Multi-Strike Poker Review
At the American Gaming Summit held in Las Vegas, IGT was awarded the prestigious Platinum award in 2003 for its revolutionary gaming product – Multi-Strike Poker. This innovative video poker game designed by IGT introduces players to four different levels of hands and multipliers. The game’s objective is to move up to higher levels with every win, which in turn increases the payout through the multiplier effect.
Reaching the ultimate fourth level is the ultimate goal, as any win at this stage will pay out eight times the standard pay table. With a maximum bet, even a royal flush can reward players with an incredible 32,000 credits, a significant increase from the standard 4,000 coins. Multi-Strike Poker by IGT was certainly deserving of the Most Innovative Gaming Product of the Year award in 2003.
One interesting aspect of the Multi-Strike Poker game is the inclusion of a Free Ride card, which allows players to progress to the next level without the need for a win. Along with the multipliers, this unique feature offers players the potential for substantial payouts as they ascend to higher levels.
Many players may be curious about whether there is a catch to the game’s various bonuses, such as whether they require larger bets. To gain a better understanding of Multi-Strike Poker, we will examine the game’s mechanics, pay table, and recommended strategy.
By gaining a thorough understanding of the game’s mechanics and optimal strategy, players can increase their chances of success and fully enjoy the many exciting features that Multi-Strike Poker has to offer.
Multi-Strike Poker Gameplay
When devising your gameplay strategy for Multi-Strike Poker, it’s optimal to play all four levels, as this will qualify you for the game’s highest possible payout.
To determine your Bet Per Hand, you have the option of wagering between one and five coins on each hand. However, as with most video poker games, it’s essential to bet a maximum of five coins per hand if you want to play for the top payout.
By playing all four levels and placing the maximum bet of five coins on each hand, you will be staking a total of 20 credits per turn.
With a $0.25 coin denomination, that’s a $5.00 bet per turn. If you can find a nickel game, this lowers your total bet to $1.00, which is more reasonable for low rollers.
Upon clicking the Deal button, you will receive a set of 5 cards on the lower row, while the remaining active hands remain concealed until you begin to win.
Whenever you emerge victorious, your winnings will be credited to your bankroll, allowing you to advance to the succeeding level. This progression persists as long as you continue to triumph on the second and third levels, culminating in your arrival at the fourth level.
In this game, if you fail to win on the second or third level, you still get to keep the winnings from previous rounds, and the game will start again from the first level. Additionally, you’ll see a multiplier on each hand, indicating the amount by which your winnings will be multiplied. The first level has a 1x multiplier, the second level has a 2x multiplier, the third level has a 4x multiplier, and the fourth level has an 8x multiplier.
The strategy for playing this game is significantly impacted by the unique feature of increasing payouts at higher levels. While levels 1 and 4 remain unchanged in terms of gameplay, levels 2 and 3 require strategic adjustments. Rather than sacrificing made hands for the potential of bigger payouts, the focus shifts towards keeping made hands and maximizing the multiplier bonus
In this variant of poker, not much different from All Aces Poker, the likelihood of achieving each level varies, but typically adheres to the “2x rule.” This rule indicates that there is a higher likelihood of reaching lower levels, with a 50% chance of reaching the 2x hand, a 25% chance of reaching the 4x hand, and a 12.5% chance of reaching the 8x hand.
Multi-Strike Poker Additional Features
Are there any trade-offs to consider when using the Free Ride card and multipliers to increase your payouts, such as the potential need to place larger bets? We take a look at some of the features you may encounter when playing this poker variant.
Free Ride Card
A special card called the “Free Ride” card can appear randomly in any player’s hand. This card will be replaced by a regular card so that the player has a total of five cards to play with.
If a player receives a Free Ride card, they will advance to the next level regardless of whether they win or lose the hand. This allows them to win again and receive a bigger multiplier.
However, the chances of receiving a Free Ride card decrease as the player moves up to higher levels. For example, in the Deuces Wild game, the probability of getting a Free Ride card is 8.25% in level 1 but decreases to 7.8% in levels 2 and 3.
Even at level 12, the likelihood of getting a Free Ride card is only around 1 in 12 hands.
Double or Nothing Feature
In addition to the main gameplay, the game also offers a Double or Nothing feature that allows players to potentially double their winnings. By correctly guessing either the colour or suit of a card, players can increase their excitement and potentially increase their earnings. This feature adds a layer of thrill to the game and provides players with more opportunities to boost their overall winnings.
Bonus Round
Multi-Strike Poker has bonus rounds in addition to the standard game. Once the player wins at the second level, the first bonus round is activated. In this round, the player receives a new hand, and all the cards are replaced with aces. The player must select which aces to keep, and the payouts depend on the resulting hand.
The second bonus round is triggered when the player wins at the third level. During this round, the player is dealt another new hand, but this time, all the cards are face cards. The player must choose which face cards to hold, and the payouts depend on the resulting hand.
Multi-Strike Poker is a video poker game that offers players 14 different variants to choose from. At the start of the game, players select their preferred variant, and they can switch between the games at any time by clicking the “Select Game” button.
The available games are:
- Bonus Poker: The game starts with a payout for a pair of jacks, and players can earn bonus payouts for getting 4 of a kind.
- Bonus Poker Deluxe: This variant offers larger payouts for 4 of a kind, rather than Bonus Poker, but a two-pair only pays 1 credit instead of 2 credits.
- Deuces Wild: In this game, 2s are wild, which allows for the possibility of a 5-of-a-kind. However, the lowest qualifying hand is a 3-of-a-kind.
- Deuces Wild Bonus: This variant offers a bonus payout for getting four deuces and an ace.
- Double Bonus Deuces Wild: The bonus payouts vary for 5-of-a-kind hands.
- Double Bonus: This game offers bonus payouts for getting 4 of a kind with the highest payout for getting four aces.
- Double Double Bonus: The highest bonus payout is for getting four aces with 2, 3, or 4 kickers.
- Jacks or Better: This is the most common variant of video poker, where the payouts start with a pair of jacks or higher.
- Joker Poker: This game includes a wild joker card, making for a 53-card deck. The lowest payout is for a pair of kings.
- Super Aces Bonus: This variant offers a large bonus payout for getting four aces.
- Super Double Bonus: This game pays more for Double Bonus on hands of four Ks through Js; four 2s through 4s; and four 5s through 10s.
- Super Double Double Bonus: This variant offers double the payouts that Super Double Bonus does for 4 of a kind hands.
- Triple Double Bonus: This game offers bonus payouts for 4-of-a-kind hands, and the lowest qualifying hand is a 3-of-a-kind.
- White Hot Aces: This variant offers bonus payouts for getting four aces and the other 4 kind hands.
Multi-Strike Poker Game Design
On the lower part of the game display, players can find two essential options, namely Select Hands and Bet Per Hand. The Select Hands feature allows players to choose the number of active levels they want to play with, with a maximum of four hands per level. Each hand or level will illuminate when selected, indicating that it is currently in play.
Multi-Strike Poker boasts a modern and stylish design, complete with high-definition graphics and animations that provide players with an engaging and immersive gaming experience. The game interface is user-friendly, making it easy for players to navigate through the different options available. Additionally, players have the freedom to customize the game settings according to their preferences.
Multi-Strike Poker is an exceptional video poker game that presents an electrifying fusion of classic poker gameplay with contemporary design and innovative bonus features. A standout feature of the game is its ability to accommodate player preferences, as users can customize various settings such as game speed, background, and sound effects to their liking, just like All American Poker.
The game’s success and enduring popularity are a tribute to the ingenuity and creativity of IGT’s game designers who have expertly crafted a game that continues to captivate players with its unique blend of traditional and modern gaming elements.
Multi-Strike Poker Summary
Multi-Strike Poker is a distinct version of video poker that offers a unique gaming experience by combining multipliers with the possibility of receiving larger payouts. This game is designed to feel like a video game and has multiple levels, which keep players motivated and engaged.
In addition to its entertaining gameplay, Multi-Strike Poker provides players with better odds of winning compared to other types of video poker. According to research on Bonus Poker, Double Bonus Poker, and White Hot Aces, Multi-Strike Poker is closer to a 100% payback than the standard versions of these games.
However, Multi-Strike Poker is more complex than traditional video poker and requires strategic thinking and planning, a poker guide may help just as much as an online blackjack guide would for those interested in the game of 21. Players must adjust their strategies as they move up to higher levels since the value of winning hands increases with larger multipliers.
While some players may be reluctant to master the various strategy charts for each level, those who are willing to put in the extra effort will discover that Multi Strike Poker can be an incredibly gratifying game due to its potential for higher payouts.
