Multipliers Rising Poker

Introduction

Multipliers Rising Poker is a video poker variant with randomly given sequences of multipliers. It is similar to Ultimate X Bonus Streak, except multipliers are randomly awarded, as opposed to being earned according to the hand on the draw.

Rules

1. Multipliers Rising is an optional feature added to conventional multi-play video poker. It is available in 3-play, 5-play, and 10-play.
2. The player can play normally for one to five credits per hand or can invoke the Multipliers Rising feature by betting ten credits per hand.
3. In playing the Multipliers Rising feature, the player is betting five credits per hand and and equal amount to invoke the feature.
4. If a play is not already in a multiplier sequence, then upon making a bet it will have a 1 in 16.9 chance of initiating a new sequence the next bet.
5. Won multiplier streams are applied to the next sequence of four hands, in the following order, starting with the most recent hand: 2x, 4x, 6x, 12x.
6. If a play is already in a multiplier sequence it is not eligible to re-trigger a sequence in that play.
7. The player must bet all ten coins per play to receive any multipliers on that play.

Example

In the following example, I was play 5-play 9-6 Jacks or Better. Here is what I won on each hand:

• Top left: Flush with 12x multiplier pays 30*12 = 360
• Top right: Two pair with 1x multiplier pays 10*1 = 10
• Middle left: Junk with 1x multiplier pays 0*1 = 0
• Middle right: Flush with 6x multiplier pays 30*6 = 180
• Bottom: Junk with 2x multiplier pays 0*2 = 2

My total win was 360 + 10 + 180 = 550.

 

Analysis

The following table shows how often a play will have any given multiplier. The lower right cell shows the average multiplier per play is 2.005025. Dividing that by 2, because the player must double his bet to pay for the feature, the return for any given game and pay table is the product of the return without the feature times 1.0025. For example, the return of 9/6 Jacks or Better with the feature is 99.54% × 1.0025 = 99.79%.

Return Tables

The following table shows the return both with and without the feature for various popular games and pay tables. I do not claim this list matches the games and pay tables available for this game exactly.

Vulturing

A simple vulturing strategy is to look at just the next game and count multipliers for that game. The multiplier lit up is for the previous game, so move up one on the scale. No multiplier still counts as a multiplier of 1. If the total multipliers are equal or greater than the number of plays, then play!

Some may wonder why I recommend playing with a situation like 1x, 1x, and 4x in three-play. The reason is the game may award a multiplier sequence to those plays that we count as 1x. A play with no guaranteed multiplier the next hand actually has an expected multiplier of 1.059172 the next hand, not to mention the value the next three hands after that.

Consider the following image as an example.

 

The following will be the multipliers the next hand:

• Top left: 1x
• Top right: 6x
• Middle left: 6x
• Middle right: 1x
• Bottom: 1x

The total multipliers are 15, which is well more than the 10 we need, so the next game would be a good bet.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank VideoPoker.com for letting me use screenshots of their game. A Gold level membership is required to play Multipliers Rising Poker.

External Links

Discussion about Multipliers Rising Poker in my forum at Wizard of Vegas.

Written by: Michael Shackleford