Aces and Faces is a sophisticated video poker variant that rewards players for hitting Four of a Kind with premium cards: Aces (80×) and face cards — Jacks, Queens, and Kings (40×). Based on Jacks or Better rules but with a special focus on high-value Aces and Face cards, this game is popular in European casinos and online video poker sites. With optimal strategy, it returns approximately 99.26% RTP.
1. Standard 52-card deck, no wild cards. Minimum winning hand: a pair of Jacks or better.
2. Bonus payouts activate on Four of a Kind depending on rank: Aces (80×), Face cards J/Q/K (40×), other ranks (25×).
3. Bet max (BET 5): Royal Flush pays 4,000 credits at max bet.
4. Key strategy: Treat Aces and face cards (J, Q, K) as premium cards worth holding and drawing to aggressively.
The bonus payout structure for Aces and Face cards shifts optimal strategy significantly from standard Jacks or Better.
| Hand | Payout (BET 1) | Strategy Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Four Aces | 80 | Break full house to draw! |
| Four J/Q/K | 40 | High priority draw target |
| Four 2s–10s | 25 | Standard priority |
| Full House | 8 | Solid hand, usually hold |
| Flush | 5 | Hold unless better draw available |
| Straight | 4 | Hold unless Royal draw |
Ace and Face card priority: Hold Aces and face cards (J, Q, K) with extra care — they're your ticket to bonus payouts.
Three Aces: Always hold three Aces and draw 2 cards — Four Aces pays 80× and you have approximately a 1-in-46 chance.
Three face cards: Similarly, hold three Jacks, Queens, or Kings and draw to Four of a Kind (40×).
Pairs of Aces: A pair of Aces is more valuable than any other pair — hold it preferentially and draw 3 cards.
Don't break straights/flushes: Unlike Bonus Poker, Aces and Faces doesn't justify breaking a flush for an Ace draw unless you have 3+ Aces already.
Full House exception: With three Aces and a pair (Full House), breaking the full house to draw for Four Aces (80×) is mathematically correct. The EV of drawing for quads exceeds the guaranteed full house payout.
Kicker strategy: When holding a pair of Aces, consider holding a face card kicker (J, Q, or K) — this increases the chance of hitting Four Aces with Kicker (same payout) while maintaining a draw to a Full House.
Royal Flush priority: Four cards to a suited Royal Flush (A-K-Q-J-10 same suit) always takes priority over any made hand except a made flush or better.
Suited Ace-Face combinations: A♠ K♠ or A♥ Q♥ suited combinations are excellent holds — they draw to both Royal Flush and pairs of premium cards.
Bankroll consideration: The bonus payouts create moderate variance. Maintain a bankroll of 100-150× your max bet for comfortable play.
| Hand | BET 1 | BET 2 | BET 3 | BET 4 | BET 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 250 | 500 | 750 | 1000 | 4000 |
| Four Aces | 80 | 160 | 240 | 320 | 400 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 |
| Four Faces (J/Q/K) | 40 | 80 | 120 | 160 | 200 |
| Four of a Kind | 25 | 50 | 75 | 100 | 125 |
| Full House | 8 | 16 | 24 | 32 | 40 |
| Flush | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 |
| Straight | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
| Two Pair | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Aces and Faces returns 99.26% to the player (RTP) with optimal strategy. This means for every $100 wagered over the long run, the expected return is $99.26. This is considered a very competitive return among video poker games.
Place your bet (1-5 coins), then press Deal to receive 5 cards from a 52-card deck. Select which cards to hold, then press Draw to replace the rest. Your final hand is evaluated against the pay table. The minimum winning hand is Jacks or Better. Always bet max coins (5) to qualify for the enhanced Royal Flush jackpot of 4,000 coins.
Aces and Faces offers enhanced payouts for specific Four of a Kind hands. Unlike standard Jacks or Better where all quads pay the same, bonus games have tiered payouts — typically paying more for Four Aces and Four 2s-4s. This creates higher variance but bigger potential wins. The tradeoff is usually a reduced payout for Two Pair (1:1 instead of 2:1).
Aces and Faces has medium variance. This means a balanced mix of frequent small wins and occasional larger payouts. A good choice for players who want some excitement without extreme bankroll swings.
Yes! Aces and Faces is completely free to play on Pure Video Poker. No download, no registration, and no real money required. You get 1,000 practice credits to play with. It works in any modern web browser on desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones. Use it to practice strategy and learn the game before playing at a real casino.