Sometimes you want a game that you can finish while waiting in line to get that cup of coffee. Simple to play and easy to learn. Drive-Thru Poker is just that type of game. Based on video poker rules and game play, Drive-Thru Poker is easy to play. However, it is designed as a quick game to finish and not for people who want a Las Vegas video poker experience.

Each new game starts with a $100 bankroll. You can bet as much as you have up to the $1,000 limit per hand. A complete game is limited to 20 hands of poker, so the goal is to build your back account as high as you can in 20 hands. The game will end when you run out of money or complete 20 hands. After selecting your bet, you are dealt 5 cards. The “star” card is a wild card, so it can be used as any card to your best advantage. Drive-Thru Poker will give you advice to help with your cards. Select the card you want to discard or “stand” with what you have.

One twist on the standard game of video poker is the ability to double your bet, stick with the existing bet, or cut the bet in half. If you are confident in your chances or already have a winning hand, double your bet in order to maximize your win. If you think your chances are bad, then cut your bet in half to save some of your money. Remember, you can only double your bet if you have the money available in your bank account. Finally press 0 to stand or draw new cards and see if you win the hand. If you make it pass the 20th hand, you will be taken to the high score table. If your score earned a place on the high score table, you will be able to enter your name. My high score is $84,500 just in case you were interested.

The Options Menu allows you to select one of three difficulty levels for the game as well as set the volume level for the music and sound effects.

This is a well made product. The graphics, animations, and sound effects fit the game well. While I found the game to have limited replay value, it can be fun to play when you want a short game to kill 5 minutes with.

Harbey Lee
--Technology Editor

Pros
Inexpensive
Simple rules
Simple controls

Cons
Limited replay value
Not for “real” poker fans

Rating:
6.0 out of 10 Stars.

Product: Drive-Thru Poker
Developer: Infinite Ventures
Web Site: www.portable-games.com
Category: Game – Cards
Price: $4.99
Requirements: Microsoft SmartPhone Compatible Device
Phone must be “application unlocked”.
Software:
Microsoft ActiveSync
Desktop Windows 95 / 98 / Me / 2000 / NT 4.x