Super Triple Play Video Poker
Super Triple Play video poker gives you the chance for some of the most lucrative pay tables to be found in all of video poker. You can access these pay tables by playing six coins per hand instead of the normal maximum amount of five. With the boosted pay tables and the ability to play multiple hands of video poker at once, it offers serious opportunities to win big in a hurry.
Casino patrons and those who gamble online have long understood that video poker is one of the best games that you can play. Most people think of video poker as being the common Jacks or Better-style game that mimics the style of five card draw poker. But in truth, there are many different twists that you’ll be able to find if you look around the casino or search your favorite gambling website.
In most cases, video poker variations are created by changing the pay tables. When you see any of the games that have the word “Bonus” in their names, it is a good sign that certain hands, especially four of a kind, will have a significantly boosted payback. These games compensate for this by paying off less for more common hands like two pair or three of a kind.
In the case of Super Triple Play video poker, the pay tables are jacked up even more than these Bonus games if you add an extra coin on to your normal maximum bet. That means that you would be betting six coins per hand to unlock these special pay tables, which are similar to common games like Jacks or Better or Deuces Wild but pay out more on certain hands.
In addition, Super Triple Play video poker is one of the variations of video poker that allows you to play multiple hands at once. You can play three, five, or even 10 hands all at once. For those who think that single-hand Jacks or Better is a bit slow and lacks the chances for big payouts, this variation has a remedy for both of those problems.
The main issues with Super Triple Play video poker is the cost that it takes to unlock the special pay tables and the volatility of the game on the whole. When you are playing this game, you have a better chance for big payoffs in a hurry than with normal video poker. But the tradeoff is that you also have a better chance of blowing through your bankroll before you know what hit you.
In the following article, we’ll explore the game known as Super Triple Play video poker. We’ll talk about basic video poker, multiple play poker, and the unique pay tables, all of which come into play here. And finally, we’ll go into the advantages and disadvantages of the game as well as show you how you can develop a winning strategy that will help maximize your profits.
How to Play Video Poker
Before you can truly understand how to play Super Triple Play video poker, you first need to learn the basics of the game. Since video poker is one of the easiest casino games to learn, it shouldn’t take you very long. This is the case whether you know how to play five card draw or are a complete newcomer to poker.
The fact that it is easy to learn is just one of the many fantastic qualities possessed by video poker. Start with the bottom line. Payback for video poker tends to be significantly higher than slot machines, which is the other game it is most often compared to. As a matter of fact, the best-paying video poker games can rank right up there in payback percentage with table games like blackjack or craps.
One of the most exciting parts of video poker is that there is a strategic aspect to it. That immediately sets it apart from video poker, where you essentially just spin and hope. Video poker is also governed by probabilities, which goes a long way to remove the guesswork about what you can expect from each machine.
Think about that for a minute. When you play a slot machine, you have no idea how often you can expect a winning spin to come down the pike, because there are no probabilities. But with video poker, the fact that there are only 52 cards in play (53 cards if you’re playing with a joker) means that you can estimate your chances of getting the winning hands that are paid out by each game.
On top of that, the pay tables can be used in conjunction with the probabilities to give you an estimate of what your payback percentage will be. With slot machines, you can’t possibly know how loose or tight a casino has set up a machine. With video poker, it is all laid out for you.
That’s why video poker, in terms of its strategic aspects and probabilities, more closely resembles table games. But video poker holds an advantage because you don’t need anyone else—no dealers, casino employees, or other patrons as competitors. It’s just you and the machine, which means that you can play at your own pace and convenience and not have to worry about other hassles.
Put all of that together and you have video poker, a game so bettor-friendly that you might not want to play anything else once you start. But first, you have to learn how to play. Here’s how it works in step-by-step fashion:
Step 1: Put in Your Money
The money that you enter into the machine will be used as your bankroll. If you’re playing online at a gambling website, you can build a bankroll after creating an account at the website you’re using. You should base your bankroll on how long you want to play, keeping in mind that most video poker players can play several hands per minute, and how much you’re going to bet in each hand, which we’ll talk more about later in this guide.
When you put your money in, it will register on the machine as credits or coins. Each credit or coin will be equal to a unit of the denomination that you’re playing, such as a dime, quarter, or dollar. Some machines allow you to choose between denominations, while others will have just one denomination that is set beforehand.
To figure out how much you will have in credits, simply divide the amount that you entered by the denomination. For example, let’s say that you put 10 dollars into a 25-cent machine, that would give you 40 credits, which is 10 divided by .25.
Step 2: Decide on Your Bet
The basic setup for video poker allows you to bet between one and five coins. It is always recommended that you bet the maximum amount in this case, because it gives you the best payback on the royal flush, which is the rarest and most lucrative hand in the world of video poker. Playing just one through four coins pays off at 250 to 1, which lags way behind the 800 to 1 payment for a five-coin wager.
In the case of Super Triple Play video poker, you have the option of betting an extra coin, or sixth coin, per hand. This is the coin that will activate the extra pay tables that pay more than usual. As you’ll see when we talk about payback, the six-coin play is the way that you can make the most money out of the game based on payback percentage.
Of course, that is a significant monetary commitment, $1.50 per hand at a quarter machine or $6 per hand at a dollar hand. And keep in mind that you will be playing multiple hands per round when playing Super Triple Play video poker, either three, five, or 10 at a time, and that you must make a bet on every hand. For those reasons, you might have to come to terms with the fact that you will either have to make a big bet every round or you will be short-changing yourself.
Step 3: Play Your Hand
As we stated above, video poker is essentially a computerized simulation of the card game known as five card draw. The machine deals you five cards out of a 52-card simulated deck, and you get one chance to “draw,” which means that you can replace cards from your hand with others from the deck. When playing video poker, however, you don’t have to beat other players, you just have to beat the machine.
You do that by coming up with one of the predetermined winning hands, which will give you some sort of payback if you can achieve them. Some pay tables might change up the paying hands from the common ones. But for the most part, here are the hands that you’ll be trying to achieve:
- Pair of jacks of better
- Two pair
- Three of a kind
- Straight (five cards of consecutive rank, like 3-4-5-6-7)
- Flush (five cards of same suit)
- Full house (three of a kind and two pair in the same hand)
- Four of a kind
- Straight flush (straight with five cards of same suit)
- Royal flush (ten, jack, queen, king, and ace of the same suit)
When you get your first five cards on the screen, you will be looking to see if any of them make up a winning combination. At the least, you will be hoping that there are the beginnings of a winning hand. Even if there aren’t, you will still have a chance to do some damage thanks to the draw.
The draw is the point of a video poker hand where you’ll be able to affect your chances of winning or losing. You’ll do this by deciding which of your cards you want to hold (if any) and which you want to discard. Any cards you discard will be replaced by others from the same deck, which now contains 47 cards (the original 52 minus the 5 you were dealt).
Let’s take a look at how this might work. Here is a sample deal:
In this hand, there are the seeds of three possible winning hands. There are a pair of threes, which can be improved by more threes or even if other paired cards are drawn. You could also keep the four hearts in the deal, meaning that you need only draw one more to make the flush.
Finally, you can keep just the two through four of hearts, which would give you the three of the cards that you need for the straight flush. That is one of the most lucrative hands in all of video poker. But it would take a lot of luck on the draw to get the two cards that you need.
You have to make these decisions based on the ability that you have to make the winning hands based on the cards remaining in the deck. And you should also take into consideration the potential payout for those winning hands. These are the decisions that come into play often in video poker, some more difficult than others.
Once you make your choice, you will press the buttons below the cards that you want to hold. The others will be replaced on the draw, and your hand is over at that point. Any winnings that you achieve will be added to your bankroll.
And that’s how it works for every hand that you play. You can play again as long as you have credits remaining in the machine. Or you can cash out at any time and collect your winnings via a redemption ticket that the machine will print out for you.
This is how you would play a game at a machine that allows you play a single hand at a time. That is not an option with Super Triple Play, where you are going to be playing three, five, or 10 hands at once. Luckily, the process isn’t all that different as you’re about to find out.
Playing Multiple Hands at Once
The key thing that you have to remember about playing Super Triple Play video poker is that, whether you are playing three, five or 10 hands at once, you will only be receiving one deal. On that deal, you will make your decisions for what to hold and discard as you did in the example above. Those decisions will then play out over however many hands you are playing.
You also have to keep in mind that you must wager on every hand that you’re playing, not just a single deal. Let’s assume that you wanted to play Super Triple Play video poker with the extra twist in play, meaning that you are going to bet six coins per hand. What that means is that you would need to bet the following:
- Triple Play: 18 coins (3 times 6)
- Five Play: 30 coins (5 times 6)
- Ten Play: 60 coins (10 times 6)
As you can see, the bets can get pricey. But the winnings can also get lucrative, especially if you end up with a good deal. Let’s see how it all works, using our sample deal from above, and assuming that we’re in triple play mode:
Let’s say that you have decided to go for the gusto and play for the straight flush. That means that you are holding onto the two, three, and four of hearts. You will then be given three different draws from three different decks, each containing the same 47 cards but all randomly shuffled by the software inside the machine.
It could turn out like this:
As you can see, you made three different winning hands: a flush on the top line, two pair on the middle, and a pair of queens on the bottom. You would then get paid for each of those hands according to the pay table and the bet that you made for each. Adding up all those payouts make that round of video poker much more impactful to you than if you were playing just one hand at a time.
Of course, things don’t always turn out that well. You might have some rounds of Super Triple Play video poker where you lose every hand that you play. And that can take a mighty bite out of your bankroll in a hurry.
What you end up with is the capacity for big winnings and quick losses in sudden momentum shifts. Adding in the sixth coin bet and the possibility for heightened pay tables only increases this phenomenon. That is why Super Triple Play video poker is known as a volatile video poker variation, something for which you should be prepared if you do choose this game.
Choosing Your Pay Table and Betting the Sixth Coin
Super Triple Play video poker is a game that allows you to choose among many possible pay tables. This gives you some flexibility, which isn’t normally apparent for video poker players. Here are the games that are in play:
- Jacks or Better
- Bonus Poker
- Bonus Poker Deluxe
- Double Bonus
- Double Double Bonus
- Super Aces
- Super Double Double Bonus
But the twist is that, with these games, you get two sets of pay tables. On the one hand, there are the pay tables that are common to these variations, which will be in play if you bet one through five coins. If, however, you bet a sixth coin, you open up new pay tables that are significantly more lucrative.
Let’s take a look at what we mean. This is the pay table for Jacks or Better on the machine with one through five coins bet:
Jacks or Better Pay Table
Coins/Hands | 1 Coin | 2 Coins | 3 Coins | 4 Coins | 5 Coins |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Royal flush | 250 | 500 | 750 | 1000 | 4,000 |
Straight flush | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 |
Four of a kind | 25 | 50 | 75 | 100 | 125 |
Full house | 8 | 16 | 24 | 32 | 40 |
Flush | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 |
Straight | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
Three of a kind | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
Two pairs | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
Jacks or better | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Now, let’s take a look at what that pay table looks like when the sixth coin is bet:
Jacks or Better (6 Coins Bet) Pay Table
Coins/Hands | 1 Coin | 2 Coins | 3 Coins | 4 Coins | 5 Coins |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Royal flush | 250 | 500 | 750 | 1000 | 4,000 |
Straight flush | 60 | 120 | 180 | 240 | 300 |
Four of a kind | 100 | 200 | 300 | 400 | 500 |
Full house | 11 | 22 | 33 | 44 | 55 |
Flush | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 |
Straight | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
Three of a kind | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
Two pairs | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
Jacks or better | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Notice the dramatic increase in terms of the payout for the four of a kind hand. There is also a slight bump in the straight flush, and a jump up for the full house. And none of the more common hands are discounted at all.
You should note that there is no extra column for a six-coin bet. All six-coin bets will be paid at the five-coin level. That’s why you’ll need to make some hands with the boosted payouts now and again to really make this game work for you.
Let’s take a look at the comparisons for Bonus Poker:
Bonus Poker (1 Through 5-Coins Bet) Pay Table
Coins/Hands | 1 Coin | 2 Coins | 3 Coins | 4 Coins | 5 Coins |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Royal flush | 200 | 400 | 600 | 800 | 4,000 |
Straight flush | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 |
Four of a kind (aces) | 80 | 160 | 240 | 320 | 400 |
Four of a kind (2s, 3s, or 4s) | 45 | 90 | 135 | 180 | 225 |
Four of a kind (any other) | 20 | 40 | 60 | 80 | 100 |
Full house | 7 | 14 | 21 | 28 | 35 |
Flush | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 |
Straight | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
Three of a kind | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
Two pairs | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
Jacks or better | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Bonus Poker (6 Coins Bet) Pay Table
Coins/Hands | 1 Coin | 2 Coins | 3 Coins | 4 Coins | 5 Coins |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Royal flush | 200 | 400 | 600 | 800 | 4,000 |
Royal flush | 200 | 400 | 600 | 800 | 4,000 |
Straight flush | 150 | 300 | 450 | 600 | 750 |
Four of a kind (aces) | 240 | 480 | 720 | 960 | 1,200 |
Four of. a kind (2s, 3s, or 4s) | 120 | 240 | 360 | 480 | 600 |
Four of a kind (any other) | 80 | 160 | 240 | 320 | 400 |
Full house | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 |
Flush | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 |
Straight | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
Three of a kind | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
Two pairs | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
Jacks or better | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Again, you can see how the sixth coin bet bumps up the winnings for all four of a kind hands by a bunch, while the straight flush and full house hands also get a lift. Imagine a multiple play situation where you are dealt four of a kind. The winnings would be immense.
Let’s take a look at one more, this time Double Bonus Poker:
Double Bonus Poker (1 Through 5 Coins Bet) Pay Table
Coins/Hands | 1 Coin | 2 Coins | 3 Coins | 4 Coins | 5 Coins |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Royal flush | 250 | 500 | 750 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
Straight flush | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 |
Four aces without any 2,3,4 | 400 | 800 | 1,200 | 1,600 | 2,000 |
Four 2s, 3s, or 4s without any A,2,3,4 | 160 | 320 | 460 | 640 | 800 |
Four aces | 160 | 320 | 460 | 640 | 800 |
Four 2s, 3s, or 4s | 80 | 160 | 240 | 320 | 400 |
Four 5s through Ks | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 |
Full house | 9 | 18 | 27 | 36 | 45 |
Flush | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 |
Straight | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 |
Three of a kind | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
Two pairs | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Pair of jacks + | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Double Bonus Poker (6 Coins Bet) Pay Table
Coins/Hands | 1 Coin | 2 Coins | 3 Coins | 4 Coins | 5 Coins |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Royal flush | 200 | 400 | 600 | 800 | 4,000 |
Straight flush | 60 | 120 | 180 | 240 | 300 |
Four of a kind (aces) | 400 | 800 | 1,200 | 1,600 | 2,000 |
Four of a kind (2s, 3s, or 4s) | 200 | 400 | 600 | 800 | 1,000 |
Four of a kind (any other) | 100 | 200 | 300 | 400 | 500 |
Full house | 9 | 18 | 27 | 36 | 45 |
Flush | 7 | 14 | 21 | 28 | 35 |
Straight | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 |
Three of a kind | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
Two pairs | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Jacks or better | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
In this case, the six-coin bet eliminates the separate payouts for the kickers and simply jacks up the four of a kind hands to an incredible degree. Other hands lower down the pay table also see a solid increase, while none take a hit. The comparisons are similar for the other games under the Super Triple Play video poker umbrella.
The big question then becomes whether or not betting the sixth coin when playing Super Triple Play video poker is worth it, and the answer is yes. Your expected payback percentage actually increases when you bet six coins instead of one through five.
But there is a catch to that. Payback percentages are really only accurate if you play a certain type of video poker over a long span of time. If you’re playing for just a short amount of time, luck will have a great deal to say about your outcome.
You should try to make the six-coin bet if you can when playing Super Triple Play video poker. But if you can’t, that shouldn’t diminish your excitement for the game. Ultimately, you’ll have to decide based on your budget and your tolerance for risk versus potential for reward when it comes to this game.
Strategy for Super Triple Play
One way that you can ensure that you are maxing out your potential winnings when playing Super Triple Play video poker is by playing the game with perfect strategy. That means that every decision you make about what to hold and what to discard is based on the probabilities of making certain hands and what those hands will play.
This is not an easy thing to do under any circumstance. In a game like Super Triple Play video poker, where there are many different pay tables from which to choose, it gets even trickier. Luckily, you have some options.
First of all, it’s probably best to concentrate on one or two of those pay tables when learning basic video poker strategy. After all, it’s unlikely that you’ll be shifting back and forth between many of them while playing. Find one or two that you like and stick with trying to learn them.
Keep in mind that you might want to sell out for four of a kind hands more than usual when playing Super Triple Play video poker with the sixth coin wagered. Those quads will earn you a pretty big bulk of your payback based on how well they pay out in those unlocked pay tables. That might mean that you give up on flushes or straights more often to try to get to those four of a kinds.
Finally, utilize one of the following two methods to learn perfect strategy for Super Triple Play video poker:
- Video Poker Trainers: A video poker trainer is a piece of software that you can download to teach you the right plays in every situation. You can customize it to the pay table that you most want to learn. When you are using a trainer, you will be alerted when a decision that you make about a hold and discard is incorrect in terms of the expected value each play would bring.
- Strategy Charts: Strategy charts can be found for the major pay tables above, although it might be tricky to find them for the unlocked pay tables. A strategy chart is essentially a ranking of all the possible combinations of cards that you might get on the deal. By memorizing these combinations, you’ll immediately know what cards in your hand you should be holding and which could be discarded as inessential.
Pros and Cons of Super Triple Play Video Poker
- No change in gameplay from basic video poker
- Access to many different types of pay tables
- Increased payback percentage when you bet more
- Expensive to play with extra feature
- Volatile game play
- Strategy changes for unlocked play tables can be confusing
Final Words on Super Triple Play Video Poker
Super Triple Play video poker, whether you find it at a casino or as part of a top online casino site, Super Triple Play gives you access to pay tables you might never have thought possible. You have to pay extra to get that access. But it will be worth it when you score one of the boosted payouts on multiple hands all at once, meaning that you can win a lot of money in very little time.