Aces and Eights, also known as the Dead Man’s Hand, is a popular video poker game that came into the limelight in the late 1800s. This game is based on the story of Wild Bill Hickock, a famous lawman, gunfighter, and legendary gambler who was shot dead while playing poker. It is said that Bill died holding a pair of 8s and a pair of Aces, and thus the name Dead Man’s Hand. The kicker is still unknown to date, but stories have it that it was either a Queen of Diamonds or a Jack.
Today, Aces and Eights is a played with a standard deck of 52 cards. It plays more or less like Jacks or Better with five cards dealt in the first hand. Hold all strong cards for a chance of building a high paying hand when playing.
Aces and Eights differs from most other video poker games in that it offers high payouts on the following hand combinations:
- Four of a Kind – Aces or 8s
- Four of a Kind – Other
- Four of a Kind – 7s
But, the Royal Flush is the highest paying hand in Aces and Eights.