Most online casino games from the same category follow more or less a set pattern. So when something different turns up it becomes an instant attraction. This is equally true of Louisiana Double and online video poker. Louisiana Double video poker is a Microgaming product that is available at online casinos like All Slots, Jackpot City and Lucky Nugget. But, such games often offer average returns that are below par, banking on the novelty to drive traffic to it. This is also true of Louisiana Double video poker.

Louisiana Double online video poker is played with one deck of 53 cards. 52 cards are the standard ones and the 53rd card is a Double card. This is not a wild card and does not substitute for another card in constructing poker hands. The advantage of the Double card in the final hand is that the payout generated by the remaining four cards is doubled. Expert online video poker players will immediately see the constraint as well. You cannot get doubled payouts for poker hand rankings that need all five cards.

Only four poker hands from the payout table can benefit from the Double card. These are jacks or better, two pairs, three of a kind and four of a kind. The following examples will make this issue clear. If you hold JH-JS-JD-7C-2C you have a three of a kind hand and get paid 2 to 1. But if you hold JH-JS-JD-7C-D, which is a three of a kind hand with the Double card you will get paid 4 to 1. If you hold AH-QH-9H-6H-2H you have a flush and get paid 6 to 1. But with AH-QH-9H-6H-D you do not get paid anything because four cards of the same suit are worth nothing.

Though the above mentioned advantage is severely limited it does offer something extra. But it is overcompensated by the changes made in the payout table. The poker hand rankings are the same as in Jacks or Better online video poker. In Louisiana Double the basic payouts are more for straight flush and four of a kind and less for royal flush and three of a kind. The devil lies in the three of a kind hand, which accounts for about 7% of the hands dealt. After accounting for all the advantages and disadvantages, Louisiana Double has an average return of 93.5%. Compared to this Jacks or Better has an average return of 99.5%. Though Louisiana Double is based on an interesting concept, it is a video poker variant that you should avoid playing with real money.