Aces & Eights Video Poker Details Page

Software (10)

When it comes to video poker, the Microgaming software is truly state-of-the-art. You are looking at the payout table at all times while you are playing, which means there's never a mystery as to whether you have won or not. When one of the winning situations is reached, such as "3 of a Kind," it will be highlighted in a different color and start blinking. You can't miss it. And it would be hard to imagine having more options at one's disposal when playing a video poker game.

Easy to Understand (9)

Really, the biggest hurdle to get past is that the theme itself (aces and eights, naturally) dictates that having a Four of a Kind in either of those card denominations pays out at a higher amount than other denominations. Aside from that, the game is pretty straightforward, falling along the lines of standard video poker games, and there is an opportunity to refer to the help files for anything else that needs explanation.

Graphics & Sounds (9)

Crisp and clean. Games you see elsewhere may be confusing, but there is no doubt about where you stand at any time with this game. And there is a "Casino Fly-Out Menu" that serves as an alternative method of getting to the casino lobby from where you are. You have the opportunity to program game sounds, win sounds or background sounds. Leave them in - they add to the game atmosphere.

Game Speed (8)

The "fast" mode is just fine, and you are in something of a position of control to begin with since you are the one making the decision, and the software waits for that. But you can go to Slow" or "Medium," and also to "Fastest" if you like.

Game Features (10)

In Expert Mode, you have available to you an "analysis" tool that provides you with a table giving your chances of winning a hand depending on the cards you choose to hold. There is also a "Show Hints" option that will inform you when your play in a specific situation varies from play that would bring the optimum return. Autohold will automatically hold cards for you according to a pre-programmed optimal playing strategy, but you can have this shut off. The Autoplay option enables the player to customize things, i.e., to stop Autoplay after winning a jackpot, or stop it after a certain number of deals, etc. Then there is the "Doubling" option, which figures prominently into the "Fun Factor" (read on).

Fun Factor (10)

When you win a hand, you can choose to "Collect" or "Double." If you choose the latter, you are literally brought into a "showdown" with the dealer, who reveals one card, with four cards to the right. You choose one of those cards. If that card is higher than the dealer's, you win double your win amount. Then you can keep doing it. That adds a different dimension, and that is what we call "fun."