Of all the many multi-hand variations of Video Poker, Super Triple Play is one of my favorites. There is little doubt in my mind that Super Triple Play video poker is a fun game to play. However, even at the lowest denomination, significant effort is required to get the proper playing strategy and game return.
At first glance, playing for increased quads for only one credit looks very promising.
“All you have to do is play each game with optimal strategy, right? How do casinos allow such a positive multi-hand game?”
Further investigation reveals major considerations related to that additional credit bonus. But first, how do you play the game?
How to Play
While it’s named Super Triple Play, 5-play and 10-play configurations are also available. Here are the steps to get started:
- Before playing, you choose the video poker game
- Then, choose how many hands (3, 5, or 10).
- Choose a denomination.
- Now, you are ready to begin play.
Press DEAL for your first five cards. Choose which card(s) to hold, if any, according to the best strategy. Whatever you hold is transferred to the other hands you are playing. Press DRAW, and each hand will act as a distinctly different hand. For more information, read Multi-Hand Video Poker by our own Gambling Guru, John Mehaffey.
IMPORTANT NOTE – Be sure it is NOT Super Triple Play Jackpots, a similar game that requires a different strategy because of the jackpots involved.
So Why Do I Like it and Is It Worth It?
Like all video poker, your EV (Expected Value) is influenced by:
- The Game’s Pay Table, which determines
- The Game’s Volatility, and
- Your Expertise to play an optimal strategy.
The volatility of Super Triple Play video poker is considered medium to high. This means players can experience significant swings in their bankroll due to the game’s payout structure and the potential for large jackpots on four-of-a-kinds.
So, if the question is “why do I play it?” my answer is “it depends on what you want out of it.” Some lower-volatility games are good for grinding out a long session, good for multiplier days.
Those games that have higher volatility allow players to play for the big payout. But for high volatility, your bankroll must be increased.
Any game in the menu above offers increased credits for a 4-of-a-Kind (4OAK).
The Quads Are the Key
When playing video poker, you can expect to hit a 4OAK approximately once every 400 to 500 hands, depending on the specific base game, any variants, and its rules. But on any game in the casino, expectations vary. Video Poker players, as well as all gamblers, should always realize that data expectations are possible, but not probable. Instead of 500 hands without a 4OAK, it may be 1500, or even “not today!”
When playing Super Triple Play, your success or failure depends on getting 4-of-a-Kind, no matter what base game you are playing.
When you play Super Triple Play, you should play Max Bet. This adds one additional credit per hand for 4OAK bonus increases. These bonus quads slightly increase the volatility of the base game, especially when casino management changes the paytable to compensate for the overall Return to Player.
Same Game – Different Paytable
Video Poker consoles arrive with various paytables for the casino to choose from for its guests. And every single winning combination can be changed higher or lower, but only after approval by the Gaming Commission. Then it stays in that configuration for the duration on the casino floor, until or unless a further change is made down the road.
The paytable shows the expected value, or “Return to Player (RTP).” Basically, if you don’t check it, you are agreeing to play a game with possibly much lower EV. The difference could be 3% to 5% lower. If you are not an optimal strategy player in that game, mistakes in strategy could drop it as low as a low-denomination slot machine.
Below are two images: (left) the highest-paying paytable for Bonus Poker with 5 credits per hand and (right) the Max Bet 6-credit paytable. Notice the blue boxes for the increased bonus quads.
Also, notice the different payouts for a Straight Flush. With Max Bet, the payout goes from 250 to 750. This changes the strategy when choosing the correct cards to hold.
At Mohegan Sun Casino, where I play, a Straight Flush is decreased to 700 credits. The 5’s thru K’s 4OAK is increased to 420 credits. But the big change is the Full House. The Sun decreases the 50 credits down to 35 (called a 7/5 Bonus Poker pay table). By itself, the 8/5 Bonus Poker on the left pays a very good 99% expected return to player. With the added 6th credit and the bonus quad increases, the expected return to player becomes 96.5%.
Takeaway
I have had success playing for a long time on the 5-play Bonus above. I am looking for longer play time and more coins through the machine these days. In my retirement, visiting Vegas, all nine New England casinos, Atlantic City, and additional casinos throughout the country is just not feasible on much smaller amounts of discretionary funds. I need something that gives me the biggest bang for the buck.
An important point in choosing Bonus Poker in Super Triple Play is the payout for two-pair. Chasing the elusive extra credit for the bonus can be surprisingly difficult. In most of the base games, one thing stands out. The payout for two-pair is even money (even Bonus Poker Deluxe). JOB and Bonus Poker pay 2:1, which tends to keep you in the game longer and help pay off that additional bonus credit.
My choice usually consists of $1 single-line DDB or JOB. But when I feel like pushing it a bit, you can find me at Mohegan Sun playing 25-cent Super Triple Play 5-Play for $7.50 a hand.
