• BadBeatJackpot

A Bad Beat Jackpot is a side bet run by a card room. It pays off when a very good hand is beaten. Unlike a traditional BadBeat, it doesn't matter if the hand was played properly -- it just matters that it be a a "qualifying hand" for the jackpot. A common qualifier in Brick & Mortar casinos isAces Full beaten.

Payoff rules vary; typically, the beaten hand gets the lion's share of money, followed by the winning hand. Usually, all the players at the table where the jackpot hits get a share of the money, as well.

The Party Poker Bad Beat Jackpot rules currently call for Quad Eights (or better) to be beaten. They have additional qualifying rules -- there must be at least four players dealt in (although they may fold on the flop), the hand must be raked, and both hands must use both hole cards.

Here is an example of a qualifying Bad Beat Jackpot hand, using Party's rules:

Quad Kings, a qualifying loser

Straight flush, the qualifying winner

Here is another qualifying hand:

Straight Flush, Ace High, a qualifying winner

Straight flush, Queen High, the qualifying loser

This hand does NOT qualify! Do you see why?

The quad kings hand does not qualify for the bad beat because it uses a kicker off the board.