This page shows my strategy for the 10-hand version of 7/5 Ultimate XBonus 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.
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.
If the hand has this
and this
and the average
multiplier is
less than or
equal to this
then hold this
otherwise hold this
suited 2JQA to 9QKA
a pair of 2s through 9s
1.2
4 to a flush
JQA/JKA/QKA
suited 2TJA to 9TKA
a pair of 2s through 9s
1.5
4 to a flush
TJA/TQA/TKA
a pair of 10s
1.6
4 to a flush
TJA/TQA/TKA
unsuited 89TJ
a pair of 8s, 9s, or 10s
1.6
unsuited 89TJ
pair of 8s, 9s, or 10s
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