Modes of shockwave video poker
shockwave video poker is a very unique variant of video poker. There are two modes of gaming in shockwave games. One is the normal mode and the other is the Shockwave mode, which is started when a player has a four of a kind hand.
Basically, Shockwave mode starts along with the next play. It extends for ten plays or till you receive another 4 of a kind hand, depending on which occurs first. The payout in the two modes is one of the primary differences. Usually, the maximum bet in Shockwave mode will earn you 800 to 1 for a 4 of a kind hand.
The strategy that is adopted in the normal mode will not be as aggressive as when you are playing in the Shockwave mode. The table below is a payout structure of the two predominant modes in a shockwave video poker game for a 12/8/5 variant.
12/8/5 Shockwave - Normal Mode
| Hand | Payoff | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal flush | 800 | 431106600 | 0.000022 | 0.017302 |
| Straight Flush | 100 | 2520154068 | 0.000126 | 0.012643 |
| Four of a Kind | 25 | 45758088456 | 0.002296 | 0.057389 |
| Full House | 12 | 222750801144 | 0.011175 | 0.134098 |
| Flush | 8 | 336240678132 | 0.016868 | 0.134947 |
| Straight | 5 | 290724757764 | 0.014585 | 0.072925 |
| Three of a kind | 3 | 1412965088916 | 0.070885 | 0.212655 |
| Two pair | 1 | 2451947454252 | 0.123008 | 0.123008 |
| Pair | 1 | 3734571886848 | 0.187354 | 0.187354 |
| Nonpaying hand | 0 | 11435320501020 | 0.573681 | 0 |
| Total | _ | 19933230517200 | 1 | 0.952321 |
12/8/5 Shockwave - Shockwave Mode
| Hand | Payoff | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal flush | 800 | 399826968 | 0.00002 | 0.016047 |
| Straight Flush | 100 | 2154197724 | 0.000108 | 0.010807 |
| Four of a Kind | 800 | 52157949768 | 0.002617 | 2.093306 |
| Full House | 12 | 135947069496 | 0.00682 | 0.081841 |
| Flush | 8 | 198921205428 | 0.009979 | 0.079835 |
| Straight | 5 | 201570677196 | 0.010112 | 0.050561 |
| Three of a kind | 3 | 1664096730120 | 0.083484 | 0.250451 |
| Two pair | 1 | 1922012037000 | 0.096423 | 0.096423 |
| Pair | 1 | 4399064065980 | 0.22069 | 0.22069 |
| Nonpaying hand | 0 | 11356906757520 | 0.569747 | 0 |
| Total | _ | 19933230517200 | 1 | 2.899961 |
Like other poker games, you will be dealt 5 cards by a dealer or the machine. You can choose to keep or discard any of the cards or all of them. You would receive a replacement card for each of the cards you discard. The payout is made after the machine indicates a winning hand on the video screen. The hands are played based on their corresponding payouts displayed on your screen. It is recommended that you find out the pay line of the winning cards before you start playing.
When you have decided which cards to discard and which ones to keep, you have to press the ‘hold’ button on the video screen, followed by the ‘draw’ button. In certain cases, the hold and draw buttons are combined. When you have pressed the draw button, you will receive your payout if you have a winning hand.
The betting is done with a minimum of 1 coin and a maximum of 5 coins. Players who look to make the maximum winnings usually bet with the maximum of 5 coins. The payouts for a winning hand will vary depending on the number of coins you have bet.
