Aces and Eights is also sometimes known as Dead Man’s Hand, and is further a world-renowned video poker game that is set in the late 1800s. It is based on the true story of how a gunfighter, lawman and legendary gambler, Wild Bill Hickok, was killed while holding this hand of cards. The kicker is not known, but there are rumours that it was either the Queen of Diamonds, or a Jack.
In today’s real money video poker world, Aces and Eights will be played with a standard deck of playing cards numbering 52, and closely resembles Jacks or Better. Five cards are dealt for the first hand, and you will need to hold onto all of the best ones in order to build a high-ranking hand.
Payouts That Set it Apart
Aces and Eights is unlike other video poker games because it makes high payouts on the following card combinations possible:
- Four-of-a-Kind – Aces and Eights
- Four-of-a-Kind – Other
- Four-of-a-Kind – Sevens
The Royal Flush, or highest paying poker hand, for Aces and Eights is the hand that gives it its name.
Hand Rankings for Aces and Eights
The hand rankings for Aces and Eights are as follows, listed by the highest-paying hand on through to the lowest:
- Royal Flush
- Four-of-a-Kind – Aces or eights
- Straight Flush
- Four-of-a-Kind – Sevens
- Four-of-a-Kind – Others
- Full House
- Flush
- Straight
- Three-of-a-Kind
- Two Pairs
- Jacks or Better
Strategies to Help You Win
The strategy required for this video poker game differs from that required for other variants, thanks to the fact that it offers additional payouts for 4 eights, sevens and aces. The key to winning lies in not drawing any more cards if you are holding cards that make up the following hands:
- Royal Flush
- Straight Flush
- Straight
- Full House
- Flush
You should draw just one card if you are holding any that make up the following hands:
- Four cards to a Royal Flush
- Four card open end Straight
- Four of a Kind
- Four-card Straight with at least three high cards
- Four-card Flush
- Four cards to a Straight Flush
- Two Pair
Draw two cards if the ones you are holding make up the following hands:
- Three of a Kind
- Three cards to Straight with three high cards
- Three cards to a Straight Flush
- Three cards to a Royal Flush
And draw three playing cards if you hold the following hands:
- A Pair
- Two high cards
- Two cards to a Royal Flush
If you are only dealt one high-ranking card, draw four more.
Give this great version of video poker a try at Mummys Gold and go for the winning hand today!