Video Poker Perfect Ult X App for Ultimate X Players

Not sure if this is allowed on the forum although I hope so because apps like these are vital to keeping a healthy bankroll.

I took the plunge about 6 months ago after hearing about this app on one of the forums, maybe it was even this one. $15 isn’t cheap but I had faith that it would provide a great ROI so I spent the most I’ve ever spent on an app in my life. The app has all kinds of different Ultimate X game solvers, including bonus streak, and you can solve the games at 1-hand, 3-hand, 5-hand or 10-hand. You plug in your total multipliers and your draw and it tells you what to do and you can also see why, as it compares the EV of each possible decision.

I had been using the Wizard of Odds Ultimate X blanket strategy which doesn’t adjust for multipliers.

Studying the app and playing with scenarios lets you develop some interesting patterns and breakpoints that you can remember. I currently only check the app every 5-10 minutes because I’ve gotten really good at memorizing the new strategies.

Some examples of patterns I’ve picked up on 3-play 9/6 DDB

With less than 7x multipliers you hold both an A and another unsuited broadway card IF there’s also a small card of the same suit as the A. For example, As Jc 9d 5s 2c you’d hold both the A and J. If 7+multipliers then only the A. If the 5 wasn’t a spade, then just the A.

With 3 (0) multipliers, you hold an inside straight draw instead of a K or Q. With any multipliers at all, you do not.

With 17 multipliers or more, you drop the 2nd pair when you have 2p with AA.

So, yesterday, I followed that last one after seeing I had 18x multipliers and pulled quad Aces w/o kicker on a 12x line for a $2400+ handpay. I think the app has more than paid for itself after that one! If I were following the old strategy I had, I would have kept both pairs!

 

Hahaha. Wow!!! That app now paid for itself many times over! Just enough multipliers for you to want to drop the 2nd pair! Glad you remembered the cutoff on that rule there!

And afaik, this is the only app that I am aware of that properly analyzes UX. The guy that's behind the math for it, I trust more than the Wizard of Odds himself!

 

If anyone is dedicated to playing Ultimate X at a live casino setting, it will be absolutely prudent to invest time and actual funds for training. A player who invests either training option will pay for itself many times over (a) a player "who thinks they know" the Ultimate X strategy (b) a player that applies conventional strategy on Ultimate X

I personally prefer training from Action Gaming who created Ultimate X. The videopoker.com website offers either a monthly or annual subscription to the PRO Training service. Up until a few months ago, the major advantage I saw that the Perfect Play Ultimate X app had was that it supported 10 play and the VideoPoker.com PRO Training did not. Now recently VP.com PRO Training added support for 10-hand configurations.

I did purchase the Perfect Play Ultimate X app and it has an artificial layout which gets the job done. I just prefer looking at the real Ultimate X layout while training.

In addition to the scenarios you've mentioned, there is one barometer to measure who is a serious Ultimate X player and one who is not.

It is most important to practice the most frequent scenario where you must hold 3 suited cards (3 to the Flush) with there being either 1 or 2 high cards.

Kh Jh 4h 7c 9d

Or even 4 suited cards (4 to the Flush) with there being 3 to the Royal Flush

Kd Jd Td 7d 3c

Yes those holds will eliminate any possibility of a Royal Flush outcome, but a true player needs to see the value of setting up 10x multiplier for the next hand if they are able to hit a Flush since the player is making double wagers each time. It will extend the Royal Flush cycle hit to over 1 in every 50,000+ deals instead of 1 in every 40,000 hands by doing so. However most players salivates too much at a multiplied Royal Flush. Only when the multipliers on the board are rather high, is when the player should go after the Royal Flush.

Ultimate X will require lots of training and memorization to play it right, keep taking notes on the slide for anything new that you discover since that is the only way to get it right.

 

Yes, you’re correct about holding 4 to the flush over 3 to the RF. Fortunately, I was also doing that even before depending on the app. With that said, there’s also a point in the total multipliers where you start taking the 3 to the RF. I think it’s in the mid 20s? I haven’t committed that one to memory yet, so I usually just check the app whenever I have like 15+ multipliers.

What’s also interesting is that once you get good at using the app, you also get a feel for when to check the app in the case of situations you haven’t exactly memorized. Your gut says to stop and double check, which is of tremendous value on its own because occasionally you’ll realize your first instinct was actually not correct and you make the correct play before it’s too late.

 

Getting back to you with regards to strategy

Here is the strategy point that is easier to remember of Ultimate X 9/6 DDB 3 Play for the Scenario where you are dealt Two Pairs with one of them being Ace Pair. For the conventional DDB strategy, only the Ace Pair is held and the other one is dropped. Since the Full House is more valuable in Ultimate X since it awards 12x multiplier on the next hand, it is favorable to hold both pairs to a certain extent.

Note:

1. The only place I've seen UX 9/6 DDB these days was at The South Point Casino and it is only offered in 3 Play 25 cent denomination.
2. This does not apply to 5 Play since (a) Quad 5s thru Kings gets 3x multiplier
3. This does not apply to 10 Play since (a) Quad 5s thru Kings gets 3x multiplier (b) Quad Aces with or without Kicker gets 4x multiplier (c) 2s/3s/4s with or without Kicker gets 4x multiplier
4. Long story short Aces are stronger in 10 Play Ultimate X DDB than they are in 3 Play Ultimate X DDB.

Base Case:

Pair #1: Ace Pair
Pair #2: Pair of 5s thru Kings
Kicker Card: 5s thru Kings

Two Pairs are held over Ace Pair for up to total multipliers of 15x

Special Cases that add to the Total Multiplier of holding Two Pairs:

Case #1 - Pair #2: Pair of 2s, 3s, 4s - ADD 2x (two) Total Multiplier to the Two Pair hold over Ace Pair
Case #2 - Kicker Card: 2, 3, 4 - ADD (one) 1x Total Multiplier to the Two Pair hold over Ace Pair

"Try It for Yourself" Examples

Example #1 (base case): AA996 - Hold Both Pairs over Ace Pair up to 15x
Example #2 (Special Case #2 only): AA993 - Hold Both Pairs over Ace Pair up to 16x
Example #3 (Special Case #1 only): AA447 - Hold Both Pairs over Ace Pair up to 17x
Example #4 (Special Case #1 and #2 together): AA442 - Hold Both Pairs over Ace Pair up to 18x

Getting back to you on 4 to the Flush vs 3 to the Royal Flush, it largely depends on (a) Strength of the 3 to the Royal Flush (b) Straight Interferences on 3 to the Royal Flush

Part #1 - Strength of the Royal Flush

Edit: This again only applies to 3 Play. For 10 Play Ultimate X DDB, the Royal Flush awards 4x Multipliers over the 2x in 3/5 Play. Thus 3 to Royal Flush is stronger in 10 Play than it is on 3/5 Play.

The strength of the Royal Flush is determined by how many possible straights or straight flushes that can be formed should you not connect on a Royal Flush. A straight is more valuable in Ultimate X because it awards a high 8x multiplier for the next hand. If a Ten is part of the 3 to the Royal, it is weaker because it will only allow 2 high cards to be paired up for a 2x multiplier on the next hand

QJT - Strongest
KQJ - Next Strongest
King + Queen or Jack + Ten
Ace + 2 of either: King/Queen/Jack
Ace + King or Queen or Jack + Ten

Since we are dealing with a DDB pay table that pays 6 for 1 on Flushes, it will be easier to memorize. 5 for 1 on Flushes will make it tougher to remember.

4 to Flush will ALWAYS be held over 3 to Royal Flush that is NOT QJT or KQJ regardless of the multipliers on the board

Part #2 - Straight Interferences for QJT and KQJ

The 5th card that is a different suit will impact the total multiplier in which 4 to the Flush is held over to to the Royal Flush

QJT

Base Case if there are no straight interferences (unsuited 2 thru 7): 4 to Flush is held over QJT up to 16x Total Multiplier
If there is a 10 (pairs up with QJT): 4 to Flush is held over QJT up to 17x Total Multiplier
If there is a 8 or Ace: 4 to Flush is held over QJT up to 18x Total Multiplier
If there is a 9: 4 to Flush is held over QJT up to 20x Total Multiplier
If there is a King: 4 to Flush is held over QJT up to 21x Total Multiplier

KQJ

Base Case if there are no straight interferences (unsuited 2 thru 8): 4 to Flush is held over KQJ up to 26x Total Multiplier
If there is a 9 or Ace: 4 to Flush is held over KQJ up to 31x Total Multiplier
If there is a 10: 4 to Flush is held over KQJ all the time

Please input these into the app and see if it matches the same result

 

The great thing is these situations are rare enough that I pretty much just plug them into the app realtime every time they pop up. 95% of the decisions made hand to hand are easy ones, particularly after memorizing the multiplier breakpoints on the most common situations which is what I focus on.

If you’ve memorized all these things in your head, that’s pretty impressive! And if that’s the case then you play this a lot more than I do lol.

 

Ultimate X DDB Strategy is about the 85% same as Conventional DDB, so 1 in every 7 hands on average you will need to deviate here and there. Also normally the correct Ultimate X Play is the 2nd best Conventional hold.

I do not primarily play Ultimate X at the casino for real cash, but I had personal interest in exploring how to play this properly. I have put in time here and there for a few years and I took down lots of notes, I do not have everything memorized.

I do not want to intimidate you or anyone from playing Ultimate X, I see the reason why this and Super Times Pay are the most popular gimmick games. I feel you are on the right track of things, it is good to start off with conventional strategy as the baseline. I do encourage players to either play on the Perfect Play Ultimate X or VideoPoker.com PRO Training on the side when they have the time and jot down the notes for anything they see. It is a great investment for Ultimate X players playing at the casino. Having a general multiplier breakpoint to make strategy switches is a lot better than the single strategy approach that Wizard (Shackleford) suggests. You can get closer and closer to the expected return with more hold differences you adjust to over time.

For now, I will share with you few more Strategy Adjustments for Ultimate X 9/6 DDB (3 Play only) that I am 100% certain about

"Aces Full" Full House vs Trip Aces

Keep the Full House in 3 play for up to 6x Total Multiplier. Break the Full House when the Total Multiplier is 7x or greater.

High Pair JJ/QQ/KK vs 3 to Royal Flush QJT / KQJ

There are certain penalty scenarios in conventional 9/6 DDB where 3 to Royal Flush QJT / KQJ beats a high pair. In Ultimate X 9/6 DDB, the high pair ALAWAYS beat the QJT / KQJ

4 to Outside Straight with No High Card vs Non-High Pair

Normally a Pair is held over 4 to Outside Straight with No High Card, but since Straights are powerful in Ultimate X with 8x multiplier next hand, it is preferred over a Non-High Pair to a certain extent

Conventional DDB Strategy states 4 to Outside Straight with at least 1 High Card will beat a Non-High Pair. Same applies with Ultimate X.

4 to Outside Straight with No High Card is held over Pair 22/33/44 for up to 6x Total Multiplier
4 to Outside Straight with No High Card is held over Pair 55/66/77/88/99/TT for up to 23x Total Multiplier

 

Just picked up Ult x. Assuming math is correct, this is great! I can’t believe the number of mistakes I made on ddb 3/5 hand games. I really can’t believe the number of known stupid mistakes I made just rushing through. I wonder how many of these kind I make in real time and how much they have cost me or got lucky having them help me? My biggest take away has been to actually slow down. It’s not a race, (unless not getting the green light).Pay attention to what’s in front and make correct decision.

 

In DDB UX, the strategy plays more like Double Bonus, especially when the multipliers on board are low. If you can get a 10X next hand from making a flush, sometimes drawing 3 to a flush is worth it. Same goes for 4 to a flush that could beat a 3 to a royal.

It all depends on the multipliers on board and the flush payout of course.

 

Isn't the penalty for using conventional strategy for ULTX something like .6%??? Seems to me that learning ONLY the key differences would cut that penalty quite a bit.

Great work, guys.

 

Yeah it's usually around 0.6%. Much less than I originally guessed before doing the math years ago. Most people on Wizard of Vegas when it was discussed assumed 2 to 3% offhand.

What they are suggesting in this thread are some of the key differences when multipliers are on board for sure.

Honestly "multiplier independent" strategy covers most of the EV difference in the strategy change. The 9/6 DDB UX "multiplier independent" strategy cuts the error cost to less than 0.05%.

https://wizardofodds.com/games/video-poker/strategy/ultimate-x/double-double-bonus/