Yes. Most online casinos offer a Demo Mode for practicing strategy without risk.

How to Win at Bonus Poker Deluxe: Strategy & Paytables

Q: What is the best paytable for Bonus Poker Deluxe?

The 9/6 paytable is the Full Pay standard, offering a 99.64% RTP. It pays 9 coins for a Full House and 6 coins for a Flush.

Q: Should I keep Two Pair?

Yes, hold Two Pair, but be aware it only pays 1:1. It acts as a defensive hand to preserve your bankroll.

4 June 2025

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Mark Taylor Video Poker Analysis • Updated: January 26, 2026

Bonus Poker Deluxe is one of the highest-paying video poker games online if you stick to optimal hands. It plays with a standard 52-card deck, just like Jacks or Better.

However, it swaps out the small wins (Two Pair only pays 1:1) and leans harder on Four of a Kind payouts. I played the 9/6 paytable version at multiple casinos using real bankrolls and low-variance strategies to test the volatility.

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I’ll tell you how BPD differs from other video poker games, how to bet, and exactly what hands to hold if you want to push that 99.64% RTP in your favor.

bonus poker deluxe video poker game screen

TL;DR: The Strategy Core

The Trade-Off: You get paid more for 4-of-a-Kind (80:1), but Two Pair pays only 1:1 (Even Money).
The Goal: Hunt for Quads. Don’t chase Two Pair; treat it as a break-even hand.
Max Bet: Always bet 5 coins to unlock the 800:1 Royal Flush.
The Edge: With perfect strategy on a 9/6 table, the House Edge is a tiny 0.36%.

1. What Is Bonus Poker Deluxe?

Bonus Poker Deluxe is a 52-card video poker game based on Jacks or Better. The “Deluxe” moniker refers to the boosted payouts on Four of a Kind hands. Unlike standard “Bonus Poker” which varies payouts based on the rank of the Quads (e.g., Aces pay more than 5s), Deluxe pays a flat rate for ALL Quads.

Key Specs (9/6 Version):

RTP: 99.64%
Volatility: High (due to Two Pair reduction)
4-of-a-Kind Payout: 80 for 1 (Flat rate for all ranks)
Royal Flush: 800 for 1 (at 5 coins)

2. Paytable Analysis: Spotting the 9/6 Machine

The most important skill in Video Poker is reading the paytable. The payouts for the Full House and Flush determine your return. You always want a “9/6” machine (9 for Full House, 6 for Flush).

Version	Full House	Flush	RTP (Return)
9/6 (Full Pay)	9	6	99.64%
8/6	8	6	98.49%
8/5	8	5	97.40%
6/5 (Avoid)	6	5	95.36%

Warning: Many online casinos default to the 8/5 version. Always check the payout column before you bet a single coin.

3. Optimal Strategy: What to Hold

Because Two Pair pays only 1:1 (reduced from 2:1 in Jacks or Better), we devalue pairs and prioritize draws. Here is the simplified hierarchy of hands to hold (from top to bottom).

The Hold Chart (Top Down):

Royal Flush, Straight Flush, 4-of-a-Kind.
4 to a Royal Flush.
Full House, Flush, Straight, 3-of-a-Kind.
4 to a Straight Flush.
Two Pair (Hold both pairs).
High Pair (Jacks, Queens, Kings, Aces).
4 to a Flush.
Low Pair (10s or lower).
4 to an Open-Ended Straight (e.g., 6-7-8-9).
3 to a Royal Flush.

Critical Adjustment:

In Jacks or Better, you might break a flush draw to hold a low pair. In Bonus Poker Deluxe, because Two Pair pays so poorly, you are often incentivized to chase the flush or straight flush more aggressively.

4. Bankroll Management: Variance Warning

Bonus Poker Deluxe is a high-variance game. The reduced payout on Two Pair removes the “safety net” that keeps your bankroll steady in Jacks or Better. You will experience longer losing streaks, punctuated by massive 80x wins when you hit Quads.

Session Bankroll

You need at least 500 bets (coins) to weather the variance. If you bet $1.25 per hand (5 quarters), bring $625.

Max Coins Rule

Always bet 5 coins. The Royal Flush payout jumps from 250x (1-4 coins) to 800x (5 coins). Betting less is mathematically wrong.

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Breaking a Full House: Never break a Full House to chase 4-of-a-Kind, unless you have 3 Aces and the game offers a special jackpot for 4 Aces (rare in BPD).
Keeping a “Kicker”: If you have a Pair of Kings and a 4, discard the 4. Keeping a kicker reduces your chance of hitting 3-of-a-Kind or Quads.
Chasing Inside Straights: Do not draw to an inside straight (e.g., 4-5-7-8) unless you have literally nothing else. The probability is too low.

6. Verification & Resources

For the exact mathematical proofs of these strategies, I recommend consulting the Wizard of Odds BPD Calculator. Additionally, understanding the history of Jacks or Better provides the foundation for this variant.

Conclusion

Bonus Poker Deluxe is the thinking player’s game. It rewards patience and punishes those who chase small wins. By hunting for 9/6 tables and sticking to the optimal hold strategy, you can enjoy one of the best return rates in the entire casino. Remember: 4-of-a-Kind is your new best friend.

FAQs: Bonus Poker Deluxe

What is the best paytable for Bonus Poker Deluxe?

The 9/6 paytable is the “Full Pay” standard, offering a 99.64% Return to Player (RTP). This version pays 9 coins for a Full House and 6 coins for a Flush per coin bet.

How is it different from Double Double Bonus?

Double Double Bonus varies the 4-of-a-Kind payout based on the “Kicker” (the 5th card). Bonus Poker Deluxe pays a flat rate (usually 80 for 1) for ANY 4-of-a-Kind, regardless of rank or kicker.

Should I keep Two Pair?

Yes, you should usually hold Two Pair, but understand that it only pays 1:1 (Even Money). It is a “treading water” hand designed to keep you in the game until you hit Quads.

Can I play for free?

Yes. Most online casinos offer a “Demo Mode” or “Practice Mode” for video poker. This is highly recommended for mastering the strategy chart before risking real money.