Ultimate X Strategies

As my loyal guinea pigs, you may be the first to see JB's Ultimate X video poker strategies. As always, we welcome all comments, corrections, and questions.

Jacks or Better
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Joker Poker

Do any of the "Ultimate X" machines have progressive jackpots? If so, I assume the progressive is not multiplied, but does it have a bearing on the, "never leave a multiplier behind" strategy? If you are playing 10 lines, I think you will quickly go bust chasing the one line that comes up double, while the other 9 are losers.

If your next multiplier is on line 5, can you drop from 10 lines to 5 and still play the mulitpier?

Quote: Ayecarumba

Do any of the "Ultimate X" machines have progressive jackpots?

No.

Quote: Ayecarumba

If your next multiplier is on line 5, can you drop from 10 lines to 5 and still play the mulitpier?

No again, because if you're in the 10-hand game, you must play all 10 hands. If you exit to the main menu and choose the 5-hand game, it has its own separate multipliers.

Quote: JB

... if you're in the 10-hand game, you must play all 10 hands. If you exit to the main menu and choose the 5-hand game, it has its own separate multipliers.

Thanks for the info JB. If you exit, then return, are the multipliers retained? If so, would it be advisable to check every game for unused mulipliers, even if the pay table is sub-optimal?

Quote: Ayecarumba

Thanks for the info JB. If you exit, then return, are the multipliers retained? If so, would it be advisable to check every game for unused mulipliers, even if the pay table is sub-optimal?

I'm not sure, but I think they would be. It wouldn't surprise me if the machine wiped them out after a certain period of inactivity though.

I'm fairly sure that multipliers just hang indefinitely until somebody bets into them. Otherwise I don't think I would hear stories about some some players searching for abandoned multipliers.

i dont drive around looking for them, but find multipliers left on at least 2-3 every visit, unfortunately max is 25 cent denom where i play currently,
but last year found 12x on a 1 dollar game and cashed out for a bout 2900
honestly there is no better ap play on the earth if you find it where else can you get an almost 1100 percent return

Awesome stuff JB! I am really surprised a multiplier indifferent strategy doesn't cost more than 0.1%.

Are you eventually going to do DDB? I rarely see anyone play Ultimate X with any other version (with a horrible paytable of course).

When I was playing Multi-Strike at Caesar's during my stay there, I noticed that Ultimate X (next machine over) had more than a few people walking by, pressing the buttons to check if anyone had left multipliers on the machine.

deleted

FYI, there are some extra characters in the page's title line.

Quote: Ayecarumba

FYI, there are some extra characters in the page's title line.

Interesting. It is supposed to look like this:


How does it look on your end?

Like this:

Thanks, I just fixed it.

Wizard, thanks for the new strategies, any idea if and when Double Double Bonus will be added to the Ultimate X strategies offered?

I would also be very interested in DDB strategy. Do you have any variance numbers for this game too?

Quote: bublite

I would also be very interested in DDB strategy. Do you have any variance numbers for this game too?

Unfortunately I am not as much of a VPGenius as JB, but you can roughly piece together a DDB Strategy by using the Bonus Poker, Bonus Poker Deluxe, and Double Bonus strategies JB has listed. Hopefully JB can check this for me at some point.

I believe there are two significant classes for DDB though for most players.

Paytables where the flush pays 6, and paytables where the flush pays 5.

If your DDB paytable pays 6 for a flush, use 8/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe strategy as a starting point (proposed changes in bold):

Basic Strategy

Full house or better
4 to a royal flush
Flush
Straight
3 of a kind
4 to a straight flush
2 pair
1 pair Aces
4 to a flush with 3 high cards
1 pair, Jacks thru Kings
4 to a flush with 0, 1, or 2 high cards
3 to a royal flush
4 to a straight — 89TJ; 9TJQ; TJQK
1 pair, 2s through 4s
4 to a straight — 2345; 3456; 4567; 5678; 6789; 789T
1 pair, 5s through 10s (biggest question mark; quad 5-10s only worth 50 in DDB vs. 80 in BDlx)
3 to a straight flush — 345; 456; 567; 678; 789; 78J; 89T; 89J/8TJ; 8JQ; 9TJ; 9TQ; 9JQ; 9JK/9QK
4 to a straight — 9JQK; TJQA; TJKA; TQKA; JQKA
3 to a flush — 2JQ to 7JQ; 2JK to 8QK; 2TA to 9KA
3 to a straight flush — 79J/7TJ; 89Q/8TQ; 9TK
2 to a royal flush — JQ; JK/QK; JA/QA/KA
3 to a straight flush — Ace-low; 234/235/245; 346/356; 457/467; 568/578; 679/689; 78T/79T
4 to a straight — 89JQ/8TJQ; 9TJK/9TQK
3 to a straight — TJQ; JQK
3 to a flush — 29J to 6TJ; 29Q to 7TQ; 23K to 8TK; 28A to 89A
2 to a straight — JQ
3 to a flush — 23J to 68J; 23Q to 78Q; 27A to 67A
2 to a royal flush — TJ
3 to a flush — 26A to 56A
2 to a straight — JK/QK
4 to a straight — A234/A245/A345; 789J; 89TQ
2 to a royal flush — TQ
3 to a straight flush — 246; 347/357/367; 458/468/478; 569/579/589
4 to a straight — A235; 78TJ/79TJ
3 to a straight flush — 236/256; 67T/68T/69T
2 to a straight — JA/QA/KA
2 to a royal flush — TK
a Jack, Queen, King, or Ace
4 to a straight — 2346/2356/2456; 3457/3467/3567; 4568/4578/4678; 5679/5689/5789; 678T/679T/689T
3 to a flush — 237 to 59T
Discard everything

If DDB only pays 5 for the flush (every Ult X machine I have ever seen) :(

Use the 7/5 Bonus Strategy as the base (proposed changes in bold):

Basic Strategy

Full house or better
4 to a royal flush
Flush
Straight
3 of a kind
2 pair
1 pair, Aces
4 to a straight flush
1 pair, Jacks through Kings
4 to a flush
3 to a royal flush
4 to a straight -- 89TJ; 9TJQ; TJQK (OESD become split like BDlx table)
1 pair, 2s through 4s
4 to a straight — 2345; 3456; 4567; 5678; 6789; 789T (split part 2)
1 pair, 5s through 10s (50 vs 80 payout in BDlx)
3 to a straight flush — 345; 456; 567; 678; 789; 89T; 89J/8TJ; 9TJ; 9TQ; 9JQ
4 to a straight — JQKA
3 to a straight flush 8JQ; 9JK/9QK
4 to a straight — 9JQK; TJQA/TJKA/TQKA
3 to a flush — 2JA to 9KA
2 to a royal flush — JQ; JK/QK; JA/QA/KA
4 to a straight — 89JQ/8TJQ; 9TJK/9TQK
3 to a straight flush — Ace-low; 234/235/245; 346/356; 457/467; 568/578; 679/689; 78T/79T; 78J/79J/7TJ; 89Q/8TQ; 9TK
3 to a straight — TJQ; JQK
2 to a straight — JQ; JK/QK
2 to a royal flush — TJ
4 to a straight — Ace-low; 789J/78TJ/79TJ; 89TQ
2 to a straight — JA/QA/KA
2 to a royal flush — TQ
3 to a flush — 23Q to 8TK; 2TA to 9TA
2 to a royal flush — TK
a Jack, Queen, King, or Ace
3 to a straight flush — 236/246/256; 347/357/367; 458/468/478; 569/579/589; 67T/68T/69T
4 to a straight — 2346/2356/2456; 3457/3467/3567; 4568/4578/4678; 5679/5689/5789; 678T/679T/689T
3 to a flush — 237 to 59T
Discard everything

Just looking at these estimated strategies, I'm sure tons of people play Ult X terribly. Who wants to hold Aces up in DDB? lol And 3 to a flush?

And for variance, JB's Video Poker analyzer will do it for a 1-hand game (but I think it uses the 10-hand multipliers):
https://wizardofodds.com/games/video-poker/analyzer/

9/6 DDB has a variance of 71.73/hand vs. 41.98
8/5 DDB has a variance of 70.91/hand vs. 41.99

thanks a ton for even working out that strategy tringlomane!
I've been "guessing", although it be somewhat educated by JB's other Ultimate X strategies. I've been holding 2 pair and 3 to a flush! ugh...
My question is, do you change your strategy after you already have multipliers? If you've been dealt a full house to hold on all 10 lines giving you a 12X multiplier on the next hand and then get dealt AA223, do you still hold the 2 pair or just the AA since, how I say it, "the bases are loaded"?

Also, can anyone come close to giving a strategy for deuces wild Ultimate X? I have been holding all kinds of weird stuff like straight draws with a deuce or 4 flush with a deuce to get the multipliers.

Thanks so much to the Wizard for his site and everyone's hard work!!!

I'll be going to Laughlin on March 26 and hope to use your DDB strategy and put it to good and hopefully winning use! :=)

Where in Laughlin do they have Ultimate X with 9/6 DDB?

I'm not sure what the return on the game was. I will check when I'm out there in 2 weeks. I'll probably play it even if it is 9/5 though. It's a fun game! :)
According to videopoker.com these casinos have the game in Laughlin but I have no idea what the returns are.

Aquarius Casino Resort
Avi Hotel Casino
Colorado Belle Hotel & Casino
Edgewater Hotel & Casino
Golden Nugget Laughlin
Harrahs Casino Hotel Laughlin
River Palms Resort Casino
Riverside Resort & Casino
Tropicana Express Hotel & Casino

I have the strategy here. I haven't announced it to the public yet, pending JB giving me the return of the strategy.

Quote: djkrick

I'm not sure what the return on the game was. I will check when I'm out there in 2 weeks. I'll probably play it even if it is 9/5 though. It's a fun game! :)
According to videopoker.com these casinos have the game in Laughlin but I have no idea what the returns are.

Yeah, unfortunately, I don't think 9/6 DDB exists outside of Vegas for Ultimate X. Hopefully I'm wrong. Aquarius is probably your best hope.

Quote: Wizard

I have the strategy here. I haven't announced it to the public yet, pending JB giving me the return of the strategy.

Awesome! I am a little disappointed that 5s thru 10s is better than an OESD with no high cards in 9/6 DDB because my computer-free bastardization of the other strategies wasn't that bad except for that close call.

Looking at some things real quick on the page, you left in 9-6-5 on the first line. I wish 9/6/5 DDB existed!! :) Also, holding Aces up vs. Aces, and Aces full vs. AAA? In the 9/6/5 DB games, these exceptions are listed based on multiplier. Did they become less important in 9/6 DDB? I would think they are MORE important in DDB.

I have found this 9/6/4 Double Double Bonus in the single line form on IGT All-Star Poker. On the WizardofOdds site the return is shown for the 10-5-3 play versions. As the amount of lines reduces the return does anyone know the return for single line Ultimate X 9/6/4 Double Double bonus. Based on extrapolating the information. The sharp drop from 5 play to 3 play returns of 0.997928 to
0.997261 is significant enough to me that the return on single line could reduce it to as much 0.9962 or even worse. If JB or anyone else has the exact return I would appreciate it. With the huge variance in the game anything less would 0.9962 would lean me toward 9/6 JOB.

Quote: JackStraw8004

I have found this 9/6/4 Double Double Bonus in the single line form on IGT All-Star Poker. On the WizardofOdds site the return is shown for the 10-5-3 play versions. As the amount of lines reduces the return does anyone know the return for single line Ultimate X 9/6/4 Double Double bonus. Based on extrapolating the information. The sharp drop from 5 play to 3 play returns of 0.997928 to
0.997261 is significant enough to me that the return on single line could reduce it to as much 0.9962 or even worse. If JB or anyone else has the exact return I would appreciate it. With the huge variance in the game anything less would 0.9962 would lean me toward 9/6 JOB.

It really depends on the multipliers it gives for that game. On videopoker.com, the multipliers for the single hand DDB game are similar to the 10-play multipliers, but the 4 5s-Ks multiplier is 4X vs 3X and the straight multiplier is 7X vs. 8X. The drop in the straight multiplier is a BIG Deal. According to the Wiz's video poker calculator, this would drop the return of the 9/6 DDB Ult X game to 99.19%, so 9/6 JoB in that case would be way better. The actual values of the multipliers are very, very important in determining the return. So make sure you find out all the multiplier values of that 9/6 DDB Ult X game in the help/rules/payouts screen.

From the Royal Flush down to the to 4 5s-Ks is 2X, FH is 12X, Fl is 10X and as you suspected STR is 7X. I have played this game several times over the last few months mostly for play throughs where earning x number of RC's would get you extra cash. The game was set at a high theoretical at one point and the cashback was very good, almost 1/2%. My friend had made a mistake as he thought the straight multiplier was same as the triple play. We didn't fare very well on the game. The best I ever did was hit a base $4000 Royal. The game also didn't generate the free play offers we were expecting. Live and learn.

Yeah, with all quads or better paying 2X and the straight paying 7X, the machine goes down to 98.95%. Still better than most Ult X machines, but probably not as high as you were expecting. And Ult X is a tough game to swallow variance wise, even with a one-line machine.

Quote: tringlomane

Ult X is a tough game to swallow variance wise

The jackpot would of course be a dealt full house followed by a dealt royal (worth 480,000 coins in 10-play). To put that in perspective, you are about 2.5 times more likely to win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot from a single ticket.

Quote: boymimbo

When I was playing Multi-Strike at Caesar's during my stay there, I noticed that Ultimate X (next machine over) had more than a few people walking by, pressing the buttons to check if anyone had left multipliers on the machine.

Diminished returns are always a fact of life when it comes to progressives and rapeable machines. Some progressives go from a few hundred a day when released to becoming practically stupid checking them within a year. There are always copycats and LCDs to compete with.

Are you working on a deuces wild strategy anytime soon?

Quote: axcisplayer

Are you working on a deuces wild strategy anytime soon?

I'd also be interested in seeing this as well as it is best paying version I can play for 60c a round at my local casino...lol However, if I had to conjecture, deuces wild may deviate the least from standard strategy. The biggest adjustment may be to be more aggressive on straight flush draws than normal.

When "wonging" these, I've wondered how many multipliers would be needed to make playing 10 coins better than playing 5.

If you are wonging the game, virtually any multiplier makes a 5 coin bet +EV. Any additional wagers loses EV. The only time a 10 coin bet is better I think is if there are no multipliers on the machine.

Quote: tringlomane

I'd also be interested in seeing this as well as it is best paying version I can play for 60c a round at my local casino...lol However, if I had to conjecture, deuces wild may deviate the least from standard strategy. The biggest adjustment may be to be more aggressive on straight flush draws than normal.

I looked at the strategy a long time ago. One of the things I remember with the 1-2-3-4-4-9-15-25-200-800 paytable was that you should hold a deuce with 3 suited cards (4 to a wild flush) where you would normally hold only the deuce, although I don't recall if you should do that all the time or with a certain minimum average multiplier.

Quote: JB

I looked at the strategy a long time ago. One of the things I remember with the 1-2-3-4-4-9-15-25-200-800 paytable was that you should hold a deuce with 3 suited cards (4 to a wild flush) where you would normally hold only the deuce, although I don't recall if you should do that all the time or with a certain minimum average multiplier.

Yeah, that doesn't shock me either since one deuce only looks to be only ~5% better than four to a wild flush in standard "Airport Deuces", so getting a 5X multiplier for a flush would definitely outweigh that difference. Now if the flush only paid 2 for 1 as per "Colorado Deuces", I would assume deuce only becomes superior as now deuce only is closer to a ~30% better hold than 4 to a wild flush before factoring in future multipliers.

Quote: tringlomane

If you are wonging the game, virtually any multiplier makes a 5 coin bet +EV. Any additional wagers loses EV. The only time a 10 coin bet is better I think is if there are no multipliers on the machine.

I'm not familiar with wonging these games but if you see a multiplier on a machine, you don't need to bet 10 coins to take advantage of the multiplier?

Quote: djatc

I'm not familiar with wonging these games but if you see a multiplier on a machine, you don't need to bet 10 coins to take advantage of the multiplier?

Right, if there is any multiplier on the machine the best short-term play is to play 5 coins and immediately quit. If there are no multipliers on the machine then betting 10 is slightly better.

Quote: djatc

I'm not familiar with wonging these games but if you see a multiplier on a machine, you don't need to bet 10 coins to take advantage of the multiplier?

The player who last played the machine paid for the multiplier(s) on the current hand, so they apply to the current round even if you bet less than 10 coins per hand.

The "worst best-case scenario" is an Ultimate X machine where one hand has a 2x multiplier and all the other hands have no multiplier. In such a scenario, playing 5 coins per hand will have a player advantage as long as the 5-coin return is at least:

3-play: 75%
5-play: 83.3333...%
10-play: 90.9090...%

So for all intents and purposes, if you spot a vacant Ultimate X machine where at least one hand has a multiplier, it is always to your advantage to play one round at 5 coins and then quit. Even a 10-play machine with a rotten 94% paytable where one hand has a 2x multiplier and the other hands have no multiplier has a 3.4% player advantage for that one round.

It's too bad I can't find Ultimate X machines off of VPfree2. Sounds like a great play every once in a while if I'm walking around.

My best Ultimate X wonging opportunity was when Parx Casino first introduced table games. I just finished a session at a 6D S17 DAS LS table where the shoe was dealt down to the last 1/4 deck (!) when I found a $1 10-Play DDB machine with 12X multipliers on all hands! My first thought was $480K one time!

$50, one shot pull and I see three Aces roll across the screen. Seconds later, a handpay of $11,460.

I'll leave you with the exercise of figuring out what hands I hit and what the (lousy) paytable was.

Quote: chaunceyb3

My best Ultimate X wonging opportunity was when Parx Casino first introduced table games. I just finished a session at a 6D S17 DAS LS table where the shoe was dealt down to the last 1/4 deck (!) when I found a $1 10-Play DDB machine with 12X multipliers on all hands! My first thought was $480K one time!

$50, one shot pull and I see three Aces roll across the screen. Seconds later, a handpay of $11,460.

I'll leave you with the exercise of figuring out what hands I hit and what the (lousy) paytable was.

That is an awesome story. Don't know DDB pay schedules well but the worst schedule with a 12x is good enough to play anytime!

Chauncey when did parx ever had a a 1 dollar denim ultimate x? I've never ever seen it

Quote: chaunceyb3

My best Ultimate X wonging opportunity was when Parx Casino first introduced table games. I just finished a session at a 6D S17 DAS LS table where the shoe was dealt down to the last 1/4 deck (!) when I found a $1 10-Play DDB machine with 12X multipliers on all hands! My first thought was $480K one time!

$50, one shot pull and I see three Aces roll across the screen. Seconds later, a handpay of $11,460.

I'll leave you with the exercise of figuring out what hands I hit and what the (lousy) paytable was.

1 Quad no kicker, 1 boat, and 8 bricks. At least you got one. :) And 7/5...LOL Parx.

Quote: djatc

It's too bad I can't find Ultimate X machines off of VPfree2. Sounds like a great play every once in a while if I'm walking around.

9/6 DDBs w/Ultimate X are listed on individual casino lists. Hard Rock, Palms, and South Point have them. As for wonging, paytables don't matter though, just find machines with multipliers on them.

Quote: tringlomane

1 Quad no kicker, 1 boat, and 8 bricks. At least you got one. :) And 7/5...LOL Parx.



9/6 DDBs w/Ultimate X are listed on individual casino lists. Hard Rock, Palms, and South Point have them. As for wonging, paytables don't matter though, just find machines with multipliers on them.

Omg thanks for that info. I'm actually going to be moving within walking distance to hard rock! Might get 86ed in record time for vulturing multipliers lol

Would it be possible for someone to post the Ultimate-X Deuces wild strategy, I am very interested in seeing it. Thanks a million!

deleted

Could you please show me the exact differences between 8/6 and 8/5 Jacks or Better. Unless you know for sure of a 25c 10 play 8/6 machine, cause I haven't had any luck finding one in all of Florida or Nevada. I would be willing to compensate you for your time if needed.

Thank You

Quote: Wizard

I'm fairly sure that multipliers just hang indefinitely until somebody bets into them. Otherwise I don't think I would hear stories about some some players searching for abandoned multipliers.

Seen as often as unicorns in this town.

Any possibility of a Triple Double Bonus UX strategy? They have it at MSS.

This guy plays UX about as bad as you can...

https://youtu.be/9hHaytzAZWw

Quote: Ibeatyouraces

This guy plays UX about as bad as you can...

https://youtu.be/9hHaytzAZWw

Brutal.