Aces and Eights gets its name from the "Dead Man's Hand" — the poker hand Wild Bill Hickok was reportedly holding when he was shot in 1876. The game rewards Four Aces and Four 8s with bonus payouts, and the full-pay version returns an excellent 99.78%.
The Bonus Structure
Aces and Eights modifies the Four of a Kind payout into three tiers based on rank:
| Four of a Kind | Aces and Eights | Jacks or Better |
|---|---|---|
| Four Aces | 80-for-1 | 25-for-1 |
| Four 8s | 80-for-1 | 25-for-1 |
| Four 7s | 50-for-1 | 25-for-1 |
| Four other ranks | 25-for-1 | 25-for-1 |
The twist: Four 7s also gets a modest bonus at 50-for-1. Combined with the standard 2-for-1 Two Pair payout (same as JoB), this makes Aces and Eights one of the less volatile bonus games — you get enhanced quad payouts without sacrificing Two Pair income.
Pay Table Comparison
| Hand | Full Pay 8/5 | 8/6 | 7/5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 800 | 800 | 800 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Four Aces / Four 8s | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| Four 7s | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Four other | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Full House | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Flush | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Straight | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| RTP | 99.78% | 99.39% | 98.63% |
Hourly Cost Comparison
At $0.25 denomination, 600 hands per hour:
| Pay Table | RTP | House Edge | Hourly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/5 | 99.78% | 0.22% | $1.65 |
| 8/6 | 99.39% | 0.61% | $4.58 |
| 7/5 | 98.63% | 1.37% | $10.28 |
At 99.78%, the full-pay version has one of the lowest house edges in any video poker game — only $1.65 per hour at quarter denomination. That's less than half the cost of 9/6 Jacks or Better ($3.45/hr).
Strategy Notes
Aces and Eights strategy is close to Jacks or Better with a few adjustments:
- Hold a pair of 8s over a pair of other middle cards in situations where JoB would treat them equally, because Four 8s pays 80-for-1 instead of 25-for-1.
- Ace retention is more important than in JoB — a lone Ace is slightly more valuable because of the 80-for-1 quad Aces bonus.
- Four 7s at 50-for-1 has minimal strategy impact but is a nice bonus when it hits.
The strategy differences are small enough that JoB strategy will get you close, but dedicated Aces and Eights strategy picks up an extra 0.1-0.2% in return.
Bottom Line
Aces and Eights is one of the best values in video poker at the full-pay 8/5 level. The low house edge, moderate volatility (thanks to keeping 2-for-1 Two Pair), and the thematic appeal of the Dead Man's Hand make it worth seeking out. If you can't find the 8/5 version, the 8/6 at 99.39% is still excellent.