Color Match Royal 9/6 DDB+TDB Basic Strategy

[alpax]

DISCLAIMER: I am not an employee of Action Gaming or a known expert figure in the gambling industry. Action Gaming and videopoker.com does not represent me in any way shape or form. I was not compensated or monetarily paid in any way. This is strictly volunteer work that took many hours (well over 50) of personal effort for learning purposes. Though I trust my many hours of hard work and am upstanding in terms of delivering quality, Please use this at your own risk. The strategy is subject to change.


Took more than an hour to write this guide up, damn...


Purpose

I set aside a personal project for this summer and was originally intending on figuring out a strategy for different game offered on videopoker.com. My local casino no longer has it and I will have to go to Vegas to play it. Since Color Match Royal is spanking new and being promoted by videopoker.com's September's Kicker; I've decided to call an audible to figure this one out as the alternative. Refinements to the strategy and will happen as I discover them. I regret I was not able to progress as much a few months ago on due to personal circumstances, but I have spent a good amount of time recently (including this Labor Day weekend) to ramp up. To be honest, the process was personally uneasy and took me many hours of struggle and persistence. There were areas I got stuck and have to wait for hours for my computer to process large sets of data continuously. Also took some create adjustments to improve the performace of the strategy solver. I also had to brush up on my MathCAD skills as it has been a while since I did poker-based math analysis.

I promised who I consider a good person Galeygoo that I would help find out the strategy to this game. I am a man of my words and since I am not completely done with this project, I provided this to show some progress. Though I strongly prefer Jacks or Better over most video poker variants, since I am not oblivious to the fact that Double Double Bonus is the most popular game, I've prioritized this game first. 9/6 Triple Double Bonus will come shortly after.
This game is not on the casino floor yet, I feel I could take my time for the other games. DDB and TDB are the two vital and essential games to master to win the daily or weekly contests held here.
This game is 9/5 on short coin, but will become 9/6 when the Bonus feature is enabled. If the contests use the 9/5 after the bonus, I will need to evaluate the 9/5 payschedule. The framework in which was used to analyze the game is done.

I fully support arguments coming from both sides so let me quickly address one.


Why I should not consider this game?

If you are a player that is concerned about the long term results and are capable of playing hundreds of hours annually, there is a pretty good chance that there are higher returning video poker games at your casino to consider.

The full pay 9/6 Double Double Bonus single line game (98.98%) theoretically pays back higher than this 9/6 Double Double Bonus variant (98.71%)

Some people feel uneasy about betting 10 credits per line.

For people that play video poker recreationally and are completely responsible of fully accept the perils of playing a negative expectation game, read on.
This game does utilize a different strategy than traditional games, the knowledge will not carry over unless there are more games released that involve color. The only other one I've seen is DDB Red and Black.

Or if you are curious about what this game is about, read on but please do not be judgemental about what you see.

Interesting Aspects of This Game

Now that you've accepted to take this game for what it is worth, here are some of the things that might gain your interest.

This game is more oriented towards the aspect of suit color of the cards, Red (Diamonds and Hearts) and Black (Clubs and Spades). The Action Gaming pointed out something interesting, that you will get at least 3 cards of a single color on each draw. Holding 3 colored cards will return an ER of at least 4.6 credits (ranks spread far apart for no straight possibility and different suits), this play alone can alter the strategy quite a bit. In traditional games, you will find yourself playing hands that are worth less than 2 credits ER most of the time.
Also this game is good for people who are seeking to capture some lightning in a bottle. In this game, a colored Royal Flush (e.g. 10-Clubs Jack-Clubs Queen-Spades King-Clubs Ace-Spades) pays good, 2000 credits which is also the equivalent of the AWAK. The AWAK happens once in about 16215 hands, but with more possibilities to land the colored Royal Flush, players do not have to wait long time in between jackpots. There are 5152 possible fives in which deals you will end up with 4 to a Colored Royal Flush. That is 1 in every 504 hands, about at least once an hour. In addition it is not 1 in 47 that you get the 5th card needed to complete the monster hand, you will get 2 chances to fulfill the card so 1 in 23.5.
A player gets 4 to a Natural Royal 1 in every 2765 hands on average on a single line game, though 1 out of 47 cards fulfills the Royal, this game has 1 additional card that will award half the amount and about 20 cards that will pay out twice the wager as a consolation.

There are increased amount of winning endpoints out of the Color Match Royal DDB.

Red or Black Colored Royal Flush 60

Red or Black Colored Straight Flush 540

Red or Black Colored Flush 125812

An increase of 126412 winnable hand outcomes represents an 4.86% increase. But still 75.2% of the result in nothing.

The Long Awaited Color Match Royal DDB Strategy (Entries below #39 may be subject to penalty situations that are not covered yet)

1. Natural Royal Flush (4000)
2. Pat Colored Royal Flush (2000)
3. 4 Aces with Any 2, 3, 4 (2000)
4. 4 Aces (1100 is the ER, but dealt is 800)
5. Natural Straight Flush (1000)
6. 4 2s, 3s, 4s with Ace, 2, 3, 4 (800)
7. 4 2s, 3s, 4s (500 is ER, but dealt is 400)
8. Colored Straight Flush (300)
9. 4 5s thru Kings (250)
10. 4 to Natural Royal Flush (136.67 Ace-High to 163.33 for 10,J,Q,K)
11. 4 to Colored Royal Flush (93.125 Ace-High to 105.625 for 10,J,Q,K)
12. 4 to Outside Natural Straight Flush (64.79 to 65.21)
13. 3 of a Kind Aces (61.12)
14. Full House (45)
15. 4 to Inside Natural Straight Flush (37.91 to 38.54)
16. 3 of a Kind 2s, 3s, 4s (36.63)
17. 4 to Outside Colored Straight Flush (34.17 to 34.58)
18. Natural Flush (30)
19. 3 of a Kind 5s thru Kings (26.43)
20. 4 to Inside Colored Straight Flush (includes A-low) (21.667 to 22.29)
21. Straight (20)
22. Colored Flush (Red or Black) (20)
23. 3 to Natural Royal Flush Queen or King High [10,J,K (16.17) J,Q,K (16.57) 10,J,Q (17.91)]
24. 2 Pairs [Both Pairs (4 of the SAME COLOR) - Includes Aces] (15.21)
25. 3 to Natural Royal Flush Ace High (14.43 to 14.83)
26. 3 to Colored Royal Flush (12.35 to 13.91)
27. 4 to a Colored Flush with High Pair of Same Color (12.29)
28. 4 to a Natural Flush with 1 to 2 High Cards (11.25 to 11.67)
29. 4 to a Natural Flush with 0 High Cards (11.04)
30. Ace Pair with 2, 3, 4 Kicker All Same Color (10.98)
31. Ace Pair of Same Color (10.7)
32. 3 to Natural Outside Straight Flush (10.22)
33. 4 to Colored Flush with Pair of Same Color (10.21)
34. High Pair of Same Color with a 3rd Card of Same Color (9.49)
35. 4 to Colored Flush with 1 High Card (9.375) * But is less than Pair of Aces of Different Color if both appear.
36. 3 to Inside Natural Straight Flush with 2 High Cards [QJ9] (9.28)
37. 4 to Colored Flush with No High Cards (9.17)
38. Ace Pair of Different Color (9.15)
39. 3 to Inside Natural Straight Flush with 1 High Card (8.87)
40. High Pair of Same Color (8.62)
41. 3 to Outside Colored Straight Flush with 1 High Card [Jack] (8.48)
42. 3 to Inside Natural Straight Flush with No High Cards (8.47)
43. 2 Pairs Different Colors (8.33)
44. 3 to Outside Colored Straight Flush with No High Card (8.07)
45. 3 to Inside Colored Straight Flush with 1 or 2 High Cards (7.32 for 1-high-1gaps 7.54 for 2high-2 gaps AND 7.72 for 2high 1 gap)
46. Pair of 2s, 3s, 4s with Aces, 2, 3, 4 Kicker all Three of Same Color (7.15)
47. 3 to Inside Natural Straight Flush with 1 High and 2 Inside Gaps (includes A-Low) (7.13)
48. High Pair of Different Color (7.07)
49. 3 to Outside Colored Straight Flush with No High Card and 1 Gap (includes 234) (6.92)
50. Pair of 2s, 3s, 4s of Same Color (6.08)
51. 3 to Natural Flush with 2 High Cards (5.79)
52. 3 to Inside Colored Flush with 0 High Cards and 2 Gaps (5.76)
53. Pair of 5s thru 10s of Same Color (5.48)
54. 3 to Colored Flush with 2 High Cards (5.41)
55. 3 to Natural Flush with 1 High Card (5.39)
56. 2 to Natural Royal Flush QJ (5.37)
57. 2 to Natural Royal Flush KQ, KJ (5.16)
58. 2 to Colored Royal Flush QJ (5.11)
59. 2 to Natural Royal Flush Jack-Ten (5.02)
60. 3 to Colored Flush with 1 High Card (5.01)
61. 3 to Natural Flush No High Cards (4.99)
62. 2 to Natural Royal Flush Ace-High (4.98)
63. 2 to Colored Royal Flush King-High (4.94)
64. 2 to Natural Royal Flush Queen-Ten (4.81)
65. 2 to Colored Royal Flush Ace-High (4.80)
66. 2 to Colored Royal Flush Jack-Ten (4.72)
67. 3 to Colored Flush No High Cards (4.60)

Rough Estimate of Combinations / Odds of DDB



Variance Breakdown for DDB



Because you are playing a 10 coin game, you must divide the overall result by 1/2 because the pay schedule reflects a 5 coin game.

Some general tips I can offer while I stuided this game:

Truthfully, I am not a master of this game even though I came up with this guide.

1. There will never be a time where you hold 1 card or toss everything as the Action Gaming strategy guide suggests. That is because when you toss everything, your expected return is 2.55, sure you can get a Natural Royal Flush that way but it is unlikely. The worst hand on the strategy is 4.60 which makes it a superior play

2. Pay attention to the color of your pairs. This can make a big difference in the decision to hold or discard cards. Pairs are much more valuable when they are of the same color.

3. The only times you would consider holding 2 cards is when you have a pair or 2 to a Natural or Colored Royal

4. You do not go for the regular Straight inside or outside at all times. Only take it if you are dealt one.

4. 3 or 4 to a Royal Flush with the same color suited takes top precedence, watch out for those specifically.

5. If you planning on playing this game for real money wager at the casino, please practice with the Training Mode feature with GOLD membership for feedback!

Strategy In Action

Sample Situation #1

3 to a Flush with 2 High Cards (#51) vs High Pair Colored (#53)

Since 3 to a Flush with 2 High Cards is higher on the list we go with that. And we are CORRECT!





Sample Situation #2

Same situation as #1 but I change the queen of clubs to the queen of spades to downgrade it to item #54. The colored low pair should be the better play as it is #53 and we are correct






Sample Situation #3

To make sure you interpreted #24 correctly, for two pairs that are all of the same color, you hold them. This example particularly shows a pair of Aces. In normal DDB you break two pairs if one pair is Aces.

Putting it to the test and it is CORRECT!








Sample Situation #4


The rare occasion you hold TWO cards #58. Not all the time you go with the color that has the most presence








Sample Situation #5


Not oblvious to Penalty Situations. They EXIST! A pair of Aces of not the same color should be less valuable.








Sample Situation #6


The power of flushes exists. When you get 4 of them, in normal DDB you go with them unless there is a high pair present. Even with a pair of Aces present, 4 to a flush is more valued.








Special Credits


There are three very important entities that I would like to thank personally. Without any of their valuable contributions to the video poker knowledgable that is available today, none of this will be possible.

1. The Wizard of Odds - Michael Shackleford and JB. I lost count on how long I've been visiting this outstanding gambling resource website, but it has to be around 15 years. For this I have utilized Shacklefold's Video Poker analysis guide to create the framework to analyze video poker games. Shackleford laid down a good framework that I can use again for another game I might be interested in. I've maintained a basic database storage with additional information that I can try to probe out should a player be interested. Shackleford is right about how it can take months (maybe a few days with modern computing power) to throughly analyze 2.59 million hands. His logic reduces the effort to analyzing 134,500 unique hands ordered by their suit and rank, which reduces the efforts by 95%.

Because this game relies on color, I had to break down the game even more as suits mattered. It was required to analyze 649,790 hands which is only 75% reduction, but still takes so much time to analyze.

I also taken inspiration from the Video Poker Strategy Calculator created by the webmaster JB. I saw and tried to gain an understanding of how it works. I've used it countless amount of times for my purpose when I was learning and studying a strategy for a video poker game, I consider it the best resource to learn again. On the side note, not just me, but I've heard much praise and regards towards JB from known video poker figures. I hope JB will get the distinguished honor and be inducted to the Video Poker Hall of Fame this year.

2. Bob Dancer and the late Liam Daily - I am inspired by the way they went about crafting the strategy on the Winner's Guide. They do a great job at explaining WHY one hold is superior over another hold, although I will not be doing that here. Also I paid attention to their notations that are easy to remember a strategy on a small sheet of paper. I can fully understand when Mr. Dancer mentions he only got a few cents per hour on sale for the Winner's Guides. It takes much patience for a computer to run through the results, not everyone gets it right the first time, and have to run extensive trials until you get it right. Even though computer memory and storage drives (Solid State) are about 10 folds faster and bigger in quantity than it was during the early 2000s, it still took a long time, so I image it took longer then.

3. Action Gaming - I thank them for providing a platform that allows us as players to try out multiple unique video poker games such as this. I have consistently used Video Poker for winners as part of this project as a resource to validate my outcomes to be accurate before applying the unique color flush hands.

UPDATED: Color Match Royal 9/6 TDB Strategy (Entries below #35 may be subject to penalty situations that are not covered yet)

1. Natural Royal Flush (4000)
2. 4 Aces with Any 2, 3, 4 (4000)
3. Pat Colored Royal Flush (2000)
4. 4 2s, 3s, 4s with Ace, 2, 3, 4 (2000)
5. 4 Aces (1600 is the ER, but dealt is 800)
6. Natural Straight Flush (1000)
7. 4 2s, 3s, 4s (800 is ER, but dealt is 400)
8. Colored Straight Flush (250)
8. 4 5s thru Kings (250)
9. 4 to Natural Royal Flush (136.46 Ace-High to 162.33 for 10,J,Q,K)
10. 4 to Colored Royal Flush King High (103.54)
11. 3 of a Kind Aces with 2, 3, 4 Kicker (95.31)
12. 4 to Natural Royal Flush Ace-High (93.33)
13. 3 of a Kind Aces (77.05)
14. 4 to Outside Natural Straight Flush (62.71 to 63.125)
15. 3 of a Kind 2s, 3s, 4s with Ace, 2, 3, 4 Kicker (53.65)
16. Full House (45)
17. 3 of a Kind 2s, 3s, 4s (44.38)
18. 4 to Inside Natural Straight Flush (36.875 to 37.5)
19. 4 to Outside Colored Straight Flush (30 to 30.42)
20. Natural Flush (30)
21. 3 of a Kind 5s thru Kings (21.94)
22. 4 to Inside Colored Straight Flush (includes A-low) (19.58 to 20.21)
23. Straight (20)
24. Colored Flush (Red or Black) (20)
25. 3 to Natural Royal Flush Queen or King High [10,J,K (16) J,Q,K (16.41) 10,J,Q (17.61)]
26. 2 Pairs [Both Pairs (4 of the SAME COLOR) - Includes Aces] (15.21)
27. 3 to Natural Royal Flush Ace High (14.39 to 14.83)
28. 3 to Colored Royal Flush (12.31 to 14.29)
29. Ace Pair with 2, 3, 4 Kicker All Same Color (12.3)
30. 4 to a Colored Flush with High Pair of Same Color (12.08)
31. 4 to a Natural Flush with 3 High Cards ( 11.67)
32. Ace Pair of Same Color (11.39)
23. 4 to a Natural Flush with 0 - 2 High Cards (11.04 to 11.25)
34. 4 to Colored Flush with Pair of Same Color (10)
35. Ace Pair of Different Color (9.83)
36. 3 to Natural Outside Straight Flush (9.8)
37. 4 to Colored Flush with 1-2 High Cards (9.375 for 1 9.58 for 2)
38. 4 to Colored Flush with No High Cards (9.17)
39. High Pair of Same Color with a 3rd Card of Same Color (9.12)
40. 3 to Inside Natural Straight Flush with 2 High Cards and 1 Gap [QJ9] (8.99)
41. 3 to Inside Natural Straight Flush with 1 High Card (8.58)
42. 2 Pairs Different Colors (8.33)
43. 3 to Inside Natural Straight Flush with No High Cards and 1 Gap (8.18)
44. High Pair of Same Color (8.07)
45. 3 to Outside Colored Straight Flush with 1 High Card [JT9] (7.93)
46. Pair of 2s, 3s, 4s with Aces, 2, 3, 4 Kicker all Three of Same Color (7.80)
47. 3 to Outside Colored Straight Flush with No High Card (7.53)
48. 3 to Inside Natural Straight Flush with 2 High Cards and 2 Gaps (7.37)
49. 3 to Inside Colored Straight Flush with 2 High Cards and 1 Gap (7.35)
50. 3 to Inside Natural Straight Flush with 1 High and 2 Inside Gaps (includes A-Low) (6.97)
51. 3 to Outside Colored Straight Flush with No High Card and 1 Gap (includes 234) (6.92)
52. 3 to Inside Colored Straight Flush with No High Cards and 1 Gap (6.54 to 6.56)
53. High Pair of Different Color (6.53)
54. Pair of 2s, 3s, 4s with non kicker 5-K all Three of Same Color (6.53)
55. 3 to Inside Colored Straight Flush with 2 High Cards and 2 Gap (6.36)
56. 3 to Colored Flush with Pair of Same Color (6.31)
57. Pair of 2s, 3s, 4s of Same Color (6.28)
58. 3 to Natural Flush with 2 High Cards (5.75)
59. 3 to Inside Colored Straight Flush with 0 High Cards and 2 Gaps (5.55)
60. 3 to Colored Flush with 2 High Cards (5.37)
61. 3 to Natural Flush with 1 High Card (5.35)
62. 2 to Natural Royal Flush QJ (5.26)
63. 2 to Natural Royal Flush KQ, KJ (5.07)
64. 2 to Colored Royal Flush QJ (4.99)
65. 3 to Colored Flush with 1 High Card (4.97)
66. 3 to Natural Flush No High Cards (4.95)
67. Pair of 5s thru 10s of Same Color (4.94)
68. 2 to Natural Royal Flush Ace-High (4.91)
69. 2 to Natural Royal Flush Jack-Ten (4.88)
70. 2 to Colored Royal Flush King-High (4.84)
71. 2 to Colored Royal Flush Ace-High (4.72)
72. 2 to Natural Royal Flush Queen-Ten (4.69)
73. 2 to Colored Royal Flush Jack-Ten (4.58)
74. 3 to Colored Flush No High Cards (4.56)

Rough Estimate Combinations / Odds of TDB - Scroll to the right for each outcome's game return




Variance Breakdown for TDB




Please offer feedback if this strategy does work or does not work as well as you've hoped. Enjoy and good luck on this game!

[Vman96]

Wow!!! Great work alpax!!!

But looking at the strategy...I have some bad news for you. I would bet money that this game will flop fast. Because people won't adjust their strategy this drastically unless they are previously informed. So they will lose more quickly, and are likely to quit the game. 3 colored cards are better than a red/black low pair (even 2s-4s??)? Garbage is 2.05 coins worse than 3 colored cards?

This game is going to be rough on the casual player I would think. If I was a game designer I would have considered lowering the price to play and consequently lowering the color payouts in an attempt to keep strategy more in line with standard DDB.

[alpax]

Wow!!! Great work alpax!!!

But looking at the strategy...I have some bad news for you. I would bet money that this game will flop fast. Because people won't adjust their strategy this drastically unless they are previously informed. So they will lose more quickly, and are likely to quit the game. 3 colored cards are better than a red/black low pair (even 2s-4s??)? Garbage is 2.05 coins worse than 3 colored cards?

This game is going to be rough on the casual player I would think. If I was a game designer I would have considered lowering the price to play and consequently lowering the color payouts in an attempt to keep strategy more in line with standard DDB.

Thanks Vman I appreciate the compliment! Right now I left the computer to tally out the combinations to get a better idea of the odds are. I could use a better computer. Storing the data on hard drive is no issue but processing the data in memory is the limiting factor. Doing small chunks at a time.

There was a lot of data to look at, like several thousands. I was able to use sorting features to rate plays. I used 3 to a color flush as the minimum guideline worth evaluating. I was able to prune out more than 2/3 of the possible holds. I'll double check how much the low pair uncolored is worth after the tally is done.

Right now the strategy is looking as if there will not be much AWAK or 234WAK hit at all. So it does not feel like playing DDB at all. Quads are probably achieved likely from 3 of kind every 43 hands or dealt. All the game variants I feel you are aiming for the colored hands. I'll try tdb net but I think it will be a similar result.

I agree with your opinions about the game possibly flopping as you were spot on about past games particularly stp mega progressive. I think I provided more ethan action gaming but it is hard to remember even after their 3 to a flush guideline. The game I was interested in solving was split card, I still remember pechanga has it. It going to be a tougher problem.

[Onenickelmiracl]

Tough to say what will last if a game holds much more than expected.casinos don't even have to offer a good return. To begin with.

[Onenickelmiracl]

It is good you did some work on it. Nobody else might with all the confusing hot garbage coming out. Nobody but but the players wants it played decently.

[alpax]

It is good you did some work on it. Nobody else might with all the confusing hot garbage coming out. Nobody but but the players wants it played decently.

Thanks for the compliment. In my opinion, the games that offer the highest volatility win out, but I do not know much.

The odds tally completed and here it is:

EDIT: Recalculating ...

In the spirit of Video Poker for Winners features, here are the

Top 10 Most Difficult Hands

#1 A ♦ 7 ♦ 9 ♥ 10 ♣ J ♠

#2 7 ♣ 8 ♣ 10 ♥ J ♦ K ♠

#3 A ♥ 7 ♥ 9 ♥ J ♣ Q ♠

#4 10 ♥ 10 ♣ A ♥ 2 ♦ J ♠

#5 A ♥ 2 ♠ 9 ♥ J ♣ Q ♣

#6 2 ♣ 9 ♥ 10 ♥ J ♠ Q ♠

#7 10 ♥ 10 ♣ 4 ♦ J ♥ Q ♠

#8 A ♦ 6 ♣ 10 ♠ J ♠ K ♥

#9 A ♥ 4 ♠ J ♣ Q ♣ K ♥

#10 3 ♠ 9 ♥ J ♣ Q ♣ K ♥

[alpax]

Triple Double Bonus 9/6 added to main post.

For the time being, I am done with this game until I see interest spark up. I did my part!

[Galeygoo]

Alpax-what an effort.....nothing else to add....

[alpax]

Alpax-what an effort.....nothing else to add....




You're welcome Galeygoo!

If you have any questions about how to approach the strategy, you can ask right here.

I hope it improves your accuracy of the game, the strategy looks intimidating but the key is to look for the

1. 3 to the royal natural or colored suit is always the top priority

2. 4 colored cards out of 5 is usually the right hold

3. If you are dealt a pair see if they are colored.

4. You have to know your straight flush ranges well

2-6
3-7
4-8
5-9
6-10
7-Jack
8-Queen

UPDATE: Added more 2 card hold that have higher than 4.6 Expected Return. Omitted 4 to a colored flush with 3 high cards because 3 high cards is high on the list anyways.

[Lionqueen]

Alpax you are incredible