Triple Double Bonus Poker takes the kicker bonus concept from Double Double Bonus and pushes it further. Four Aces with a 2, 3, or 4 kicker pays an enormous 800-for-1 — that's the same as a Royal Flush. The tradeoff is extreme volatility and a Two Pair payout of just 1-for-1.
The Kicker Bonuses
| Four of a Kind | With Kicker (A/2/3/4) | Without Kicker |
|---|---|---|
| Four Aces | 800-for-1 | 160-for-1 |
| Four 2s, 3s, or 4s | 400-for-1 | 80-for-1 |
| Four 5s through Kings | 50-for-1 | 50-for-1 |
The 800-for-1 payout for Four Aces with kicker is what draws players to this game. On a max-bet quarter machine, that's a $1,000 hit. But it comes at a cost — this is one of the most volatile standard video poker games, with a variance index around 98.
Pay Table Comparison
| Hand | 9/7 | 9/5 | 8/5 | 7/5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 800 | 800 | 800 | 800 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Four Aces + 2/3/4 | 800 | 800 | 800 | 800 |
| Four 2s-4s + A/2/3/4 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 |
| Four Aces | 160 | 160 | 160 | 160 |
| Four 2s-4s | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| Four 5s-Ks | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Full House | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
| Flush | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Straight | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Three of a Kind | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Two Pair | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| RTP | 99.58% | 97.02% | 95.97% | 94.92% |
Note that Three of a Kind pays only 2-for-1 (compared to 3-for-1 in most other games). Combined with the 1-for-1 Two Pair, this means the frequent small hands pay very little — your return depends heavily on hitting the big kicker bonuses.
Hourly Cost Comparison
At $0.25 denomination, 600 hands per hour:
| Pay Table | RTP | House Edge | Hourly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/7 | 99.58% | 0.42% | $3.15 |
| 9/5 | 97.02% | 2.98% | $22.35 |
| 8/5 | 95.97% | 4.03% | $30.23 |
| 7/5 | 94.92% | 5.08% | $38.10 |
The gap between 9/7 and 9/5 is massive — nearly $20 per hour at quarter denomination. Always verify you have the 9/7 pay table before sitting down.
Bankroll Requirements
TDB has a variance index around 98, compared to 19.5 for Jacks or Better and 42 for Double Double Bonus. This means:
- Session bankroll should be at least 500-600 max bets (compared to 200-300 for JoB).
- Lifetime bankroll for less than 1% risk of ruin: 6,000+ max bets.
- Long losing streaks are normal. You can go hundreds of sessions without hitting the 800-for-1 kicker bonus, and your return will be well below 99.58% until you do.
TDB is not a game for small bankrolls. If you can't comfortably absorb extended downswings, stick with lower-variance games like 9/6 JoB or Bonus Poker.
Bottom Line
Triple Double Bonus offers the biggest non-Royal payout in standard video poker (800-for-1 on quad Aces with kicker), but it demands patience, discipline, and a large bankroll. Find the 9/7 pay table — anything less makes an already volatile game into a money pit.