The game is played with a deck of 52 playing cards that is random-shuffled after each round of play. This version is one of the more popular variations of video poker that is available. There are certain hands that have an especially high payout, including:

• Four of a Kind (Aces and Eights)
• Four of a Kind (Sevens)
• Four of a Kind (all others)

Of course, the highest payout of all is for a Royal Flush, which consists of a Ten, Jack, Queen, King and Ace, all of the same suit. At Microgaming's Aces and Eights, the payout for a five-coin bet in 4000 coins. There is obviously a benefit to wagering the maximum, since the payout for four coins is 1000 coins.

As in all video poker games, the player receives five cards in a random deal. Then there is the opportunity to discard up to all five cards and receive five fresh cards. After the re-deal, the player has his/her final five-card hand, at which point the software registers the end result of that five-card hand.