Why the Payout Table Matters
In Tangkas, two machines can look identical and play identically — yet return very different results over time based solely on their payout tables. A payout table (sometimes called a pay schedule) defines exactly how much each winning hand pays relative to your bet. Learning to read and compare payout tables is one of the most practical skills a Tangkas player can develop.
How Payout Tables Work
Payout tables list every qualifying hand and the corresponding multiplier applied to your bet. For example, if the table shows "Full House: 9x" and you bet one unit, a Full House pays nine units. If you bet two units, it pays eighteen — the multiplier always applies to your base wager.
The critical insight: the difference between a "9/6" machine and a "8/5" machine (referring to Full House and Flush payouts respectively) may seem small hand-to-hand, but compounds significantly over many rounds of play.
A Standard Tangkas Payout Table (Example)
| Hand | Typical Payout (per bet unit) |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 800x |
| Straight Flush | 50x |
| Four of a Kind | 25x |
| Full House | 9x |
| Flush | 6x |
| Straight | 4x |
| Three of a Kind | 3x |
| Two Pair | 2x |
| Jacks or Better (One Pair) | 1x |
Note: Actual payout tables vary between machines and platforms. Always check the specific table on your version before playing.
Full House and Flush Payouts: The Key Numbers
In video poker and Tangkas analysis, the Full House and Flush payouts are used as shorthand to categorize machine generosity. You'll see references to:
- 9/6 machines: Full House pays 9x, Flush pays 6x — considered the most player-favorable standard configuration.
- 8/5 machines: Full House pays 8x, Flush pays 5x — slightly less favorable.
- 7/5 or 6/5 machines: Further reductions — these configurations return less to players over time.
When you have a choice between platforms or machines, a 9/6 configuration is meaningfully better than 8/5 or lower, all other things being equal.
Royal Flush Payout: The Big Prize
The Royal Flush is the crown jewel of Tangkas — typically paying 800x your bet at maximum stake. Some machines offer a progressive jackpot on the Royal Flush, where the payout grows over time until someone hits it. If a progressive option is available and the jackpot has grown significantly, it can shift the math in a player's favor for that specific hand.
How to Use Payout Information Strategically
Knowing the payout table doesn't just help you understand returns — it actively informs your card selection decisions:
- High Flush payout: If flushes pay well, it makes four-to-a-flush draws more worth pursuing over weak complete hands.
- High Straight payout: Similarly increases the attractiveness of chasing open-ended straight draws.
- Strong Royal Flush payout: Makes it worth breaking even a made Flush or Straight to chase four-to-a-Royal combinations.
Comparing Platforms: What to Look For
When exploring different Tangkas platforms or apps, here's a quick checklist for evaluating the payout table:
- Check the Royal Flush multiplier — is it at least 800x at max bet?
- Look at the Full House and Flush payouts — 9/6 is the gold standard.
- Verify that Two Pair and Jacks-or-Better are included as paying hands.
- Check whether wild card (Joker) hands have their own special payouts listed.
The Bottom Line
The payout table is the single most important piece of information on any Tangkas machine. A few minutes spent reading and comparing pay schedules before you start playing is always time well spent. Combine this knowledge with solid card selection strategy, and you'll approach every Tangkas session with a clear, informed perspective.