Xtra Card

Introduction

Xtra Card is a video poker variant by Aristocrat. It can be played as an added feature to single-play and triple-play video poker. If the player bets ten credits per play, then he will have a chance at getting extra hands and a multiplier. The game can be found on multi-game machines that say "Winner's World Multi-Game" and "Storming Jackpots" above the main screen.

Rules

1. The game is based on single-play for three-play video poker, which I assume the reader is familiar with.
2. If the player bets 1 to 5 credits per play, then the game will play as conventional video poker.
3. If the player bets ten credits per play, then he will have a chance at invoking the feature. With a ten-credit bet per play, wins will be based on five credits per play, with the additional wager being a non-refundable fee for a chance at the feature.
4. If the player bets 10 credits per play, then each play will have a chance of triggering the feature, according to the number of cards held. These probabilities vary slightly from game to game. Following is an example for 8-6 Bonus Poker Deluxe:
   • 0 cards held = 30.24%
   • 1 cards held = 25.03%
   • 2 cards held = 19.43%
   • 3 cards held = 13.42%
   • 4 cards held = 6.95%
   • 5 cards held = 0.00%
5. If the feature is triggered, that play will get one or two extra hands. The chances of one extra hand is 25% and two is 75%.
6. If the feature is triggered, in addition to the extra hands, the original and extra hands shall have a 40% chance at a multiplier.
7. The possible multipliers are 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 8x or 10x. The average multiplier is 4.8.

Example

 

In the image above, the player bet on one play. After holding a pair of queens, the game awarded the player two extra hands and a multiplier of 5x. One of the three hands improved to a three of a kind and the other two remained as a high pair. The total win was 5×(5 + 5 + 15) = 75.

Analysis

If the feature is activated, the probability of one extra hand is 25% and two is 75%. That makes the average total hands, including the original hand 1 + (0.25*2 + 0.75*3) = 2.75.

With a 40% chance at an average multiplier of 4.8, the overall average multiplier (including 1x for no multiplier) is 0.6*1 + 0.4*4.8 = 2.52.

This makes the average value of the feature, if triggered, 2.75 * 4.8 = 6.93x the expected return for that game and pay table.

The following six tables show the number of combinations, probability and return for each hand by the number of cards held for 8-6 Bonus Poker Deluxe.

The following table is for 0 cards held. The probability of the feature is 30.24%. That makes the expected multiplier 1 + 0.3024*(6.93-1) = 2.793232.

The following table is for 1 card held. The probability of the feature is 25.03%. That makes the expected multiplier 1 + 0.2503*(6.93-1) = 2.484279.

The following table is for 2 cards held. The probability of the feature is 19.43%. That makes the expected multiplier 1 + 0.1943*(6.93-1) = 2.152199.

The following table is for 3 cards held. The probability of the feature is 13.42%. That makes the expected multiplier 1 + 0.1342*(6.93-1) = 1.795806.

The following table is for 4 cards held. The probability of the feature is 6.95%. That makes the expected multiplier 1 + 0.0695*(6.93-1) = 1.412135.

There is no chance at the feature with five cards held. Therefore, the average multiplier is always 1.0.

The next table summarizes the probability and contribution to the return by number of cards held. The lower right cell shows a return of 98.66%.

The next table summarizes the probability and contribution to the return by the winning hand. The "Average Win" is after extra hands and multipliers. The lower right cell shows a return of 98.66%.

The return for conventional 8-6 Bonus Poker Deluxe is 98.49%. That makes the additional return with the feature equal to 0.17%.

Other Known Games

Here is a list of games and pay tables I saw at the $0.25 denomination at the Rampart casino in Las Vegas.

• 7-5 Bonus Poker
• 8-6 Jacks or Better
• 8-6 Bonus Poker Deluxe
• 8-6 Double Bonus
• 9-6 Double Double Bonus
• 25-15-8-4-4-3 Deuces Wild
• 7-4-4-3 Deuces Wild Bonus

External Links

Discussion about Xtra Card in my forum at Wizard of Vegas.

Written by: Michael Shackleford