8/5 Bonus Poker
Bonus Poker is a variation of Jacks or Better poker. There is a 60 percent bonus on quad 2s, 3s and 4s, and a whopping 220 percent bonus on four Aces. The best Bonus Poker game returns 8 for a full house and 5 for a flush. Thus, the 8/5 Bonus game returns 1.9 percent more than 8/5 Jacks or Better, but almost .4 percent less than 9/6 Jacks or Better.
Strangely, considering it returns less, 8/5 Bonus is more popular than 9/6 Jacks. The most likely explanation is that people value the thrill of the "special" quads. Having a variety in the return for four of a kind is fun, albeit it at a price. Also, in many jurisdictions, 8/5 Bonus is the best game in town.
People generally use the same strategy for 8/5 Bonus as they do for 9/6 Jacks. This is a mistake. 8/5 Bonus strategy is much more akin to 8/5 Jacks than it is to 9/6 Jacks. One reason that people do not use 8/5 Jacks strategy is that most authors have avoided writing about the game, and so most players have never seen a detailed 8/5 Jacks strategy. Let's face it. Since 8/5 Jacks only returns 97.3 percent when played perfectly, it is easy to conclude that nobody serious would be interested in the game. Liam W. Daily and I have published a strategy that can be used for both 8/5 Jacks and 8/5 Bonus. After all, 8/5 Bonus is a serious game in many jurisdictions.
Beginner Plays
These play the same in all Jacks or Better varieties:
1. Ah Ks Jh 7c 4d
2. 5d 4s 5h 6c 7d
3. Kd Ks Qs Js 5h
4. Kd 6s 5s 2s 7h
5. Qd Js 9h 8s 5d
1. AJ—When you have three high cards, your first choice is any two of them which are suited with each other.
2. 55—A low pair is worth more than an open-ended four-card straight. To make the straight the better choice, straights would have to pay more, as they do in Double Bonus.
3. KK—Every high pair is more valuable than any 3-card royal in this game. It is a closer play in this game than in 9/6 Jacks because full houses are worth less.
4. K—The two gap, no high card, 3-card straight flush is the lowest valued combination in the game.
5. QJ—Inside straights are only holdable in this game if they have at least three high cards.
Intermediate Hands
These hands are a bit tougher, but should be part of every player's arsenal:
6. As Ah Ac 4d 4c
7. Qd Jd 7s 6s 5s
8. 2h 3h 4h As Jd
9. Ad Ks Qh Jh 5s
10. Qd Jd 8d As Kh
6. AAA44—Four Aces pay nowhere near enough to make going for it sensible. Just holding the Aces costs the dollar player over $7 on average.
7. QJ—The reduced value of the flush in this game hurts the 3-card straight flush more than the 2-card royal.
8. AJ—First, remember that 234 and 235 have the same value. Secondly, the presence of the Ace hurts the straight value of 234.
9. AKQJ—Again, the lower value of the flush changes the play in this game compared to 9/6 Jacks.
10. QJ8—This is a close play. Compare this to hand 11 below.
Advanced Plays
Expert players practice until they get these plays correct (Hint: The correct play for all of these hands is different than the correct play in 9/6 Jacks. The culprit every time is the lower return for flushes.):
11. Kd Qd 9d As Jh
12. As Jh Th 5h 8c
13. Kc Qh Js 9s 7s
14. Qd Jc Tc 7c 8h
15. Qs Ts Ah 2c 8d
11. KQAJ—The presence of the Jack hurts the straight value of KQ9.
12. AJ—In 9/6 Jacks, a suited JT is always preferred to an unsuited AJ. In this game it depends upon the other two cards.
13. KQJ9—3-card straight flushes are weaker in this game than they are in 9/6.
14. QJ—Another 3-card straight flush that has a lower value in this
game.
15. AQ—This change is especially important because many people will hold the QT and go for the royal flush.
How did you do? If your score wasn't as good as you wanted, you need to practice with either a computer program or a strategy card designed specifically for this game. Remember, every error is a money gift from you to the casino.