Aces and Eights video poker is a variation renowned for its bonus payouts for four Aces, four 8s, and four 7s, as well as the context behind its name. It is a nod to the notorious Dead Man’s Hand that Wild Bill Hickok was found holding. This sad tale has now turned into a sought-after winning hand.
While the game’s name references the historic Dead Man’s Hand, the bonus payouts for four Aces, four 8s, and four 7s come from the game’s paytable design, not the historical story. This keeps the theme engaging without affecting the gameplay rules.
This casino guide explains how to play Aces and Eights, breaking down the game’s rules, paytable, and essential strategy needed for maximum returns.
The strategy chart below shows the optimal plays for Aces & Eights, helping you decide which cards to hold in every situation.
Aces & Eights Video Poker — Rules, Paytables & Best Strategy
Aces and Eights video poker is a draw-style game played using a standard 52-card deck. With no jokers or wild cards, its gameplay is similar to Jacks or Better. However, it offers up to 400 coins per coin bet for the three special Four-of-a-Kind hands (quads) and has an astonishing 99.78% RTP when played using optimal strategy. You can download the strategy charts for video poker games.
How To Play Aces and Eights Video Poker
The Aces and Eights meaning defines its objective: to achieve the best possible hand combination and hit bonus quads for more profit. To play, follow these five simple steps:
- Set Your Bet: Choose your bet size and the number of coins (1 to 5). To qualify for the maximum return on Royal Flush, choose five coins.
- Deal: Press “Deal” to receive five cards.
- Hold or Discard: Tap the cards you wish to hold, and the rest go to the discard.
- Draw: Finally, press “Draw” to get new cards for discarded cards.
- Get Paid: If your final hand matches a winning combination on the paytable, you get a specified payout.
Deck Mechanics and RNG Fairness
The online version of Aces and Eights works like a typical five-card draw game, except each hand comes from a virtual deck shuffled by a certified RNG instead of a dealer. This ensures unbiased, unpredictable draws.
Aces and Eights Hand Rankings
The Aces and Eights guide for spotting hand value is similar to standard poker ranking, except for the highly rewarding quads (four Aces, four 8s, and four 7s).
Here are the Aces and Eights hand rankings, from highest to lowest:
- Royal Flush
- Straight Flush
- Four Aces (premium bonus)
- Four 8s (special bonus)
- Four 7s (bonus)
- Other 4 of a Kind
- Full House
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- Jacks or Better (or the minimum qualifying hand)
Why the bonus quads matter:
In Aces & Eights, the quad payouts are weighted differently from standard poker ranking. Four Aces rank highest because they award the top bonus, followed by four 8s and four 7s. This payout structure is what changes the strategy compared to Jacks or Better.
The bonus hands attract special payouts, but their impact on gameplay makes the Aces and Eights strategy differ from the Jacks or Better optimal strategy. By this, we mean that some pairs and trips become far more important to hold.
Aces and Eights Paytables: Full-Pay vs Short-Pay
The video poker paytable guide for Aces and Eights includes full-pay and short-pay versions.
Full Pay
The Aces and Eights full-pay (8/5) table is the version you should always go for if available. It offers a 99.78% RTP (return to player).
| Hand | 1 Coin | 2 Coins | 3 Coins | 4 Coins | 5 Coins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 250 | 500 | 750 | 1000 | 4000 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 |
| Four Aces | 80 | 160 | 240 | 320 | 400 |
| Four 8s | 80 | 160 | 240 | 320 | 400 |
| Four 7s | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 |
| Other 4 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 |
| 3 of a Kind | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
| 2 Pair | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Note: Betting fewer than five coins on the full-pay game affected the Royal Flush payout, reducing RTP.
Understanding “8/5 Full Pay”
The term 8/5 simply means the Full House pays 8 coins and the Flush pays 5 coins per coin wagered. These two values are the primary indicators of whether the machine is full-pay or short-pay.
Short Pay
Aces and Eights short-pay tables often reduce payouts for Full House and Flush (7/5, 6/5, or 5/4), or even quad, bringing the RTP down to 98% or lower.
Aces & Eights vs Jacks or Better (Quick Comparison)
Aces & Eights may feel familiar to Jacks or Better players, but the bonus quad payouts fundamentally shift the strategy.
Key differences:
• Higher volatility due to quad-heavy payout structure
• AAA, 888, and 777 become significantly more valuable to hold
• Certain straights and flush draws are broken in favor of premium triples
• Full-pay Aces & Eights has a slightly higher max RTP than Jacks or Better
Perfect Strategy for Playing Aces and Eights
The three top strategies for playing Aces and Eights include:
- Always bet max (5 coins) to get the best payouts.
- Keep winning hands unless you have a confined premium-quad.
- Always hold the Two Pair or Three-of-a-Kind of special bonus cards (AAA, 888, and 777).
Additional Strategy Priorities for Better Decisions
For optimal gameplay, follow these simplified holding priorities:
Practical Examples:
Apply these strategies if you happen to have the hands below:
Aces and Eights Variance and Bankroll Tips
Before you learn how to play Aces and Eights, understand that it has a high variance. You can go 300+ hands without a bonus quad, then suddenly hit four Aces. The tricks to profitable gameplay are:
- Have a gameplay budget
- Abstain from chasing losses
- Walk away after big hits
How To Spot the Best Aces & Eights Games
Here is how to spot the best Aces & Eights game:
Green flags:
✅8/5 paytable,
✅5-coin Royal = 4,000
✅99.78% RTP
✅Demo mode available.
Red flags:
❌Short pay tables (6/5 or 5/4)
❌Low quad bonuses.
In the Know!
Learning how to play Aces and Eights is straightforward, but to win, you must apply the appropriate strategy. And it differs from the Deuces Wild strategy chart. To begin, you can try the demo version here at Slots Paradise Casino.
FAQs
What does Aces and Eights mean?
It traditionally refers to a poker hand with the cards Aces and Eights.
Why is Aces and Eights a dead man’s hand?
The nickname “dead man’s hand” is based on the sad story of Wild Bill Hickok, who was holding A-A-8-8 when he was killed.
Is Aces & Eights better than Jacks or Better?
No, Aces & Eights isn’t significantly better than Jacks or Better unless you are focused on bonus payouts.
What’s the best strategy for Aces & Eights video poker?
The best strategy for Aces & Eights video poker is to bet max coins, prioritize high-value pairs, and bonus quads.
Is Aces & Eights video poker high variance?
Yes. Aces & Eights variance is high due to its bonus quad payouts.