Complete strategy for 9/6 Double Double Bonus — the highest-variance common video poker variant. Four Aces with a 2-4 kicker pays 2000 coins. Strategy is heavily shaped by kicker possibilities. Extreme bankroll requirements in multi-hand play.
Double Double Bonus is the most volatile commonly available video poker game. The 2000-coin top payout (four Aces with 2/3/4 kicker) concentrates value in rare events. At 10+ hands, variance per session is dramatically higher than any other game on this site. The 98.98% return also means you're playing at a slight house edge. Only play DDB at multi-hand with adequate bankroll — see the table below.
Double Double Bonus layers a "kicker" bonus on top of Double Bonus. Four Aces with a 2, 3, or 4 as the fifth card pays 2000 coins. Four 2s/3s/4s with an Ace, 2, 3, or 4 kicker pays 800 coins. These are funded by reducing other payouts, but the kicker possibilities create unique strategic decisions — you'll sometimes hold a specific fifth card alongside quads, and the kicker identity of your fifth card matters when deciding what to draw.
Payouts shown per coin with max 5 coins played. Four Aces + kicker pays 400× per coin = 2,000 total at max bet. The kicker payouts are what separates DDB from Double Bonus. Note: Two pair still pays only 1x (same as DB). Four 5s–Kings drops to 50x (vs 250x in DB) — a major reduction that funds the kicker bonuses.
| Rank | Hold This Hand | Approx. EV | Notes & Multi-Hand Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Flush (pat) | 800.00 | Hold all 5. 100H: Hits multiple times per session |
| 2 | Straight Flush (pat) | 50.00 | Hold all 5. Do not break for royal unless 4 to a natural royal. |
| 3 | Four Aces + 2/3/4 kicker | 400.00 | Hold all 5. Largest non-progressive payout in standard video poker. Multi-H: Life-altering swing in 100H play |
| 4 | Four 2s/3s/4s + A/2/3/4 kicker | 160.00 | Hold all 5 including the qualifying kicker. This is the key rule: identify if the kicker qualifies before deciding hold. |
| 5 | Four Aces (no qualifying kicker) | 160.00 | Hold all 4 Aces, discard the non-qualifying kicker. Do not hold a 5-K kicker. |
| 6 | 4 to a Royal Flush | ~18.70 | Break a straight, flush, full house for this. Never break a pat straight flush. |
| 7 | Four 2s/3s/4s (no qualifying kicker) | 80.00 | Hold all 4, discard kicker unless it qualifies (A, 2, 3, 4). |
| 8 | Four 5s through Kings | 50.00 | Hold all 4, discard kicker. Note: only 50x here vs 250x in Double Bonus. |
| 9 | Full House (pat) | 9.00 | Hold all 5. Full house returns to 9x (same as JoB, reduced from DB's 10x). |
| 10 | Flush (pat) | 6.00 | Hold all 5 unless 4 to a royal present. Flush returns to 6x (same as JoB). |
| 11 | Three Aces (draw hand) | ~18.70 | Critical DDB play: Hold the 3 Aces + whichever non-Ace card is a 2, 3, or 4 (potential kicker). Draw the remaining card. If you have 3 Aces + two non-qualifying cards, hold just the 3 Aces. Multi-H: Drawing 3 Aces with kicker potential is the highest EV draw in the game |
| 12 | Three of a Kind | 4.22 | Hold 3, draw 2. For Aces: hold the 3 Aces + best qualifying kicker candidate if available. For 2s/3s/4s: similar kicker logic applies. |
| 13 | Straight (pat) | 4.00 | Hold all 5. Straight back to 4x (same as JoB — DB had 5x). |
| 14 | Two Pair (Aces up) | 2.48 | DDB unique play: With Aces and another pair, consider breaking the two pair to hold just the Aces when the non-Ace card is a qualifying kicker (2/3/4). EV varies significantly. Multi-H: This decision plays out hundreds of times per session |
| 15 | Two Pair (non-Ace) | 1.27 | Hold both pairs, draw 1. Two pair only pays 1x — the EV is just from full house draw potential. |
| 16 | High Pair (Jacks–Kings) | 1.49 | Hold the pair, draw 3. For Aces: EV is much higher due to kicker bonus potential. |
| 17 | Pair of Aces | ~2.80 | Hold 2 Aces + any qualifying kicker candidate (2, 3, or 4) and draw 2. This is different from all other pairs — you're playing 3 cards, not 2. Multi-H: Always play this way — kicker value is massive |
| 18 | 4 to a Straight Flush | 2.18–3.40 | Hold 4 suited connectors. Break a low pair for an open-ended SF draw. |
| 19 | Low Pair (2s–10s) | 0.74 | Hold the pair, draw 3. Low pairs 2/3/4 have higher EV than 5-10 due to kicker bonus on quads. |
| 20 | 4 to a Flush | 1.22 | Hold 4 suited cards, draw 1. |
| 21 | Open-Ended Straight Draw | 0.87 | Hold 4 consecutive cards, draw 1. |
| 22 | 3 to a Royal Flush | 0.54–1.41 | Especially strong with A-suited combinations. |
| 23 | 2 High Cards (J–A, unsuited) | 0.49 | Hold 2 high cards, draw 3. |
| 24 | 1 High Card (J, Q, K, or A) | 0.47 | Hold single high card, draw 4. Single Ace has extra value for kicker possibilities. |
| 25 | 3 to a Straight Flush | 0.54–0.73 | 3 suited connectors. Beats single high card in some configurations. |
| — | Discard All 5 | 0.36 | When nothing qualifies. Common in DDB due to 1x two pair and low base payouts. |
Double Double Bonus at 50–100 hands is the most volatile commonly available video poker. The standard deviation per deal at 100 hands is roughly 3–4x higher than 9/6 Jacks or Better. A bankroll adequate for 100-hand JoB is grossly insufficient for 100-hand DDB. Serious multi-hand DDB players should have 500+ deals worth of bankroll minimum. Using our calculator before your first session is strongly recommended.
When you hold three Aces with a qualifying kicker (2, 3, or 4) in 100-hand play, you have 100 independent shots at the 2000-coin payout. While each individual draw is still ~1/47, across 100 simultaneous draws the probability of hitting at least one four Aces with kicker is meaningful. Sessions where this hits are dramatic. Sessions where it doesn't hit (the majority) can see massive drawdowns.
| Hands | Cost/Deal | Std Dev/Deal | Recommended Bankroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.25 | ~$2.40 | $400 |
| 3 | $0.75 | ~$4.16 | $900 |
| 5 | $1.25 | ~$5.37 | $1,400 |
| 10 | $2.50 | ~$7.59 | $2,500 |
| 25 | $6.25 | ~$12.00 | $5,500 |
| 50 | $12.50 | ~$16.97 | $10,000 |
| 100 | $25.00 | ~$24.00 | $18,000 |
These figures assume ~10% risk of ruin over 400-deal sessions. Use our variance calculator for your specific situation.
When you hold a pair of Aces and also have a 2, 3, or 4 in your hand, hold 3 cards (both Aces + the kicker candidate) instead of just the 2 Aces. This is unique to DDB and is one of the biggest strategy differences from other games.
If you have four Aces and a non-qualifying kicker (5–K), discard that kicker and draw a new card — you might draw a qualifying 2, 3, or 4 and upgrade from 400x to 2000x payout. Always verify the kicker before holding all 5.
This is the game most likely to bankrupt an underfunded player. The combination of negative EV (98.98%) and extreme variance at high hand counts is dangerous. Never play DDB at 50+ hands without a bankroll specifically sized for DDB variance.
DDB has a smaller win rate and higher variance than JoB. Most sessions are losing sessions — the wins are concentrated in rare jackpot events. Players who need frequent small wins will have a miserable experience. DDB is for players who can handle volatility and play for the big hits.
The 2000-coin payout for four Aces with kicker is the highest payout in standard non-progressive video poker. Players who specifically want the biggest possible jackpot swings choose DDB over all other variants. The excitement of holding three Aces with a qualifying kicker across 100 hands simultaneously is unmatched in video poker. Just make sure your bankroll can survive the journey to those moments.
The lower-variance positive-EV alternative. 100.17% RTP with big Ace bonuses but no kicker mechanic.
View Strategy →Much lower variance quad-bonus game. Retains 2x two-pair for steadier sessions — a better fit for most players.
View Strategy →The low-variance baseline. Playing both helps you understand exactly how much extra risk DDB adds.
View Strategy →Try our Multi-Hand Variance Calculator to see exactly how DDB plays at different hand counts — and whether your bankroll can handle it.