Description
Tens or Better is a fun take on classic video poker that also goes by the name of Clash of the Titans, and it’s closely related to Jacks or Better, albeit with some slightly lower payouts.
It was created by industry giant Microgaming, and you can play it at 888 and Casumo casinos, among other operators. Not only is it a simple, straightforward one to play, even if you’re new to the world of online poker, but it’s a seriously good-looking game to boot!
You just need a pair of 10s or higher to claim a payout, so your chances of winning at least something are pretty high.
How to play
Coin sizes in the game range from 5p to £30, and you play it with a standard 52-card deck. Hit ‘Deal cards’ once you’re ready to start playing. In the beginning, you receive five cards, dealt at random and all of them dealt facing upwards.
You can then choose which cards you want to replace, and click Hold for all the ones you want to keep. Essentially, you’re deciding whether or not to discard any cards to potentially have a stronger hand.
A second draw then takes place, and your objective is to have a winning hand. If this happens, you have the option to take part in the game’s bonus round, called Double Playoff. Although, of course, this is not compulsory.
Possible winning hands – lowest to highest
- Tens or Better – A pair of 10s, or ‘face’ cards – i.e. Jacks, Queens, Kings or Aces
- Two Pairs
- Three of a Kind
- Full House – Three of a kind and a pair
- Straight – A hand with five cards in order of sequence, but not necessarily from the same suit
- Flush – Five cards of the same suit
- Straight flush – Five sequential cards of the same suit
- Four of a kind – Four cards with the same face value
- Royal Flush – This is the highest-paying hand in this game, comprising Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10 of the same suit
It’s always a good idea to check your casino’s payout table to see how much you would win for each winning hand. But values typically range from x1 to x250.
Special features
Bonus games
Double Playoff
This is an understandably popular feature of Tens or Better. It’s a chance to gamble and potentially double your winnings.
Progressive jackpots
As with most table games like this, you won’t find a progressive jackpot in Tens or Better.
Return to Player (RTP)
With casino games, the RTP or Return to Player tends to be quite generous, and Tens or Better is no exception, at a sky-high 99.14%. Due to the greater number of paying hands than most similar games, it has a slightly lower variance than the majority of other video poker games.
Verdict
This is one of the easier video poker versions around, and it’s particularly well suited to the novice or casual player. Payouts do tend to be lower due to the better odds and more potential paying hand options Tens or Better offers, so you need to bear that in mind from the outset.