Wan Doy Pairs Poker: a new Wagerworks poker game with a sting in the tail.
Monday, May 23, 2005
Wan Doy Pairs Poker: a new Wagerworks poker game with a sting in the tail.
Recently introduced into the Wagerworks game suite, Wan Doy Pairs Poker is the latest in a long line of poker games played on the blackjack layout, following on from such games as Caribbean Stud, Let It Ride, Red Dog and Three Card Poker.
I tested the game extensively in free mode; my initial impression was that it played like a weighted slot machine - practically every playable hand I made was beaten and my bankroll dropped like a stone. However, I went back later and put in some hard work on the game, keeping careful note of all hands, and the overall results were sufficiently well balanced to persuade me that the game plays moreorless as it would play in a real casino.
The aim of Wan Doy is to make a better hand than the dealer.
The Wan Doy hand-ranks are as follows, from highest ranked to lowest:
4 of a kind + 3 of a kind
4 of a kind + pair
3 of a kind + 3 of a kind
3 of a kind + pair + pair
4 of a kind
Pair + pair + pair
3 of a kind + pair
3 of a kind
Pair + pair
Pair
There are two initial bets available: "ante" and "bonus", which cannot be made independently of each other, and a "jackpot" bet, which can be made both in addition to or independently of the other two bets. The "jackpot" bet only receives a payoff - starting at 12 to 1 - if the player makes three pairs or better.
After the player has placed the initial bets, player and dealer are now dealt seven cards each. The dealer's cards are unseen. The player must then decide whether to "call" or "fold"; if he folds, all bets are sacrificed and the next round gets underway; if he decides to call, an additional wager must be placed, in the "call" circle.
If the player wins, the "ante" bet is paid off at 1 to 1, irrespective of the resulting hand.
Unfortunately, the bonus bet is only treated as a win, and paid, if the player makes at least three of a kind. If he wins with just a pair, or two-pair, the bonus bet is returned only, it is NOT paid. See below - of the three square-shaped betting circles, the lower one is the "call" box, the upper left one the "ante" and the upper right the "bonus" bet:
The payoffs on the bonus bet then increase with the quality of the winning player hand, up to 100 to 1 for 4 of a kind + 3 of a kind.
When the dealer hand wins, even if he has only a pair, the player "bonus" bet is lost.
In other words: for the majority of Wan Doy hands, player wins result in the bonus bet being returned only, not paid, while losses result in the bet being taken by the house.
This would be rather comparable to a blackjack pair-splitting situation in which both hands win but only one hand is paid - the other winning hand being treated as a push!
Although the increased payoffs on the bonus bet for the better hands compensate in some way for this, as does the fact that the bonus bet is always paid when player makes three of a kind or better, even if the dealer's final hand is higher, these payoffs are not sufficient to balance out those "win treated as push" situations. For example, 4 of a kind is only paid at 10 to 1 on the bonus bet! This is a dreadful payoff for such a rare hand.
Wan Doy Pairs Poker is a game I advocate NOT.
If you're going to play it, make sure it's in "free" mode only!
4 Previous Comments
You have ommitted a very major point and that is, if in fact "THE DEALER" hits the jackpot hand then "THE PLAYER" gets gets paid odds as though he had hit the hand himself.
The payout odds for this game are over 98% which is comparable if not better than any other casino game on or off line.
Please check the rules of the game again and re-evaluate your opinion.
By 
, at
2:33 am
Thank you for the feedback - my apologies, I only just spotted your reply.
The 98% figure would seem to be dependent on which bets are played - the "jackpot" bet can only be hit if its been played.
There are three betting options:
1) Anti and Bonus
2) Anti, Bonus and Jackpot
3) Jackpot
What is the exact house edge on each of these combined bets? It cannot be 98% across the board. Also, what is your source? Michael Shakleford has not analysed the game to the best of my knowledge - at least, I can still find no reference to it in his Wagerworks section.
Bear in mind that the variance of a game like this is EXTREME - the jackpot bet is going to be rarely paid since it comes in only at three-pair or better. That, in combination with a reatively high house edge, does not make this a good game in my opinion.
True enough, there are video poker games with similar house edges and worse variance, and slots which are even worse again. Wan Doy is by no means the worst, it's just bad enough to not have my endorcement. Wagerworks has much better on offer.
Thanks very much again for your feedback.
By 
100% Gambler, at
8:38 pm
Hi,
I am pleased to announce that 'THEWIZARDOFODDS' is the chief analyser of WANDOY.
ihope tis answer's your question.
TY
By , at
3:01 pm
Well, he wasn't then, but he is now. I emailed Mike a couple of weeks ago about the game, and he's now done a review:
http://wizardofodds.com/wandoy
House edge is 1.78%, not as bad as slots, but four times worse than blackjack.
It remains a game I do not advocate.
By 100% Gambler, at
10:34 pm