Double Draw Poker

Last Update: Nov 10, 2006

Double Draw Poker is a video poker variation by Bally. I noticed it at the Suncoast on November 7, 2006. The game plays like conventional video poker, with the following exception: if the player gets a three of a kind or a full house on the deal, he gets TWO draws.

With a three of a kind or full house on the deal, the player should always keep the three of a kind only. This includes sacrificing any full house. On the second draw, if the player gets a four of a kind he should obviously keep it. If the player gets a full house on the first draw, he should keep that too; however, if the full house contains three aces, he should discard the pair. If the player has a three of a kind after the first draw, he should always discard the two singletons.

In 7/5 Double Bonus, three of a kind and full house draws contribute 14.325% of the game's return. In 7/5 Double Draw Poker (the game at the Suncoast), three of a kind and full house double draws contribute 19.450% to the return. So the second draw adds 5.125% to the return.

The following two tables show the return of all hands, broken down by whether it was obtained normally or as the result of a three of a kind or full house on the deal. Comparing 7/5 Double Draw to 10/7 Double Bonus, the former will generate 43.4% more four of a kinds. The Suncoast features the 7/5 pay table.