Catch 4-of-a-kind the easy way with quick quads

Many of the new products that were unveiled during this year's Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas are representative of waves of the future and not necessarily what casino fans will be able to play any time soon.

The more innovative technologies and models are still in the developmental stages. Once they get closer to distribution, there are a lot of regulatory bridges to cross and independent laboratory testing to complete.

Such has been the case with a video poker variation that was showcased at last year's Expo by International Game Technology.

The game is Quick Quads, and just as the name implies, the format is designed to make it easier for players to hit those much coveted 4-of-a-kinds.

Here's the unique feature: If your hand shows 3-of-a-kind, the values of the two non-matching cards are added together. If the sum is equal to the rank of your 3-of-a-kind, you are awarded the payout for 4-of-a-kind.

Aces (which count as a value of 1) through 9s are used in tabulating the values of the non-matching cards. Face cards and 10s don't count. Only 3-of-a-kind in 2s through 10s can be made into a "quick quad" using the bonus feature.

Quick Quads made its debut in Las Vegas in September and is currently available in 16 casinos in Nevada, including Palms Casino Resort, Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa, South Point Hotel & Casino, Boulder Station, Palace Station and Santa Fe Station.

According to John Daley, IGT's director of video poker and Barcrest USA, the game's introduction into other gaming jurisdictions around the country is imminent.

Players have two opportunities to hit a Quick Quad: First on the deal and again on the draw. The only "catch" with Quick Quads is that it's a "buy-a-pay" game, meaning that you have to play an extra coin on each hard to be eligible for the feature.

Information that this column received from IGT indicates the payback percentages for the different game formats, depending on the pay tables, range from 97.72 to 99.87.

You can play the game in all of IGT's video poker game families, including Double-Double Bonus Poker, which, with a 9/6 pay table (9 coins for 1 for a full house, 6 coins for 1 for a flush), has a payback percentage of 99.65 using optimum strategy.

The Double-Double Bonus Poker format also includes a premium payout (1,000 credits instead of 800) for catching four aces or 4-of-a-kind in 2s, 3s or 4s with the kicker.

Quick Quads brings with it some important strategy changes. You can visit IGT's official video poker website, www.videopoker.com, to practice the game for free.