When playing video poker, you can choose from different fun variations of the game. One of them is Aces and Faces, which can be compared to Jacks or Better because there are no wild cards. The game bears an even greater resemblance to Bonus Poker, as it provides very high payouts for certain Four of a Kind hands.
The fact that specific hands offer better payouts attracts many players. This, of course, makes this variation of video poker different from the rest and requires the right strategy to achieve the most profitable outcome. To enjoy a truly rewarding game, you must know which variations of Aces and Faces offer the best payouts.
If you compare the different video poker variations, you will find that Jacks or Better is still a more volatile option. However, Aces and Faces is a better choice than Bonus Poker. What is more, if you master the right strategy, you will be able to improve your gameplay significantly and revel in great payouts.
How to Play Aces and Faces
Like other video poker games, Aces and Faces lets players actually demonstrate skill and influence the final result of the game. The way it is played does not differ from the other video poker variations. You still have to choose the size of your bet and draw five cards from a randomly shuffled deck. The next step is to decide whether to replace any of the cards and which ones will help you form a winning hand.
Usually, video poker machines have low credit denominations such as 25¢ or $1. However, there are also variations more suitable for high rollers, as the coin denomination can reach $100. As with other video poker options, you are advised to make maximum bets to enjoy the best possible winning odds. This is why it is important to pick a game that fits your budget and allows you to stake five coins, which is usually the maximum bet you can make on Aces and Faces.
When you look at the paytable of this video poker version, you will notice that the Royal Flush offers unusually high payouts. While other variants of the game pay 200 to 1 or 250 to 1 for this winning hand, Aces and Faces pays 500 to 1. Needless to say, if you bet five coins on Aces and Faces, you increase your chances of landing a massive payout for a Royal Flush.
Since your decisions can affect the outcome of the game, it is important to know which cards you should hold when you are dealt certain hands. For this, you will need to learn the right strategy and apply it to the Aces and Faces variation that offers the best payouts.
Aces and Faces Variations and Their Paytables
When choosing the variation of Aces and Faces you will play, you should always check the paytables. This will show you which machine or online game offers the best return. Of course, it is always recommended to play the full-pay version of video poker games. The Aces and Faces variant that offers the best possible payouts is easy to spot, and usually there are two hands you should pay attention to.
Full-Pay Aces and Faces
The Aces and Faces variant that offers the best possible payouts is the 8/5 version, which pays 8 to 1 for a Full House and 5 to 1 for a Flush. If you use perfect strategy and make maximum bets, the expected return is 99.25%. Even though the RTP of Jacks or Better is higher, you can still revel in great winnings when playing Aces and Faces, especially if you make one of the specific Four of a Kind hands.
You might notice that the payouts for Four of a Kind are similar to those in Bonus Poker. However, with Aces and Faces, you will get paid more if you form this hand with four Jacks, Queens, or Kings, or with four Aces.
The paytable for the Full-Pay Aces and Faces looks like this:
| Hand | Paytable |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 500 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 50 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind Aces | 80 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind Jacks, Queens or Kings | 40 to 1 |
| Other Four of a Kind | 25 to 1 |
| Full House | 8 to 1 |
| Flush | 5 to 1 |
| Straight | 4 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 to 1 |
| Two Pairs | 2 to 1 |
| Pair Jacks or Better | 1 to 1 |
7/5 Aces and Faces
One popular short-pay variation of Aces and Faces is the 7/5 version. Casinos gain a bigger advantage by lowering the payout for a Full House to only 7 to 1. With this single change in the paytable, the expected return immediately drops to 98.1%, which shows that players should avoid this variation. You might even come across a 6/5 version, which pays even less for a Full House, rewarding merely 6 to 1 for this winning hand. This further lowers the RTP to 97%.
Double Aces and Faces
Double Aces and Faces is yet another engaging variation of video poker. Like the other variations mentioned in this article, it closely resembles Jacks or Better but offers additional high payouts for specific Four of a Kind hands. When you use perfect strategy, the RTP of Double Aces and Faces is 99.24%.
The paytable for Double Aces and Faces looks like this:
| Hand | Paytable |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 250 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 50 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind Aces with a kicker 2, 3 or 4 | 400 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind 2s, 3s or 4s with a kicker A, 2, 3 or 4 | 160 to 1 |
| Other Four of a Kind | 50 to 1 |
| Full House | 9 to 1 |
| Flush | 6 to 1 |
| Straight | 4 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 to 1 |
| Two Pairs | 1 to 1 |
| Pair Jacks or Better | 1 to 1 |
As you can see, Double Aces and Faces offers generous payouts for two different types of Four of a Kind. What is interesting with this game is that the kicker, that is, the fifth card of the hand, must also be of a certain rank to receive the big payout for Four of a Kind.
Double Double Aces and Faces
Another great variation of Aces and Faces is Double Double Aces and Faces. It also offers players major payouts for forming particular Four of a Kind hands. If you are looking for a game that will give you an edge over the casino, you should definitely give Double Double Aces and Faces a try. If you find the full-pay version of the game and use the right strategy, the payout percentage will be 101.14%.
The paytable for Double Double Aces and Faces looks like this:
| Hand | Paytable |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 250 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 50 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind Aces with a kicker J, Q or K | 320 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind Aces with a kicker 2 to 10 | 160 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind Js, Qs or Ks with a kicker J, Q, K or A | 160 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind Js, Qs or Ks with a kicker 2 to 10 | 80 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind 2s to 10s | 50 to 1 |
| Full House | 12 to 1 |
| Flush | 5 to 1 |
| Straight | 4 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 to 1 |
| Two Pairs | 1 to 1 |
| Pair Jacks or Better | 1 to 1 |
The full-pay version of Double Double Aces and Faces is also known as the 12/5/4 variation, and it pays 12 to 1 for a Full House, 5 to 1 for a Flush, and 4 to 1 for a Straight. With Double Double Aces and Faces, you have even more specific Four of a Kind hands that will award great payouts.
Aces and Faces Playing Strategy
As you already know, the payout rates for the different Aces and Faces variations mean little if you do not know how to make the best decisions. This is why you should learn the proper strategy and start using it. Combining a perfect strategy with a high-paying variation will make your gaming experience far more profitable.
If you are looking for an easy way to learn the right moves on Aces and Faces, you can use the following strategy chart:
| Hand | Decision |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | draw no cards |
| Straight Flush | draw no cards |
| Four of a Kind | draw no cards |
| Full House | draw no cards |
| Four cards to a Royal Flush | draw one card |
| Keep a Flush, a Straight, Three of a Kind, or Two Pair | |
| Four cards to a Straight Flush | draw one card |
| A high pair | draw three cards |
| Three cards to a Royal Flush | draw two cards |
| Four cards to a Straight | draw one card |
| Three cards to a Straight Flush | draw two cards |
| Two cards to a Royal Flush | draw three cards |
| Any single high card | draw four cards |
| No winning hands | draw five cards |
Because Aces and Faces has several variations, the strategy you should use for each of them may differ. As the main paying hands in Double Aces and Faces and Double Double Aces and Faces are different Four of a Kind combinations, the optimal strategy is to play toward making those hands more often.
For Double Aces and Faces, you can use this simplified strategy:
| Hand | Decision |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | draw no cards |
| Straight Flush | draw no cards |
| Four of a Kind | draw no cards |
| Four cards to a Royal Flush | draw one card |
| Three of a Kind | draw two cards |
| Keep a Straight, a Flush, or a Full House | |
| A pair of Aces | draw three cards |
| Two pairs | draw one card |
| A pair of Jacks, Queens, or Kings | draw three cards |
| Four cards to a Flush | draw one card |
| Three cards to a Royal Flush | draw two cards |
| Four cards to a Straight | draw one card |
| Three cards to a Straight Flush | draw two cards |
| A low pair | draw three cards |
Aces and Faces Playing Strategy Additional TipsWhenever you play Double Double Aces and Faces, keep in mind that this variation pays very high for Four of a Kind. Your strategy, yet again, should revolve around forming those hands more frequently.
To optimize your winning odds, make sure you place maximum bets when playing Aces and Faces. This will also give you a better advantage and might even tilt the scales in your favor when you use optimal strategy. In addition, always play the most favorable variant of the game, as the highest possible payout will improve your winning chances.
Conclusion
Aces and Faces is based on the popular Jacks or Better, and even though it offers a slightly lower expected return, it is still a great version to play. The exciting element about Aces and Faces is that it offers additional payouts for certain hands, similar to the way Bonus Poker rewards players.
If you are already familiar with the rules of Jacks or Better, you will have an easy time playing Aces and Faces. That being said, when you use strategy, you must keep high-value cards in mind, as they can help you form the highest-paying hands in Aces and Faces.
Even though Aces and Faces has a lower expected return, variations such as Double Aces and Faces and Double Double Aces and Faces can actually be very lucrative video poker games. This is why you should always check the paytables of the video poker variant you are about to play and choose the best option.