Double Up Feature In Video Poker: Is It Worth A Shot?

A natural choice for gamblers who prefer easy gameplay combined with the ability to influence the outcome, video poker is gaining popularity worldwide. First hit the casino floors in the 1970s, VP machines have evolved over the years getting an array of new variants to suit different tastes.

Online casinos do not lag behind their brick-and-mortar counterparts, offering games from numerous software providers that never cease to surprise us with their creativity, especially when it comes to various extra features.

The Double Up option is for sure one of the most widespread and hotly debated of them as the simplest way to multiply your prize in just one step. A typical 50/50 plot, it has another side of the coin and everyone knows what it is. Instead of asking infinitely To Double Up or Not To Double Up? learn when this feature is worth a shot!

Intriguing Roots Of Popularity

The Double Up option is so common nowadays that the majority of newbies think this extra has always been in demand. In reality, even some twenty years ago most patrons had little interest in this add-on and the majority of casinos on the Strip didn’t bother to enable it on their machines.

Things changed…

…after one of the biggest stories in the history of Vegas when the so-called „Double Up bug“ made rich two video poker buffs, John Kane and Andre Nestor. Virtuoso pianist Kane was the one who discovered the glitch in the IGT’s legendary Game King 5.0 machine but Nestor figured out, it could be triggered only with the Double Up option turned on.

To put it briefly, the trick was that under certain conditions, Game King would let switching between denominations retroactively – is anyone else for playing at 1c for ages and then changing to 50c right before taking your winnings? Besides being a must for success, the Double Up feature significantly speeded up the whole process. When Kane and Nestor got caught and all the details became public, doubling up immediately became a hot topic.

How Can I Play Online Video Poker & Double Up To Win More?

You don’t need to be a maths whizz to play video poker good, all the more so, there are people who have already done a great deal of work to analyze completely all the existing variants and come up with the best strategies. It’s a great idea to set aside a couple of hours and familiarize yourself with all the ins and outs of your favorite game to avoid unnecessary mistakes.

Back to the Double Up feature, it’s as uncomplicated as video poker itself. Available only after a winning hand, this extra lets you net out twice the original prize if the card you select can beat the house card. Some titles will also offer the opportunity to gamble only half of your winnings and depending on the software provider, you can be allowed to double up only once or for a certain number of times.

Once you choose to activate the feature…

…five cards (one face up and four face down) will be dealt and your only goal is to pick the one out of the four that beats the house card. If you’re out of luck and your card is lower, then the house takes it all. And what if it equals to the house card? Once and again, never forget to check out the rules as they may vary greatly from game to game.

As for this particular case, the main thing you have to know before opting for this extra is whether ties (when your card is the same rank as the house card) are treated as pushes or losses – while the first option is a kind of go-ahead, the latter is a good sign to skip the offer.

The Best Video Poker Bet?

According to many, the double up is the best bet simply because it’s an even bet able to lower the house edge, hence always attractive. Although it holds true (in the long run, of course), plenty of other moments make the situation far more complicated.

First of all, this feature significantly increases the game variance, which means you need a pretty extensive bankroll to stay in play. Secondly, a lot depends on the specific title, so it’s essential to make sure the tie is not considered a loss.

Speaking with the seasoned punters…

…you’ll find out that the great bulk of them never try to double a big win but rather try their luck with smaller prizes, which perfectly makes sense. Leading by the idea that effectively you’re only put at risk your initial wager for a potentially impressive amount of cash, some of them are ready to take their chances even with larger wins.

Still, if you’ve managed to hit it big, it’d be wise to bank your money and carefully plan your next session – do not underestimate the advantages of bankroll management, even if you’re a high-roller.

Just a heads up, be aware that using the Double Up feature during an active bonus is seen as „irregular“ play and bonus abuse by the majority of online casinos. In the case you’ve claimed one of the offers, doubling up is definitely out of question.