Aces & Faces video poker stands out from other casino games with its impressive return-to-player rate of over 99% and enhanced payouts for four-of-a-kind hands featuring aces and face cards. This popular variant builds on the classic Jacks or Better format while offering players better odds and more exciting winning opportunities.
The game rewards players with significantly higher payouts when they hit four-of-a-kind combinations using aces, jacks, queens, and kings compared to standard video poker games. Players need only a pair of jacks or better to win, making it accessible for beginners while still offering strategic depth for experienced players.
Understanding the rules, pay tables, and optimal strategy can help players maximize their chances of success in this fast-paced game. The combination of straightforward gameplay and generous payouts has made Aces & Faces a favorite choice at both land-based and online casinos worldwide.
What Is Aces & Faces Video Poker?
Aces & Faces is a video poker variant that builds on the classic Jacks or Better format with enhanced payouts for four-of-a-kind hands featuring aces and face cards. This casino game uses a standard 52-card deck and offers one of the highest return-to-player rates among video poker games.
Overview of the Game
Aces & Faces video poker follows the standard five-card draw poker format that players know from other video poker variants. Players receive five cards initially and can choose which cards to hold and which to discard.
The game uses a single standard 52-card deck with no wild cards. After selecting cards to keep, players draw replacement cards to complete their final five-card hand.
Basic gameplay involves these steps:
- Place a bet (typically 1-5 coins)
- Receive five cards
- Choose cards to hold or discard
- Draw new cards to replace discarded ones
- Receive payout based on final hand strength
The minimum winning hand is a pair of jacks, queens, kings, or aces. Lower pairs do not qualify for payouts in this video poker variant.
Origins and Comparison to Jacks or Better
Aces & Faces developed as a variation of Jacks or Better, which remains the most common video poker game in casinos. Both games require jacks or better as the minimum winning hand.
The key difference lies in the payout structure. While Jacks or Better pays the same amount for all four-of-a-kind hands, Aces & Faces offers tiered payouts based on card rank.
Standard four-of-a-kind payouts in Aces & Faces:
- Four aces: 80-1
- Four jacks, queens, or kings: 40-1
- Four 2s through 10s: 25-1
This enhanced payout structure creates more excitement for players while maintaining the familiar gameplay mechanics of traditional video poker.
Unique Features of Aces and Faces
The defining feature of Aces & Faces is its boosted payouts for premium four-of-a-kind hands. This creates a different strategic approach compared to standard Jacks or Better.
Players must consider the value of holding single aces or face cards more carefully. The potential for higher payouts makes these cards more valuable than in other video poker variants.
The game typically offers an RTP (return-to-player) rate above 99% when played with optimal strategy. This makes it one of the most player-friendly casino games available.
Additional features include:
- Eleven different payout levels
- Royal flush payout of 800-1
- Double-or-nothing bonus games on some machines
- Multi-hand options at many casinos
The enhanced four-of-a-kind payouts make this video poker variant particularly appealing to players who prefer the chance at larger, less frequent wins rather than smaller, more regular payouts.
Aces & Faces Video Poker Rules
Aces & Faces follows standard five card draw poker rules with specific payouts that reward four aces and face card combinations. The game uses traditional poker hand rankings without wild cards, making it straightforward for players familiar with basic poker.
Standard Poker Hand Rankings
Aces & Faces uses the same poker hand rankings found in traditional five card draw poker. Players need at least a pair of jacks or better to win any payout.
The winning hands start with jacks or better as the lowest paying combination. Two pair ranks next, followed by three of a kind.
Straights and flushes pay more than three of a kind. A full house beats both straights and flushes.
Four of a kind comes next, with special payouts for four aces and face cards. A straight flush ranks second highest.
The royal flush pays the most. This hand contains ace, king, queen, jack, and ten all in the same suit.
How The Game Is Played
Players start each round by placing their bet and receiving five cards face up. They can bet between one and five coins per hand.
After reviewing their cards, players choose which ones to keep. They click or tap the cards they want to hold.
The machine replaces all unheld cards with new ones from the deck. This creates the final five-card hand.
Payouts happen automatically based on the final hand. The machine compares the hand to the pay table and awards coins accordingly.
Players must bet five coins to get the maximum royal flush payout. Lower bets reduce the royal flush bonus significantly.
No Wild Cards or Jokers
Aces & Faces uses a standard 52-card deck with no wild cards or jokers. Every card has its normal value and suit.
Aces can only be high or low in straights. They cannot substitute for other cards to complete hands.
Face cards include kings, queens, and jacks. These cards have special four of a kind payouts but no wild properties.
The absence of wild cards makes hand probabilities the same as regular poker. Players can use standard poker odds to make decisions.
This rule keeps the game simple and prevents confusion about which cards can substitute for others.
Aces & Faces Pay Tables and Payouts
Aces & Faces video poker offers higher payouts for four-of-a-kind hands with aces and face cards compared to standard Jacks or Better games. Different casino software providers offer various pay table versions, with the most common being 8-5, 7-6, 7-5, and 6-5 variants that affect the return-to-player percentage.
Aces and Faces Pay Table Breakdown
The standard 8-5 Aces & Faces pay table provides the best return at 99.26%. Players receive 800 coins for a royal flush, 50 for a straight flush, and enhanced payouts for four-of-a-kind hands.
Four aces pays 80 coins instead of the standard 25. Four jacks, queens, or kings pay 40 coins. Four cards ranked 2-10 maintain the standard 25-coin payout.
A full house pays 8 coins and a flush pays 5 coins in this version. These payouts match Jacks or Better games. The straight pays 4 coins, three of a kind pays 3 coins, and two pair pays 2 coins.
Jacks or better pays even money at 1 coin. Any pair lower than jacks results in no payout, which accounts for about 54% of all hands dealt.
Payout Differences vs Other Video Poker Games
Aces & Faces differs from Jacks or Better mainly in the four-of-a-kind payouts. While Jacks or Better pays 25 coins for any four-of-a-kind, Aces & Faces offers bonus payouts for premium cards.
The enhanced payouts for four aces and four face cards increase the game’s volatility. Players experience longer dry spells but receive bigger wins when hitting these bonus hands.
Other video poker variants like Bonus Poker also offer enhanced four-of-a-kind payouts. However, Aces & Faces keeps the full house and flush payouts higher than most Bonus Poker games.
The 7-6 version reduces the return to 99.20% by lowering the full house payout to 7 coins. The 6-5 version drops the return significantly to 96.96% by reducing both full house and flush payouts.
Royal Flush and Max Bet Payouts
The royal flush provides the highest payout in Aces & Faces video poker. Players must bet the maximum five coins to receive the full 4,000-coin jackpot for a royal flush.
Betting less than max coins reduces the royal flush payout to 250 coins per coin wagered. This creates a house edge disadvantage that makes max bet play essential for optimal returns.
The royal flush appears approximately once every 40,000 hands. Despite its rarity, the royal flush contributes about 2% to the game’s overall return percentage.
Smart players always bet five coins per hand to qualify for the maximum royal flush payout. The difference between 1,250 coins and 4,000 coins makes this strategy requirement non-negotiable.
Hand Rankings with Bonus Payouts
Aces & Faces maintains standard poker hand rankings but adds bonus payouts for specific four-of-a-kind combinations. Four aces ranks as the highest four-of-a-kind hand with an 80-coin payout.
Four jacks, queens, or kings each pay 40 coins. These face card combinations appear more frequently than four aces, making them important contributors to the game’s return percentage.
Four cards ranked 2 through 10 maintain the standard 25-coin payout. This includes four 2s, four 3s, and all ranks up to four 10s.
The bonus structure means players should adjust their holding strategies compared to Jacks or Better. Keeping three aces becomes more valuable due to the enhanced four-ace payout potential.
Odds and House Edge in Aces & Faces
Aces & Faces video poker offers competitive odds with payback percentages typically ranging from 96.96% to 99.26%. The house edge varies significantly based on the pay table, with full-pay versions providing some of the best odds in casino gaming.
Payback Percentages
The most common Aces & Faces pay table delivers a 99.26% payback percentage when played with perfect strategy. This version pays 8 coins for a full house and 5 coins for a flush, earning it the “8-5” designation.
Players can find several pay table variations. The 7-6 version returns 99.20%, while the 7-5 pays back 98.10%. The lowest common version, 6-5 Aces & Faces, offers a 96.96% return.
These percentages assume maximum coin play and optimal strategy. Playing fewer than five coins reduces the royal flush payout from 4,000 coins to just 250 coins per coin played.
House Edge vs Jacks or Better
Aces & Faces carries a 0.74% house edge in its best pay table format. This compares favorably to full-pay Jacks or Better, which has a 0.46% house edge.
The key difference lies in the enhanced payouts for four aces and four face cards. Four aces pay 80 coins instead of 25, while four jacks, queens, or kings pay 40 coins.
These higher payouts come at a cost. The full house and flush payouts often drop compared to Jacks or Better. This trade-off creates slightly worse overall odds despite the bonus four-of-a-kind payments.
Influence of Pay Table Variations
Pay table changes dramatically affect the house edge in Aces & Faces. The difference between 8-5 and 6-5 pay tables creates a 2.3 percentage point swing in payback percentage.
Full house and flush payouts drive most variation. An 8-5 machine pays 8 coins for full house and 5 for flush. A 6-5 machine drops these to 6 and 5 coins respectively.
Players should always check pay tables before playing. Casinos often place different versions side by side. The enhanced four-of-a-kind payouts remain constant, but the bread-and-butter hands determine overall profitability.
Best Aces & Faces Video Poker Strategy
Playing Aces & Faces requires following basic strategy principles for holding cards and making smart betting decisions. Players need to understand proper card selection and avoid common mistakes to maximize their chances with this high-paying video poker game.
Basic Strategy Principles
Aces & Faces strategy builds on standard video poker rules but focuses on the enhanced payouts for four-of-a-kind hands. Players should always remember that aces and face cards offer better returns than other cards.
The key principle is to prioritize hands that can lead to the highest-paying combinations. Four aces pay 80-1, while four jacks through kings pay 40-1. This makes keeping single aces and face cards more valuable than in other poker games.
Players must understand the pay tables before starting. Different casinos offer varying payouts, which changes the optimal strategy. The best pay tables offer over 99% return to player when using perfect strategy.
Always play the maximum number of coins to qualify for the top royal flush payout. This ensures access to the full 800-1 payout instead of a reduced amount.
Holding and Discarding Cards
Hold any paying hand of jacks or better immediately. Never break up a winning hand to chase a better combination unless you have four cards to a royal flush.
Priority holding order:
- Royal flush, straight flush, four-of-a-kind
- Four cards to a royal flush
- Full house, flush, straight
- Three-of-a-kind
- Four cards to a straight flush
Keep any pair, even low pairs below jacks. Low pairs can become profitable three-of-a-kind or four-of-a-kind hands. The enhanced payouts make this strategy more valuable in Aces & Faces.
Hold four cards to a straight or flush when you need only one card to complete the hand. These draws offer good odds for strong payouts.
Never hold a single high card unless it’s part of a straight or flush draw. The exception is keeping a single ace or face card when no other options exist.
Betting Tips and Max Bet Advice
Always play max bet to receive the full royal flush payout of 800-1. Playing fewer coins reduces this payout significantly and hurts long-term returns.
Most Aces & Faces machines require five coins for maximum bet. This unlocks all bonus payouts and ensures optimal return percentages.
Choose your coin size based on your bankroll, not the number of coins. Playing max bet with smaller coins is better than playing fewer coins with larger denominations.
Set a budget before playing and stick to it. Aces & Faces offers high returns but still favors the house in the long run.
Look for machines with the best pay tables. Full-pay versions offer better odds than reduced-pay alternatives found at some casinos.
Mistakes to Avoid
Never break up a made hand to chase a bigger payout unless you have four cards to a royal flush. This includes breaking up two pair or straights for single card draws.
Don’t hold single high cards when you have low pairs. The pair offers better mathematical value than hoping to match the high card.
Avoid playing less than max bet. The reduced royal flush payout significantly lowers your expected return and makes the game less favorable.
Common holding errors:
- Keeping a single jack over a low pair
- Breaking up a flush for a royal flush draw
- Holding three cards to a straight instead of a pair
Don’t ignore the enhanced four-of-a-kind payouts when making decisions. Aces and face cards deserve priority over other ranks due to their higher payouts.
Never play without understanding the specific pay table. Different versions of Aces & Faces offer varying returns that affect optimal strategy decisions.
Where to Play Aces & Faces Video Poker Online
Players can find Aces & Faces video poker at numerous online casinos, with many providers offering both real money and free play versions. Most major gaming platforms feature this popular variant through established software developers like Microgaming.
Top Online Casinos Featuring Aces and Faces
Many established online casinos offer Aces & Faces video poker to their players. PlayOJO Casino provides this game with a 99.20% RTP rate, giving players excellent odds for their sessions.
Bet Online Casino currently stands out as one of the best places to play Aces and Faces online. The platform offers competitive payout tables and reliable gameplay.
Players should look for casinos that offer the full pay version of the game. This version typically pays 40 credits for a full house and 25 credits for a flush on a 5-coin bet.
Licensed casinos in regulated markets provide the safest gaming environment. These sites use random number generators to ensure fair play and offer secure banking options for deposits and withdrawals.
Most top-tier online casinos feature multiple video poker games alongside Aces & Faces. This gives players variety in their gaming sessions.
Microgaming and Other Popular Providers
Microgaming serves as one of the leading providers of Aces & Faces video poker online. Their version maintains the standard rules while offering smooth gameplay and clear graphics.
Other software developers also create versions of this popular video poker variant. Each provider may offer slightly different features or interface designs.
The core gameplay remains consistent across providers. Players still aim for the same hand rankings, with four aces paying the highest bonus and face card quads offering secondary bonuses.
Different providers may offer varying betting ranges. Some allow bets from $0.05 to $5.00 per hand, while others cater to higher stakes players.
Players should check the specific paytable before starting play. Some providers offer better payouts than others for certain hands.
Real Money vs Free Play Options
Most online casinos provide both real money and free play versions of Aces & Faces. Free play options let players practice strategy without risking actual funds.
Free versions help new players learn the optimal holding patterns. Players can test different approaches to four-card flushes, straight draws, and other common situations.
Real money play offers the chance to win actual cash prizes. The maximum payout for a royal flush typically reaches 4,000 credits on a 5-coin bet.
Players using real money should set betting limits before starting their session. Video poker games can move quickly, making bankroll management essential.
Many casinos offer welcome bonuses for video poker players. These promotions can provide extra funds for extended play sessions.
Variants and Related Games
Aces and Faces spawned several enhanced versions that offer bigger payouts for premium hands. The game also shares DNA with other popular casino offerings like blackjack and slot machines.
Double Aces and Faces
Double Aces and Faces increases the payouts for four-of-a-kind hands compared to the standard version. Four aces pay 160-1 instead of 80-1, while four jacks, queens, or kings pay 80-1 instead of 40-1.
The enhanced payouts come with trade-offs in other areas. Full houses pay 9-1 and flushes pay 7-1, which are better than standard Aces and Faces. Two pair hands only pay 1-1 instead of 2-1.
This video poker variant requires a different strategy approach. Players should break up two pair more often to chase four-of-a-kind hands. Three aces become extremely valuable holdings that take priority over most other hands.
The game maintains the same basic structure as regular Aces and Faces. Players still need jacks or better to qualify for the minimum payout.
Double Double Aces and Faces
Double Double Aces and Faces adds kicker requirements for the biggest payouts. Four aces with a jack, queen, or king kicker pay 400-1. Four face cards with an ace, jack, queen, or king kicker pay 200-1.
Regular four aces without the required kicker still pay 200-1. Four face cards without kickers pay 80-1. The kicker system creates massive payout differences based on the fifth card.
| Hand | With Kicker | Without Kicker |
|---|---|---|
| Four Aces | 400-1 | 200-1 |
| Four Face Cards | 200-1 | 80-1 |
Players must adjust their strategy significantly. Keeping potential kickers becomes important when holding three aces or three face cards. The game rewards patient play and proper kicker management.
Comparison with Other Video Poker Variants
Aces and Faces shares its foundation with Jacks or Better video poker games. Both require a pair of jacks or higher for the minimum payout. The key difference lies in the enhanced four-of-a-kind payouts.
Bonus Poker uses a similar structure but favors different card combinations. Aces and Faces gives better payouts for face cards, while Bonus Poker focuses on aces and low cards like twos, threes, and fours.
Deuces Wild operates differently by making all twos wild cards. This video poker variant offers more frequent winning hands but requires four-of-a-kind or better for significant payouts.
The return-to-player percentages vary between these video poker games. Aces and Faces typically offers about 99.26% RTP with optimal play.
Relation to Blackjack and Slots
Video poker games like Aces and Faces combine elements from both blackjack and slot machines. Like blackjack, players make strategic decisions that directly impact their expected returns.
The poker hand rankings and card combinations mirror traditional poker rules. Players must understand which hands to hold and which to discard, similar to blackjack’s hit-or-stand decisions.
The machine-based format resembles slot machines more than table games. Players feed coins into electronic terminals and pull virtual cards instead of physical ones. Random number generators determine card distributions just like slot machine outcomes.
Unlike slots, video poker games reveal their exact odds through published pay tables. Skilled players can calculate precise return percentages, making these games more like blackjack than pure gambling machines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Players often want to know the best strategies and tools for Aces & Faces video poker. Understanding the payout differences and getting beginner-friendly advice can help improve your game.
What is the optimal strategy for Aces & Faces video poker?
The optimal strategy focuses on keeping any pair or better. This includes low pairs that don’t pay immediately, since they can turn into three-of-a-kind or four-of-a-kind.
Players should hold four cards to a straight or flush. The potential payouts make this worth the risk even though completing the hand isn’t guaranteed.
When dealt four cards to a royal flush, always keep them. The 800-to-1 payout makes this the top priority in any situation.
Three-of-a-kind should always be held. Players draw two cards hoping for a full house or four-of-a-kind.
Where can I find a cheat sheet for Aces & Faces video poker?
Most online casinos provide basic strategy cards for Aces & Faces. These show which cards to hold in different situations.
Video poker strategy websites offer downloadable charts. These can be printed and used while playing online games.
Some gambling apps include built-in strategy guides. Players can reference these without leaving the game.
How does the payout structure differ in Aces & Faces compared to other video poker variations?
Aces & Faces pays 80-to-1 for four aces. This is much higher than standard Jacks or Better games.
Four-of-a-kind with jacks, queens, or kings pays 40-to-1. Four-of-a-kind with cards 2 through 10 pays 25-to-1.
Jacks or Better games typically pay 25-to-1 for all four-of-a-kind hands. Aces & Faces gives better payouts for premium four-of-a-kind combinations.
The full house and flush payouts remain similar to other video poker games. Royal flush still pays the standard 800-to-1 with maximum coins.
Are there specific calculators or tools recommended for improving at Aces & Faces video poker?
Video poker training software helps players practice optimal decisions. These programs show the correct play for each hand dealt.
Hand analyzers calculate the expected value of different holding strategies. Players can input their cards and see which choice gives the best return.
Bankroll calculators help determine proper bet sizes. They factor in the game’s volatility and the player’s budget.
What are the main differences between Double Double Bonus and Aces & Faces video poker?
Double Double Bonus focuses on four-of-a-kind hands with specific kicker cards. Aces & Faces simply rewards four-of-a-kind based on the rank.
The kicker requirements in Double Double Bonus make some four-of-a-kind hands worth much more. Aces & Faces has a simpler payout structure without kicker cards.
Double Double Bonus reduces payments for two pair and full houses. Aces & Faces keeps these payouts closer to Jacks or Better levels.
Can you provide tips for beginners trying to learn Aces & Faces video poker?
Start with the basic strategy of keeping all pairs. Even low pairs that don’t pay immediately can improve to winning hands.
Always play maximum coins to get the full royal flush bonus. The 800-to-1 payout only applies with a five-coin bet.
Practice with free games before playing for real money. This helps players learn the strategy without risking their bankroll.
Focus on four-of-a-kind opportunities since they pay much better than in other video poker games. Keep any three-of-a-kind and draw for the fourth card.
