Ultimate X Video Poker

Last update: Feb. 19, 2009

Click on image for larger version.

Introduction

Ultimate X is a video poker variation I noticed at the MGM Grand on February 15, 2009. The thrust of the game is that if the player doubles his bet, and gets any paying hand, then he will also win a multiplier, to be applied to the following hand. Following are the full rules.

Rules

The game is an optional feature to 3-play, 5-play, and 10-play video poker. If the player declines the Ultimate X option, the game will play like conventional multi-play video poker.

If the player makes a max coin bet of 10 coins per line, then he will activate the Ultimate X feature. In Ultimate X mode any paying hand will both pay immediately and earn a multiplier for the following hand in the same position. The player is not required to pay for the Ultimate X feature to take advantage of a previously earned earned multiplier.

To make a comparison, imagine a coffee shop sells a cup of coffee for $1. If you buy the $1 for a cup immediately, they will also sell you a voucher for a cup tomorrow for 50 cents. If you planned to buy a cup for 2 or more consecutive days, you should pay for the voucher every day, except the last one. Likewise, in Ultimate X you should make a max bet for the future multipliers every hand, except the last one. On the last hand, only bet 5 coins per hand.

Let's look at a real example. In the screen-shot below I had earned a 2X multiplier on the bottom hand from the previous hand. In this hand, I lost the bottom hand, so that multiplier didn’t help me. However, I did get a three of a kind in the top hand, which earns me a 4X multiplier for the top line of the next hand.

Click on image for larger version.

The next screen-shot shows the next hand. In the top hand I got a pair of jacks. Normally that would pay 5 coins, but the 4X multiplier increases that to 20 coins. The middle and bottom hands did not multiply, but I did earn multipliers for the next hand (2X for the top and middle hands, and 3X for the bottom hand), because I bet the max 30 coins.

Click on image for larger version.

The multiplier depends on the game, hand, and number of hands played. For a given type of game, for example Jacks or Better, the multipliers will not vary according to the pay table. However, the greater the number of hands played, the greater the multipliers on some hands. The following tables show the pay tables available from IGT, the game maker, and the optimal strategy return.

Jacks or Better Return Tables

Jacks or Better 8/6
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Royal flush	800	2	2	7
Straight flush	50	2	2	7
Four of a kind	25	2	3	3
Full house	8	12	12	12
Flush	6	11	11	11
Straight	4	7	7	7
Three of a kind	3	4	4	4
Two pair	2	3	3	3
Jacks	1	2	2	2
Nothing	0	1	1	1
Return		0.992978	0.994008	0.994220

Jacks or Better 8/5
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Royal flush	800	2	2	7
Straight flush	50	2	2	7
Four of a kind	25	2	3	3
Full house	8	12	12	12
Flush	5	11	11	11
Straight	4	7	7	7
Three of a kind	3	4	4	4
Two pair	2	3	3	3
Jacks	1	2	2	2
Nothing	0	1	1	1
Return		0.978730	0.979671	0.979795

Jacks or Better 7/5
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Royal flush	800	2	2	7
Straight flush	50	2	2	7
Four of a kind	25	2	3	3
Full house	7	12	12	12
Flush	5	11	11	11
Straight	4	7	7	7
Three of a kind	3	4	4	4
Two pair	2	3	3	3
Jacks	1	2	2	2
Nothing	0	1	1	1
Return		0.967211	0.968142	0.968267

Jacks or Better 6/5
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Royal flush	800	2	2	7
Straight flush	50	2	2	7
Four of a kind	25	2	3	3
Full house	6	12	12	12
Flush	5	11	11	11
Straight	4	7	7	7
Three of a kind	3	4	4	4
Two pair	2	3	3	3
Jacks	1	2	2	2
Nothing	0	1	1	1
Return		0.955694	0.956615	0.956740

Bonus Poker Return Tables

Bonus Poker 7/5
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Royal flush	800	2	2	4
Straight flush	50	2	2	4
Four aces	80	2	2	4
Four 2-4	40	2	2	4
Four 5-K	25	2	3	3
Full house	7	12	12	12
Flush	5	11	11	11
Straight	4	8	8	8
Three of a kind	3	4	4	4
Two pair	2	3	3	3
Jacks	1	2	2	2
Nothing	0	1	1	1
Return		0.992828	0.993408	0.994034

Bonus Poker 6/5
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Royal flush	800	2	2	4
Straight flush	50	2	2	4
Four aces	80	2	2	4
Four 2-4	40	2	2	4
Four 5-K	25	2	3	3
Full house	7	12	12	12
Flush	5	11	11	11
Straight	4	8	8	8
Three of a kind	3	4	4	4
Two pair	2	3	3	3
Jacks	1	2	2	2
Nothing	0	1	1	1
Return		0.981242	0.981817	0.982439

Bonus Poker Deluxe Return Tables

Bonus Poker Deluxe 8/6
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Royal flush	800	2	2	7
Straight flush	50	2	2	7
Four of a kind	80	2	3	3
Full house	8	12	12	12
Flush	6	11	11	11
Straight	4	7	7	7
Three of a kind	3	4	4	4
Two pair	2	3	3	3
Jacks	1	2	2	2
Nothing	0	1	1	1
Return		0.995712	0.996777	0.997022

Bonus Poker Deluxe 8/5
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Royal flush	800	2	2	7
Straight flush	50	2	2	7
Four of a kind	80	2	3	3
Full house	8	12	12	12
Flush	5	11	11	11
Straight	4	7	7	7
Three of a kind	3	4	4	4
Two pair	2	3	3	3
Jacks	1	2	2	2
Nothing	0	1	1	1
Return		0.981052	0.982014	0.982169

Bonus Poker Deluxe 7/5
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Royal flush	800	2	2	7
Straight flush	50	2	2	7
Four of a kind	80	2	3	3
Full house	7	12	12	12
Flush	5	11	11	11
Straight	4	7	7	7
Three of a kind	3	4	4	4
Two pair	2	3	3	3
Jacks	1	2	2	2
Nothing	0	1	1	1
Return		0.969549	0.970502	0.970658

Bonus Poker Deluxe 6/5
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Royal flush	800	2	2	7
Straight flush	50	2	2	7
Four of a kind	80	2	3	3
Full house	6	12	12	12
Flush	5	11	11	11
Straight	4	7	7	7
Three of a kind	3	4	4	4
Two pair	2	3	3	3
Jacks	1	2	2	2
Nothing	0	1	1	1
Return		0.958050	0.958993	0.959150

Double Bonus Poker Return Tables

Double Bonus 9/6/5
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Royal flush	800	2	2	4
Straight flush	50	2	2	4
Four aces	160	2	2	4
Four 2-4	80	2	2	4
Four 5-K	50	2	3	3
Full house	9	12	12	12
Flush	6	10	10	10
Straight	5	8	8	8
Three of a kind	3	4	4	4
Two pair	2	3	3	3
Jacks	1	2	2	2
Nothing	0	1	1	1
Return		0.988866	0.989590	0.990359

Double Bonus 10/6/4
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Royal flush	800	2	2	4
Straight flush	50	2	2	4
Four aces	160	2	2	4
Four 2-4	80	2	2	4
Four 5-K	50	2	3	3
Full house	10	12	12	12
Flush	6	10	10	10
Straight	4	8	8	8
Three of a kind	3	4	4	4
Two pair	2	3	3	3
Jacks	1	2	2	2
Nothing	0	1	1	1
Return		0.984517	0.985227	0.985987

Double Bonus 9/6/4
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Royal flush	800	2	2	4
Straight flush	50	2	2	4
Four aces	160	2	2	4
Four 2-4	80	2	2	4
Four 5-K	50	2	3	3
Full house	9	12	12	12
Flush	6	10	10	10
Straight	4	8	8	8
Three of a kind	3	4	4	4
Two pair	2	3	3	3
Jacks	1	2	2	2
Nothing	0	1	1	1
Return		0.973059	0.973764	0.974517

Double Bonus 9/5/4
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Royal flush	800	2	2	4
Straight flush	50	2	2	4
Four aces	160	2	2	4
Four 2-4	80	2	2	4
Four 5-K	50	2	3	3
Full house	9	12	12	12
Flush	5	10	10	10
Straight	4	8	8	8
Three of a kind	3	4	4	4
Two pair	2	3	3	3
Jacks	1	2	2	2
Nothing	0	1	1	1
Return		0.959471	0.960118	0.960810

Double Double Bonus Poker Return Tables

Double Double Bonus 9/6
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Royal flush	800	2	2	4
Straight flush	50	2	2	4
Four aces + 2-4	400	2	2	4
Four 2-4 + A-4	160	2	2	4
Four aces + 5-K	160	2	2	4
Four 2-4 + 5-K	80	2	2	4
Four 5-K	50	2	3	3
Full house	9	12	12	12
Flush	6	10	10	10
Straight	4	8	8	8
Three of a kind	3	4	4	4
Two pair	1	3	3	3
Jacks	1	2	2	2
Nothing	0	1	1	1
Return	0	0.997261	0.997928	0.998663

Double Double Bonus 9/5
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Royal flush	800	2	2	4
Straight flush	50	2	2	4
Four aces + 2-4	400	2	2	4
Four 2-4 + A-4	160	2	2	4
Four aces + 5-K	160	2	2	4
Four 2-4 + 5-K	80	2	2	4
Four 5-K	50	2	3	3
Full house	9	12	12	12
Flush	5	10	10	10
Straight	4	8	8	8
Three of a kind	3	4	4	4
Two pair	1	3	3	3
Jacks	1	2	2	2
Nothing	0	1	1	1
Return	0	0.983633	0.984253	0.984940

Double Double Bonus 8/6
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Royal flush	800	2	2	4
Straight flush	50	2	2	4
Four aces + 2-4	400	2	2	4
Four 2-4 + A-4	160	2	2	4
Four aces + 5-K	160	2	2	4
Four 2-4 + 5-K	80	2	2	4
Four 5-K	50	2	3	3
Full house	8	12	12	12
Flush	6	10	10	10
Straight	4	8	8	8
Three of a kind	3	4	4	4
Two pair	1	3	3	3
Jacks	1	2	2	2
Nothing	0	1	1	1
Return	0	0.972266	0.972859	0.973521

Double Double Bonus 7/5
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Royal flush	800	2	2	4
Straight flush	50	2	2	4
Four aces + 2-4	400	2	2	4
Four 2-4 + A-4	160	2	2	4
Four aces + 5-K	160	2	2	4
Four 2-4 + 5-K	80	2	2	4
Four 5-K	50	2	3	3
Full house	7	12	12	12
Flush	5	10	10	10
Straight	4	8	8	8
Three of a kind	3	4	4	4
Two pair	1	3	3	3
Jacks	1	2	2	2
Nothing	0	1	1	1
Return	0	0.960969	0.961531	0.962175

Deuces Wild Return Tables

Deuces Wild 25/15/9/4/4/3
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Natural royal flush	800	2	2	4
Four deuces	200	2	2	4
Wild royal flush	25	2	2	4
Five of a kind	15	2	3	3
Straight flush	9	12	12	12
Four of a kind	4	7	7	7
Full house	4	5	5	5
Flush	3	5	5	5
Straight	2	3	3	3
Three of a kind	1	2	2	2
Loser	0	1	1	1
Return		0.991282	0.992657	0.994362

Deuces Wild 20/12/10/4/4/3
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Natural royal flush	800	2	2	4
Four deuces	200	2	2	4
Wild royal flush	20	2	2	4
Five of a kind	12	2	3	3
Straight flush	10	12	12	12
Four of a kind	4	7	7	7
Full house	4	5	5	5
Flush	3	5	5	5
Straight	2	3	3	3
Three of a kind	1	2	2	2
Loser	0	1	1	1
Return		0.979863	0.981217	0.982817

Deuces Wild 25/16/13/4/3/2
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Natural royal flush	800	2	2	4
Four deuces	200	2	2	4
Wild royal flush	25	2	2	4
Five of a kind	16	2	3	3
Straight flush	13	12	12	12
Four of a kind	4	7	7	7
Full house	3	5	5	5
Flush	2	5	5	5
Straight	2	3	3	3
Three of a kind	1	2	2	2
Loser	0	1	1	1
Return		0.969387	0.970777	0.972477

Deuces Wild 20/10/8/4/4/3
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Natural royal flush	800	2	2	4
Four deuces	200	2	2	4
Wild royal flush	20	2	2	4
Five of a kind	10	2	3	3
Straight flush	8	12	12	12
Four of a kind	4	7	7	7
Full house	4	5	5	5
Flush	3	5	5	5
Straight	2	3	3	3
Three of a kind	1	2	2	2
Loser	0	1	1	1
Return		0.962942	0.964295	0.965889

Joker Poker Return Tables

Joker Poker 50-17-7-6-5
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Natural royal flush	800	2	3	4
Five of a kind	200	2	3	4
Wild royal flush	100	2	3	4
Straight flush	50	2	3	4
Four of a kind	17	2	2	2
Full house	7	7	7	7
Flush	5	6	6	6
Straight	3	5	5	5
Three of a kind	2	4	4	4
Two pair	1	3	3	3
Kings or better	1	2	2	2
Loser	0	1	1	1
Return		0.989856	0.990144	0.990445

Joker Poker 50-16-7-6-5
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Natural royal flush	800	2	3	4
Five of a kind	200	2	3	4
Wild royal flush	100	2	3	4
Straight flush	50	2	3	4
Four of a kind	16	2	2	2
Full house	7	7	7	7
Flush	5	6	6	6
Straight	3	5	5	5
Three of a kind	2	4	4	4
Two pair	1	3	3	3
Kings or better	1	2	2	2
Loser	0	1	1	1
Return		0.98119	0.981474	0.981771

Joker Poker 50/15/7/6/5
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Natural royal flush	800	2	3	4
Five of a kind	200	2	3	4
Wild royal flush	100	2	3	4
Straight flush	50	2	3	4
Four of a kind	15	2	2	2
Full house	7	7	7	7
Flush	5	6	6	6
Straight	3	5	5	5
Three of a kind	2	4	4	4
Two pair	1	3	3	3
Kings or better	1	2	2	2
Loser	0	1	1	1
Return		0.972528	0.972808	0.973102

Joker Poker 40/20/5/4/3
Hand	Pays	Multiplier 3-Play	Multiplier 5-Play	Multiplier 10-Play
Natural royal flush	800	2	3	4
Five of a kind	200	2	3	4
Wild royal flush	100	2	3	4
Straight flush	40	2	3	4
Four of a kind	20	2	2	2
Full house	5	7	7	7
Flush	4	6	6	6
Straight	3	5	5	5
Three of a kind	2	4	4	4
Two pair	1	3	3	3
Kings or better	1	2	2	2
Loser	0	1	1	1
Return		0.963942	0.964201	0.964472

Strategy

The strategy in Ultimate X will depend not only on your cards, but the sum of the current multipliers. One could get good, but not perfect, advice by using a video poker calculator, putting into the pay field for each hand cm*w+nm-1, where cm is the average current multiplier, w is the pay table win, and nm is the pay table multiplier for the next hand. However, be warned that using a "device" to alter the odds in Nevada is a felony. If you want to memorize proper strategy, you will need a separate strategy for all possible total multipliers, and there are hundreds of possibilities between 3-play, 5-play, and 10-play. In my opinion, the number of players who will ever know strategy within 0.1% of optimal strategy, will be zero.

However, a huge advantage can be had if you find a game abandoned with multipliers! If you see this, play one hand at five coins per line, and then cut and run. Likewise, never leave a game with multipliers on it. Either wait for a losing hand on all lines, or bet five credits per line on your last hand. Don't risk abandoning a game with a multiplier by making a max coin bet with the last of your money. You never want to have to leave a game with a multiplier because you don't have enough money to make another bet.

Methodology

It isn't often I rely on outside help for my analysis, but this is one of those times. This would have been a very difficult analysis, and nobody would have cared, other than me, if I cracked it. So the above tables have been kindly provided by IGT (the game maker), who I thank. All I know is that they did an "exhaustive" analysis, meaning they looked at the billions of possible game states to arrive at a return.

Here is how I would do it. From linear algebra, we know that we can solve for x unknowns if we have x equations. Such is the case with this game. From my video poker appendix 6, there are at least 86 possible total wins in 3-play, 183 in 5-play, and 361 in 10-play. If we assume a pay of cm*w+nm-1 (see above) for each hand, then we could get an equation for each game state, and then solve in a huge matrix. Even that will not give a truly optimal return, but I think that is as good as anybody is going to get.

Links

There is a very realistic Ultimate X game that can be played at VideoPoker.com. A free membership is required.

The Wizard's other sites: Wizard of Vegas, Wizard of Macau, Math Problems The Wizard recommends: The Bear Growls, Casinomeister, Online Casino Suite