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Deuces Wild – Rules Strategy & Tips for Winning
Deuces Wild is just one of the many versions of Video Poker and therefore it is difficult to give a standard strategy for a general version.
We have compiled a strategy for some of the most popular versions. Please ensure you check the strategy for the version you are playing.
How to Play Deuces Wild
Deuces Wild is the same as other versions of Video Poker. You get dealt 5 cards, hold as many or as few as you want, the cards you discard are replaced by other cards from the pack and winnings are then paid. But, there is one major difference, which is that all four 2’s often known as Deuces are Wildcards and can be replaced by any other card to improve your hand. As there are 4 Wildcards, it is possible to get 5 of a kind, which isn’t possible in many versions of Video Poker, meaning the Strategy is completely different from other versions depending on how many Deuces you are dealt to start.
Payouts and Probability
First of all, let’s take a look at the possible winning combinations, how much each pays – remember this can vary from machine to machine and depending on how many coins you play – and how likely each is to come in.
| Hand | Payoff | Combinations | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Royal Flush | 800 | 440202756 | 0.000022 |
| Four Deuces | 200 | 4060462824 | 0.000204 |
| Wild Royal Flush | 25 | 35796957696 | 0.001796 |
| Five of a Kind | 15 | 63818309856 | 0.003202 |
| Straight Flush | 9 | 83087969280 | 0.004168 |
| Four of a Kind | 5 | 1294427430576 | 0.064938 |
| Full House | 3 | 423165297240 | 0.021229 |
| Flush | 2 | 334561280724 | 0.016784 |
| Straight | 2 | 1117664265756 | 0.056070 |
| Three of a Kind | 1 | 5674784779512 | 0.284690 |
| Nothing | 0 | 10901423560980 | 0.546897 |
| Total | 19933230517200 | 1.000000 |
As you can see from above, as the deuces are wild, not only is there a Five of a Kind in Deuces wild, there are also 2 versions of a Royal Flush, one using one or more deuces and one not using any. It is the one that doesn’t use deuces that pays the most, followed by Four of a Kind deuces, Royal Flush using one or more deuce then Five of a Kind.
It is imperative that this order is understood before you start playing the Deuces Wild Video Poker to ensure the optimal strategy is followed.
Due to the four wildcards, the minimum payout is Three of a Kind. A pair of Jacks or better and Two Pair count for nothing in Deuces Wild.
Deuces Wild Strategy
Now for the strategy part…
First, find the table depending on the number of deuces you are dealt. The chances are this will be 0, in which case use the top table. If you get 1, use the 2nd table etc.
Start from the top and work your way down until you find the hand that relates to the one you have. There will be some occasions where your hand appears more than once, in this case, follow the advice in the higher option as this will be the most likely for you to win.
No Deuce
| Order | Hand | Expected Return |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Natural Royal Flush | 800.00 |
| 2 | 4 of a Royal Flush | 19.574469 |
| 3 | Straight Flush | 9.00 |
| 4 | Four of a Kind | 5.8510637 |
| 5 | Full House | 3.00 |
| 6 | Three of a Kind | 2.0175762 |
| 7 | Straight or Flush | 2.00 |
| 8 | 4 of an outside Straight Flush | 1.65958 |
| 9 | Suited 10/J/Q | 1.3987 |
| 10 | 4 of an inside Straight Flush | 1.3829787 |
| 11 | 3 of a Royal Flush | 1.2719704 |
| 12 | Pair | 0.560222 |
| 13 | Two Pair | 0.5106383 |
| 14 | 4 of a Flush | 0.5106383 |
| 15 | 4 of an outside Straight | 0.5106383 |
| 16 | 3 of a Straight Flush spread 3-4 | 0.5051-0.3959 |
| 17 | 2 of a Royal Flush, J highest | 0.38815913 |
| 18 | 3 of a Straight Flush, spread 5 | 0.35522664 |
| 19 | 4 of an Inside Straight | 0.34042552 |
| 20 | 2 of a Royal Flush, Q highest | 0.33851373 |
| 21 | 2 of a Royal Flush, K highest | 0.3278446 |
| 22 | Garbage, discard everything | 0.32552597 |
* An outside Straight is where you require a card at either end to make the hand – e.g. 4, 5, 6, 7 – either a 3 or 8 would complete the Straight
** An inside Straight is where you require a card in the middle to make the hand – e.g. 4, 5, 7, 8 – only a 6 would complete the Straight
One Deuce
| Order | Hand | Expected Return |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wild Royal Flush | 25.00 |
| 2 | Five of a Kind | 15.00 |
| 3 | Straight Flush | 9.00 |
| 4 | Four of a Kind | 5.8510637 |
| 5 | 4 of a Royal Flush | 3.4042554 |
| 6 | Full House | 3.00 |
| 7 | 3 consecutive suited cards 5/6/7 or greater | 2.21277 |
| 8 | Three of a Kind | 2.01758 |
| 9 | Straight | 2.00 |
| 10 | Flush | 2.00 |
| 11 | All other 4 to a Straight Flush | 1.70213 to1.97872 |
| 12 | 3 of a Royal Flush, K high | 1.1424607 |
| 13 | 2 consecutive suited cards 6/7 or higher | 1.0952822 |
| 14 | 3 of a Royal Flush, A high | 1.0462534 |
| 15 | Deuce only | 1.0328652 |
2 Deuces
| Order | Hand | Expected Return |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wild Royal Flush | 25.00 |
| 2 | Five of a Kind | 15.00 |
| 3 | Straight Flush | 9.00 |
| 4 | Four of a Kind | 5.8510637 |
| 5 | 4 of a Royal Flush | 4.617021 |
| 6 | 2 consecutive suited cards 6/7 or higher | 3.3404255 |
| 7 | 2 Deuces only | 3.2730188 |
3 Deuces
Hold if you have a Wild Royal Flush or Five of a Kind (so non-Deuces are a pair), otherwise just hold the 3 Deuces
The above is a guideline only in order to optimize your chances of winning, like many casino games, players do like to trust their instinct so feel free to do the same.
4 Deuces
Discard all other cards if you hold 4 deuces
Terminology
The following applies, in the above table:
Inside Straight – EG 5,6,8,9 – 4 Cards where there is one number missing that would complete a Straight.
Outside Straight – EG. 5,6,7,8 4 – Cards that are consecutive and where a card at either end can provide you with a Straight.
