Joker Poker Pyramid is a unique video poker game which was released several years ago as part of Betsoft’s Pyramid Poker series. It is based on the standard Jacks or Better but it comes with a fun twist – its playing deck includes a Joker and it has three different paytables. With these three paytables, players can win three times with just one hand.
Rules and Gameplay
Betsoft’s Joker Poker Pyramid is played with a single deck of cards, which comprises of 52 standard cards and one Joker. The cards are dealt in a pyramid shape, hence the name of the game. The Joker is, of course, a wild card so it substitutes in winning combinations. Up to 5 coins in denomination from $0.01 to $1.00 can be wagered.
The game follows the standard rules of video poker – at least in terms of how the cards are dealt and how the hands are ranked. There is a Gamble Feature after every winning round so players have the option to increase their prize if they are willing to take a risk. Everything else in this game, however, is rather unconventional.
Paytable and Specific Features
| Hand | 1 coin | 2 coins | 3 coins | 4 coins | 5 coins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Royal Flush | 800 | 1600 | 2400 | 3200 | 4000 |
| 5 of a Kind | 200 | 400 | 600 | 800 | 1000 |
| Wild Royal Flush | 100 | 200 | 300 | 400 | 500 |
| Straight Flush | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 |
| 4 of a Kind | 17 | 34 | 51 | 68 | 85 |
| Full House | 7 | 14 | 21 | 28 | 35 |
| Flush | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 |
| Straight | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 |
| 3 of a Kind | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| 2 Pair | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Kings or Better | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Left Paytable | Right Paytable | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 coin | 2 coins | 3 coins | 4 coins | 5 coins | 1 coin | 2 coins | 3 coins | 4 coins | 5 coins | ||
| Wild Royal Flush | 15 | 30 | 45 | 60 | 75 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | |
| Straight Flush | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 32 | 40 | |
| 3 of a Kind | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 | |
| Straight | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | |
| Flush | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| Jacks or Better | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
This variation of video poker has three different paytables. The one in the middle can be considered the default table it is active at the beginning of the game session but players can unlock the additional two charts by clicking the Bet One button.
The first paytable, positioned in the left side of the screen, rewards payouts for the 3 leftmost cards, whereas the third paytable pays if any winning combination forms from the 3 rightmost cards on the screen. In order to activate the two additional paytables, players need to bet on the main game. For this reason, playing with all three tables may cost more than the usual stake.
Conclusion
This variation of video poker by Betsoft is certainly one of the most exciting games of this type. Activating all payables would certainly increases the bet per round but it also gives players three chances for winning with the same cards.