Description
Take on the dealer in Aces and Eights, a video poker game available from Microgaming. It’s like Jacks or Better. While also being similar to Aces and Faces, alternatively known as Dead Man’s Hand.
People have played Aces and Eights since the end of the nineteenth century. In fact, it’s based on the yarn of ‘Wild’ Bill Hickock, a legendary gunfighter, lawman, and gambler shot from behind during a poker session. He reportedly died clutching a pair of eights plus a pair of Aces, hence the game’s morbid nickname.
Aces and Eights Description
But, this game differs from other variants of video poker. That’s because it has high payouts for four of a kind, especially Aces, or eights and sevens. However, the best-paying hand remains the Royal Flush, giving you a top 4,000x stake payout.
So, it’s potentially lucrative. But you can also look forward to a brisk pace and some high-quality graphics here.
How to play
How to Play Aces and Eights
You play Aces and Eights with a conventional 52-card deck that the dealer shuffles following every hand. Then, it follows standard draw poker rules. Your aim is to have the strongest hand by using all available cards to bank tidy cash sums.
High-value cards are the ‘face’ ones and the Ace. Whereas the 2 to 10 cards are the low-value ones.
Decide on how many coins and how much to bet per coin before the dealer deals five cards in the first instance. Then, hold on to as many cards as you see fit to create the strongest hand and decide which cards if any, you’d like to discard. Use the Auto Hold feature if you wish.
Once you’ve drawn any new cards from the standard deck, the hand is complete, and your cards will be compared to the paytable and any winnings calculated.
But you only need a couple of jacks (or higher) to win your money back. The Royal and Straight flushes are the highest and second-highest payers respectively, followed by four of a kind with Aces and Eights or sevens (which pay out less) and then others.
Other rankings in order of how much they pay are:
- Full House
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pairs
- Jacks or Better
To win the top Royal Flush jackpot, you’ll need to raise your bet amount to the maximum or the jackpot is much lower at 1,000 coins.
An Analyser Table in this game provides guidance in making the right decisions.
Special Features
Bonus Games
As you’d perhaps expect, there are no bonus rounds in Aces and Eights Poker. Focus on the high RTP!
Aces and Eights Betting Range
There’s a minimum bet of 25p and a maximum one of £25 here.
Return to Player (RTP)
RTP or Return to Player in Aces and Eights is very high, as you’d expect with this sort of game, at around 99%.
Verdict
Aces and Eights is a version of video poker that’s rewarding while still being a straightforward one to play – you certainly don’t have to be a pro, you just need a basic grasp of the various poker hands.
But it still requires some decision making, meaning you’re fully involved in the action. So it’s unsurprising that this one’s a firm favourite with poker fans. What’s more, it plays well on mobile.
One or two reviewers have remarked on the underwhelming mention of the sound effects, but that should be a minor quibble.
Aces and Eights could be just the thing if you’re keen to add a fresh twist to your game. However, if you want something a little more unpredictable, for example, a game with a chance to double your wins or lose everything, you may need to look elsewhere.
So, try it out for yourself, playing for free in the first instance – and let us know how you get on.
Poker 
