal Flush
Optimal hold: 1 pair: 2s thru 10s — EV 3.61 coins. Next best: holding 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 2.86 coins (margin 0.75 coins).
1 pair: 2s thru 10s — vs 3 to a Straight Flush
Optimal hold: 1 pair: 2s thru 10s — EV 3.61 coins. Next best: holding 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 3.37 coins (margin 0.24 coins).
1 pair: 2s thru 10s — vs 4 to a Straight
Optimal hold: 1 pair: 2s thru 10s — EV 3.61 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Straight — EV 3.40 coins (margin 0.21 coins).
3 of a kind — over a made full house
Optimal hold: 3 of a kind — EV 49.95 coins. The optimal play discards a made full house (pays 40 coins).
1 high card: Ace — vs 3 to a Straight Flush
Optimal hold: 1 high card: Ace — EV 2.25 coins. Next best: holding 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 1.87 coins (margin 0.38 coins).
1 high card: Ace — vs 4 to a Straight
Optimal hold: 1 high card: Ace — EV 2.27 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Straight — EV 1.70 coins (margin 0.57 coins).
1 high card (J/Q/K) — vs 3 to a Straight Flush
Optimal hold: 1 high card — EV 2.11 coins. Next best: holding 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 1.87 coins (margin 0.24 coins).
1 high card (J/Q/K) — vs 4 to a Straight
Optimal hold: 1 high card — EV 2.14 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Straight — EV 1.70 coins (margin 0.44 coins).
1 high card (J/Q/K) — vs Nothing: Discard all cards
Optimal hold: 1 high card — EV 2.15 coins. Next best: holding Nothing — EV 1.51 coins (margin 0.64 coins).
1 high pair: Jacks, Queens or Kings — vs 3 to a Royal Flush
Optimal hold: 1 high pair: Jacks, Queens or Kings — EV 7.17 coins. Next best: holding 3 to a Royal Flush — EV 7.14 coins (margin 0.03 coins).
1 pair of Aces — vs 3 to a Royal Flush
Optimal hold: 1 pair of Aces — EV 8.70 coins. Next best: holding 3 to a Royal Flush — EV 7.16 coins (margin 1.54 coins).
2 to a Straight (JQ/JK/QK) — vs 1 high card: Ace
Optimal hold: 2 to a Straight — EV 2.18 coins. Next best: holding 1 High Card — EV 2.16 coins (margin 0.02 coins).
2 to a Straight (JQ/JK/QK) — vs 2 to a Royal Flush
Optimal hold: 2 to a Straight — EV 2.22 coins. Next best: holding 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 2.20 coins (margin 0.02 coins).
2 to a Straight (JQ/JK/QK) — vs 2 to a Straight (QA/KA)
Optimal hold: 2 to a Straight (JQ/JK/QK) — EV 2.18 coins. Next best: holding 2 to a Straight (QA/KA) — EV 2.16 coins (margin 0.02 coins).
FAQ
- What's the most costly mistake to avoid in Double Bonus 50/8/5/4?
- Keeping a made straight. When you hold 4 to a Royal Flush, the correct play is to break the straight and draw — that hold is worth 91.17 coins versus just 20 for the straight.
- What's the closest decision in Double Bonus 50/8/5/4?
- 3 to a Straight Flush versus 2 to a Royal Flush — they tie exactly at 2.75 coins, so either is a correct play.
- Can I practice Double Bonus 50/8/5/4 at PerfectPLAY.vegas?
- Double Bonus 50/8/5/4 training is a PerfectPLAY.vegas membership feature. Bonus Poker 6/5 is free to try; join PerfectPLAY to practice Double Bonus 50/8/5/4 with real-time, hand-by-hand feedback and the exact expected value of every hold.