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Thunderbolt (XE88): six monkeys race up the poles

Six monkeys in coloured shirts, six poles and a lantern board full of odds. Thunderbolt is King Derby with climbing instead of galloping.

Rewritten 2 min read4 screenshots

Thunderbolt on XE88 with six numbered monkeys climbing poles against snowy mountains

Key facts

Runners
6 monkeys, numbered 1 to 6
Odds board
Red lanterns, pairs 1-2 to 5-6
Side bets
Banker x2, Tie x9, Player x2
Coin buttons
0, 1, 10, 50
Extra
Jackpot x3 x4 x5, free monkey

Long-time XE88 players will know Thunderbolt on sight. As the old guide said, it is no rarity: six monkeys, each in a different coloured shirt and carrying its own number, race to the top of six tall poles. The first ones up decide the result. The format is the same family as King Derby, with a Chinese market-street look instead of a racetrack.

The runners

The monkeys wear red, blue, green, brown, purple and orange, and each carries a round badge with its number from 1 to 6. The race is shown in two settings in the screenshots: in front of a stone bridge and river at the start, then against a blue sky and snowy peaks as they climb.

The Thunderbolt odds board of red lanterns with Banker, Tie and Player fans above
fig. 01 The Thunderbolt odds board of red lanterns with Banker, Tie and Player fans above

The lantern board

Before each race you see a board of red lanterns. Numbers 6 to 2 run across the top and 1 to 5 down the left, and each lantern where they meet is a pair, from 1-2 through to 5-6. Each lantern shows that pair's odds for the coming race. The screenshots show figures from 3 up to 1000, and they change every race.

The 2020 write-up said to bet on the monkey that reaches the top first. The board, though, prices pairs, and the LAST RESULTS column records a pair each time. One screenshot shows "3-4 10": monkeys 3 and 4 came in, paying 10. Read the in-game help to see exactly how your pair is settled.

Thunderbolt board after a race with 3-4 at 10 in the last results column
fig. 02 Thunderbolt board after a race with 3-4 at 10 in the last results column

Banker, Tie and Player

Above the lanterns sit three fans labelled BANKER x2, TIE x9 and PLAYER x2. They are side bets, separate from the pair odds. The screenshots don't show how that result is worked out, so treat them with care until you have read the rules.

Thunderbolt odds board before coins are placed, with START and CLEAR buttons
fig. 03 Thunderbolt odds board before coins are placed, with START and CLEAR buttons

Coins and the jackpot line

The coin buttons on the right are 0, 1, 10 and 50. WINS and COINS sit at the top-left. The board's bottom line reads JACKPOT X3 X4 X5 FREE MONKEY, pointing to occasional multiplied payouts or free races. When they happen isn't explained, so don't count on them.

Six monkeys lined up at the foot of the poles by a stone bridge
fig. 04 Six monkeys lined up at the foot of the poles by a stone bridge

Keep the coins in check

Races are short and the long-shot lanterns are tempting. Choose a coin limit before you start. For the horse-racing original, read about King Derby, or browse the rest of the XE88 arcade games. If the lanterns make sense to you, play Thunderbolt on XE88. 18+ only.

Quick questions

How do you win in Thunderbolt?

The monkeys race up six poles. The lantern board prices pairs of monkeys, and the results panel records the winning pair, such as 3-4.

What are Banker, Tie and Player in Thunderbolt?

Side bets shown on fans at the top of the board, paying x2, x9 and x2. The screenshots don't show how that result is decided, so check the game's help.

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