Hold and Win: How Character Hold Mechanics Work
Introduction
Hold and Win is a popular bonus mechanic in modern video and 3D slots that increases the chance to collect winning symbols and activate a border round with guaranteed payouts. Unlike classic features, here each series of holds changes the dynamics of the game and adds a tactical element.
1. The essence of mechanics
Hold: when a certain character (usually "coins," "safes" or "precious stones") appears, it is fixed on the screen.
Restart ("Re-spin"): only free cells remain, the player receives a limited number of additional spins (usually 3-5) to collect as many target characters as possible.
Final calculation ("Win"): the face value of all held characters is summed up, and having collected enough, the bonus mode is launched with a progressive multiplier or guaranteed prizes.
2. Operation algorithm
1. First spin: base rate, Hold and Win character drop.
2. Commit - All target symbols remain in their positions.
3. Re-spins: the free restart counter starts, each new target character resets the counter.
4. Completion: when the counter is reset to zero or the grid is filled, the payout is equal to the sum of the denominations of the characters; sometimes a bonus round is added.
3. Implementation options
Simple Hold and Win: no additional bonuses - only collecting symbols for payment.
Hold and Win + progressive jackpot: when collecting all positions, the jackpot is launched by rank (Mini, Minor, Major, Grand).
Hold and Win inside the freespins: regular free spins first, then a separate hold phase.
4. Impact on RTP and volatility
RTP: baseline value includes Hold and Win average return; characteristic RTP 92-96%.
Volatility: Typically high - a rare but potentially major achievement of complete symbol collection.
Payout variance: skewed towards bonus phases; ordinary backs give low payments, and the retention stage is large.
5. Examples of popular games
"Piggy Riches Megaways" (NetEnt): Hold and Win is built into freespins, multipliers for each character held.
"Fortune Coin" (Pragmatic Play): Classic Hold and Win with jackpots and extra multipliers.
"Big Bass Bonanza" (Pragmatic Play): fishing theme, fish symbols are fixed and trigger repeated spins.
6. Strategies and recommendations
1. Bankroll management: pledge at least 100-150 base rates per session to reach deductions.
2. Bet size: A moderate bet increases the chance of going longer without bankruptcy before the bonus phase.
3. Focused testing: in demo mode, record the average number of spins up to the first Hold and Win, then calculate the equivalent of the cost of the bonus.
4. Alternating slots: Pair Hold and Win with cascading or classic slots to dilute high volatility.
Conclusion
Hold and Win brings a tactical element and tension to the slots: a series of holds creates a borderline round with an increased chance of a big win. Understanding the algorithm, influencing RTP and volatility, and competent bankroll management will help you use this mechanics as efficiently as possible.
Hold and Win is a popular bonus mechanic in modern video and 3D slots that increases the chance to collect winning symbols and activate a border round with guaranteed payouts. Unlike classic features, here each series of holds changes the dynamics of the game and adds a tactical element.
1. The essence of mechanics
Hold: when a certain character (usually "coins," "safes" or "precious stones") appears, it is fixed on the screen.
Restart ("Re-spin"): only free cells remain, the player receives a limited number of additional spins (usually 3-5) to collect as many target characters as possible.
Final calculation ("Win"): the face value of all held characters is summed up, and having collected enough, the bonus mode is launched with a progressive multiplier or guaranteed prizes.
2. Operation algorithm
1. First spin: base rate, Hold and Win character drop.
2. Commit - All target symbols remain in their positions.
3. Re-spins: the free restart counter starts, each new target character resets the counter.
4. Completion: when the counter is reset to zero or the grid is filled, the payout is equal to the sum of the denominations of the characters; sometimes a bonus round is added.
3. Implementation options
Simple Hold and Win: no additional bonuses - only collecting symbols for payment.
Hold and Win + progressive jackpot: when collecting all positions, the jackpot is launched by rank (Mini, Minor, Major, Grand).
Hold and Win inside the freespins: regular free spins first, then a separate hold phase.
4. Impact on RTP and volatility
RTP: baseline value includes Hold and Win average return; characteristic RTP 92-96%.
Volatility: Typically high - a rare but potentially major achievement of complete symbol collection.
Payout variance: skewed towards bonus phases; ordinary backs give low payments, and the retention stage is large.
5. Examples of popular games
"Piggy Riches Megaways" (NetEnt): Hold and Win is built into freespins, multipliers for each character held.
"Fortune Coin" (Pragmatic Play): Classic Hold and Win with jackpots and extra multipliers.
"Big Bass Bonanza" (Pragmatic Play): fishing theme, fish symbols are fixed and trigger repeated spins.
6. Strategies and recommendations
1. Bankroll management: pledge at least 100-150 base rates per session to reach deductions.
2. Bet size: A moderate bet increases the chance of going longer without bankruptcy before the bonus phase.
3. Focused testing: in demo mode, record the average number of spins up to the first Hold and Win, then calculate the equivalent of the cost of the bonus.
4. Alternating slots: Pair Hold and Win with cascading or classic slots to dilute high volatility.
Conclusion
Hold and Win brings a tactical element and tension to the slots: a series of holds creates a borderline round with an increased chance of a big win. Understanding the algorithm, influencing RTP and volatility, and competent bankroll management will help you use this mechanics as efficiently as possible.
