| Updated: Joker Poker Pyramid is a unique video poker game released as part of Betsoft’s Pyramid Poker series. It is based on the standard Jacks or Better rules, but it comes with a twist: its deck includes a Joker, and it offers three different paytables. These paytables give players up to three chances to win from a single hand.
Rules and Gameplay
Betsoft’s Joker Poker Pyramid is played with a single deck comprising 52 standard cards and one Joker. The cards are dealt in a pyramid shape, hence the name of the game. The Joker is a wild card and can substitute for other cards in winning combinations. Players can wager up to five coins, with denominations ranging from $0.01 to $1.00.
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. After every winning round, a Gamble feature allows players to increase their prize if they are willing to take a risk. The other aspects of the game, however, are 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 features three different paytables. The middle paytable is the default and is active when the session begins. Players can unlock the two additional paytables by clicking the Bet One button.
The first paytable, positioned on the left side of the screen, pays for winning combinations formed with the three leftmost cards. The third paytable pays for winning combinations formed with the three rightmost cards. To activate the two additional paytables, players must place a bet on the main game. For this reason, playing with all three paytables can cost more than the usual stake.
Conclusion
This variation of video poker by Betsoft offers an unconventional take on the game. Activating all three paytables increases the bet per round, but it also gives players three chances to win with a single hand.