Double Joker video poker is played with a deck of 54 cards,
because two jokers are added to the standard 52 card deck. Each joker
is called 'wild', because they can substitute for any card in the
deck to complete a winning combination. With two wild cards it's rather
easy to get a hand like a Four of a Kind or a Straight Flush, and
therefore you will find that payouts for these hands have been decreased,
compared to video poker games without wild cards. Also note that the
lowest ranking hand is Two Pairs compared to a Pair of Jacks in Jacks
or Better video poker. But then again, if it wasn't for these two
wild jokers you wouldn't be able to obtain hands like Five of a Kind
or a Wild Royal Flush. All things considered the Double Joker video
poker variant we discuss here is a better game than short pay Jacks
or better in terms of average expected return.
Double Joker video poker payout table
The following payout table represents a standard Double Joker video
poker payout table used at Microgaming
casinos. The main differences with a Jacks or Better payout table
have been highlighted in red. If you compare this payout table to
the one used with Joker Poker (with only one wild card), it is striking
that the Wild Royal Flush and the Five of Kind hands have switched
places, in terms of payouts. Also note that the lowest ranking hand
is Two Pairs compared to a Pair of Kings in Joker Poker. As with almost
all video poker games you are best served by always betting five coins,
because of the proportionally better payouts.
