7/5 Bonus Poker 10-Play Ultimate X Strategy

Introduction

This page shows my strategy for the 10-hand version of 7/5 Ultimate X Bonus Poker. With perfect play, which requires knowing more than one correct play for many hands based on the average multiplier, the expected return of this game is 99.40%. If you use the following single strategy at all times, the expected return is 99.32%. So you are giving up 0.08% in long-term return in exchange for a single, simple strategy.

Please note this strategy is not appropriate for the single-line Ultimate X game.

Below the strategy are some exceptions based on the average multiplier, which will boost the return slightly above 99.32%.

Basic Strategy

• Full house or better
• 4 to a royal flush
• Flush
• Straight
• 3 of a kind
• 2 pair
• 4 to a straight flush
• 1 pair, Jacks or better
• 4 to a flush
• 3 to a royal flush
• 4 to a straight — 2345; 3456; 4567; 5678; 6789; 789T; 89TJ; 9TJQ; TJQK
• 1 pair, 2s through 10s
• 3 to a straight flush — 345; 456; 567; 678; 789; 89T; 89J/8TJ; 9TJ; 9TQ; 9JQ
• 4 to a straight — JQKA
• 3 to a straight flush 8JQ; 9JK/9QK
• 4 to a straight — 9JQK; TJQA/TJKA/TQKA
• 3 to a flush — 2JA to 9KA
• 2 to a royal flush — JQ; JK/QK; JA/QA/KA
• 4 to a straight — 89JQ/8TJQ; 9TJK/9TQK
• 3 to a straight flush — Ace-low; 234/235/245; 346/356; 457/467; 568/578; 679/689; 78T/79T; 78J/79J/7TJ; 89Q/8TQ; 9TK
• 3 to a straight — TJQ; JQK
• 2 to a straight — JQ; JK/QK
• 2 to a royal flush — TJ
• 4 to a straight — Ace-low; 789J/78TJ/79TJ; 89TQ
• 2 to a straight — JA/QA/KA
• 2 to a royal flush — TQ
• 3 to a flush — 23Q to 8TK; 2TA to 9TA
• 2 to a royal flush — TK
• a Jack, Queen, King, or Ace
• 3 to a straight flush — 236/246/256; 347/357/367; 458/468/478; 569/579/589; 67T/68T/69T
• 4 to a straight — 2346/2356/2456; 3457/3467/3567; 4568/4578/4678; 5679/5689/5789; 678T/679T/689T
• 3 to a flush — 237 to 59T
• Discard everything

Exceptions

The exceptions listed below will bring the above strategy a little closer to perfect strategy. This list of exceptions is not a complete list.

The following hand is interesting because it is the only hand in this game which has three correct plays:
78T of one suit + Jack of a second suit + Queen of a third suit. For example, 7♦ 8♦ 10♦ J♣ Q♥.

The three correct plays for this hand are:

• With an average multiplier of 1, hold 8TJQ
• With an average multiplier of 1.1 to 2.1, hold 78T
• With an average multiplier of 2.2 or more, hold JQ

 

Written by: Michael Shackleford