Aces and Faces Poker Calculator: Both Premium Quads Pay

Aces and Faces Poker enhances payouts for four-of-a-kind aces AND face cards (jacks, queens, kings). While Bonus Poker focuses on aces, this variant rewards all premium quads equally. Our calculator shows optimal strategy and how to value face pair hands.

What Is Aces and Faces Poker?

Aces and Faces Poker is a video poker variant that pays enhanced bonuses for four-of-a-kind hands containing aces or face cards (J, Q, K). Unlike Bonus Poker which emphasizes aces, this game treats all premium cards equally—making face pair strategy more important.

Quick Answer: Aces and Faces = enhanced quads for aces AND face cards. Four aces: 80:1. Four faces (J/Q/K): 40:1. Four 2-10: 25:1. Full pay: 99.26% return. Hold face pairs same priority as aces. More balanced than Bonus Poker. Moderate variance.

How to Use Our Calculator

Use the Aces and Faces Calculator →

Calculate optimal holds with face card considerations.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Enter Your Hand: Five cards dealt

2. Identify Premium Cards: A, K, Q, J

3. View Optimal Hold: Best cards to keep

4. Check Quad Potential: Premium quad odds

5. Calculate EV: Expected return

Input Fields Explained

Field	Description	Example
Your Hand	Five cards	J♠ J♦ 9♣ 6♥ 2♠
Premium Pairs	A, K, Q, J	Yes (Jacks)
Optimal Hold	Best keep	JJ
Quad Potential	Four-of-kind	0.43%
Enhanced Value	Bonus EV	+0.03
Return Rate	Machine RTP	99.26%

Pay Table Structure

Full Pay Aces and Faces

Hand              | Coins (5-coin max)
------------------|-------------------
Natural Royal     | 4000 (800:1)
Straight Flush    | 250 (50:1)
Four Aces         | 400 (80:1)
Four Faces (J/Q/K)| 200 (40:1)
Four 2s-10s       | 125 (25:1)
Full House        | 40 (8:1)
Flush             | 25 (5:1)
Straight          | 20 (4:1)
Three of a Kind   | 15 (3:1)
Two Pair          | 10 (2:1)
Jacks or Better   | 5 (1:1)

Return: 99.26%

vs Bonus Poker

Comparison:

Bonus Poker:
4 Aces: 80:1
4 2-4: 40:1
4 5-K: 25:1

Aces and Faces:
4 Aces: 80:1
4 Faces: 40:1
4 2-10: 25:1

Key difference:
Faces (J/Q/K) enhanced here
2-4 NOT enhanced
Different strategy

Why Faces Matter

Strategic impact:

Bonus Poker:
Hold aces > anything
Low pairs get bonus too

Aces and Faces:
Aces = premium
J/Q/K = ALSO premium
2-10 = standard

Face pairs more valuable
Changes hold decisions

Strategy Adjustments

Face Pair Priority

Hold priority in Aces and Faces:

1. Aces (80:1 quad potential)
2. Kings (40:1 quad potential)
3. Queens (40:1 quad potential)
4. Jacks (40:1 quad potential)
5. Other pairs (25:1 quad)

All face pairs equal
All enhanced vs standard

Key Strategy Changes

vs Jacks or Better:

Face pairs more valuable
May hold over flush draws
May hold over straight draws

Example:
J♠ J♦ + 4-card flush
JoB: Sometimes hold flush draw
A&F: More often hold jacks

Because 40:1 quad potential
vs 25:1 in standard game

Non-Premium Pairs

2-10 pair strategy:

Standard 25:1 quad value
No enhancement in A&F
Hold normally

vs flush/straight draws:
Still valuable for trips
But no bonus edge

Same as JoB for these

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Face Pair vs Flush Draw

Premium pair decision:

Hand: Q♠ Q♦ 9♠ 6♠ 2♠

Option 1: Hold QQ
Enhanced quad potential (40:1)

Option 2: Hold 4-flush
Standard flush value

Aces and Faces:
Hold QQ (enhanced value)

Jacks or Better:
Closer decision
Might take flush draw

Example 2: Multiple Premium Cards

Choosing between premiums:

Hand: A♠ K♦ K♣ 7♥ 3♠

Two pair? No—A not paired

Option 1: Hold AA (wait, only one A)
Can't—only one ace

Option 2: Hold KK
40:1 quad potential

Decision: HOLD KK
Standard premium pair hold

Example 3: Face Pair vs Straight

Straight draw temptation:

Hand: J♠ J♦ 10♣ 9♥ 8♠

Option 1: Hold JJ
40:1 quad potential

Option 2: Hold outside straight draw
5 cards to straight

Aces and Faces:
Hold JJ

Face pair value:
Enhanced quad potential
Outweighs straight draw EV

Example 4: Non-Premium Pair

Standard pair hold:

Hand: 7♠ 7♦ K♣ Q♥ 3♠

Option 1: Hold 77
Standard 25:1 quad

Option 2: Hold KQ
Two high cards

Decision: HOLD 77
Pairs still beat high cards
Even without enhancement

Standard strategy applies

Hand Comparison

Premium Quads Breakdown

Quad frequencies and payouts:

Four Aces:
Probability: ~0.024%
Payout: 400 coins (80:1)
EV contribution: High

Four Kings/Queens/Jacks:
Probability: ~0.024% each
Payout: 200 coins (40:1)
EV contribution: Medium

Four 2-10:
Probability: ~0.024% each
Payout: 125 coins (25:1)
EV contribution: Standard

Overall Hand Distribution

Hand frequencies:

Royal Flush: 0.0025%
Straight Flush: 0.011%
Four of a Kind: 0.24%
Full House: 1.15%
Flush: 1.10%
Straight: 1.12%
Three of a Kind: 7.45%
Two Pair: 12.93%
Jacks or Better: 21.46%
No win: 54.54%

Variance Analysis

Moderate Volatility

Variance comparison:

Jacks or Better: Low
Aces and Faces: Low-Medium
Bonus Poker: Medium
Double Double Bonus: High

A&F is balanced:
Enhanced quads add some variance
But spread across multiple ranks
Not concentrated on aces

Bankroll Requirements

Session recommendations:

Aces and Faces:
25-40× max bet

$1 machines:
$125-200 session roll

More than JoB
Less than Bonus Poker
Balanced approach

Finding Good Pay Tables

What to Look For

Full pay indicators:

Check full house: 8:1 (40 coins)
Check flush: 5:1 (25 coins)
Check straight flush: 50:1

8/5 = full pay (99.26%)
7/5 = short pay (~98.1%)

Avoid Short Pay

Red flags:

Full house < 8:1
Flush < 5:1
Straight flush < 50:1

Each reduction costs:
~1% or more return
Seek full pay

Common Mistakes

1. Ignoring Face Card Value

Mistake: Treating J/Q/K like low cards Problem: Missing 40:1 enhancement Fix: Prioritize face pairs

2. Chasing Flushes Too Often

Mistake: Flush draw over face pair Problem: Face quads worth more Fix: Calculate full EV

3. Confusing with Bonus Poker

Mistake: Valuing 2-3-4 pairs high Problem: Not enhanced in A&F Fix: Know which quads pay bonus

4. Wrong Pay Tables

Mistake: Playing 7/5 or worse Problem: ~1% extra house edge Fix: Find 8/5 machines

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Aces and Faces different from Bonus Poker?

Bonus Poker enhances aces and 2-3-4 quads. Aces and Faces enhances aces and face cards (J/Q/K). Different quad bonuses mean different hold strategies.

Which face card should I prioritize?

All faces (J/Q/K) pay the same 40:1 for quads. No priority difference between them—hold whichever you're dealt.

Is Aces and Faces better than Jacks or Better?

Slightly lower return (99.26% vs 99.54% for 9/6 JoB) but more exciting with enhanced quads. Choose based on preference.

Should I break up two pair for a face pair?

Generally no—two pair pays immediately. Only break in rare situations where face quad potential exceeds two pair value.

How often do face quads hit?

Each specific quad (like four jacks) hits about 1 in 4,200 hands. Any of the three face quads: about 1 in 1,400 hands.

What's the house edge on full pay?

0.74% (99.26% return). Slightly higher than JoB but still excellent for casino games.

Pro Tips

• Face pairs = premium: 40:1 quad potential

• All faces equal: J = Q = K in value

• 8/5 is full pay: Seek it out

• Moderate variance: Balanced gameplay

• Not like Bonus Poker: Different enhanced ranks

Related Calculators

• Bonus Poker Calculator - Ace/low card bonus
• Double Bonus Calculator - Higher variance
• Jacks or Better Calculator - Standard game
• Video Poker Odds Calculator - General
• Expected Value Calculator - Bet analysis

Conclusion

Aces and Faces Poker rewards both ace quads (80:1) and face card quads (40:1), creating balanced premium hand potential. Our calculator shows how face pairs become more valuable than in standard games and why holding those jacks over a flush draw might be the optimal play.

Calculate Aces and Faces Odds Now →

Your pair of queens isn't just a jacks-or-better payout—it's a shot at 40:1 quad value. Our calculator reveals why face cards deserve premium treatment in Aces and Faces Poker.