What is the Bad Beat Bonus in Four Card Poker?

The Bad Beat Bonus is an optional bet players can make in Four Card Poker. It provides a payout if they experience a bad beat, meaning that their strong hand loses to an even stronger hand from the dealer. However, there is also a scenario in which you can win the base bet and the Bad Beat Bonus in this game.

Primarily, the Bad Beat Bonus rewards the player with a payout if they have a two-pair hand or better and lose to the dealer’s hand. But, the player can also win if the situation is the opposite. In other words, if the dealer has a two-pair hand and the player beats them, the player will also win the Bad Beat Bonus bet, provided they placed this optional bet at the start of the game.

To place the Bad Beat Bonus side bet, you must also make your standard Four Card Poker bet at the start of the game. You can’t place the Bad Bead Bonus side bet without participating in the base game bet.

Depending on the strength of your hand, the payouts for the Bad Beat Bonus can vary drastically. While the payouts can differ depending on where you play, here’s a rundown of the payouts you can expect in most casinos based on the hand you have:

Losing Hand	Payout
Four-of-a-Kind	25,000 to 1
Straight Flush	10,000 to 1
Three-of-a-Kind	100 to 1
Flush	25 to 1
Straight	15 to 1
Two Pair	4 to 1

With all of this in mind, even though the Bad Beat Bonus does provide for some really massive payouts, it is a side bet you should avoid. The main argument for this is its extremely high house edge of around 20%. This alone is enough reason why this bet is a poor choice. While it can be an exciting wager you can place now in hopes of a big win, it’s certainly not a good option to take regularly as a way to cover yourself in case of a bad beat.