Deuces Wild Short-Term Playing Strategy  

The following is taken from Power Video Poker, 
the Only Video Poker Book You'll Ever Need!  

Like the Jacks or Better games, the Deuces Wild game uses a 52-card deck.  However in this version of video poker the four deuces (2s) are wild.  They can be used as any card in the deck, even to make five of a kind.  The minimum winning hand in this version of video poker is Three of a Kind.

With the Deuces Wild Game Strategy, there are five variations.  Each variation depends on whether there are any deuces in the first five cards dealt. 

We start with hand with no deuces deal on the first hand with its own playing strategy.  There are different playing strategies dependent upon whether you have one deuce, two deuces, three deuces or four deuces in your first hand.

DEUCES WILD STRATEGY SHORT-TERM PLAYING STRATEGY CHARTS

NO DEUCES

ONE DEUCE

Note:  With one deuce you will always have a minimum hand of one pair.  Therefore, you will always look to use this wildcard to improve your hand.

TWO DEUCES

  Note:  With Two Deuces you have a minimum hand of Three of a Kind.  Always draw three cards against a pair of deuces to improve your hand.

THREE DEUCES

Note:  With Three Deuces you have a minimum hand of Four of a Kind.  You will draw two cards and see if you can improve this hand.


 

FOUR DEUCES

Explaining the Strategy for Deuces Wild Games

Deuces are the most valuable cards in this version of video poker.  You will never discard a Deuce.  There are no payoffs for hands less than Three of Kind which requires adjusting your playing strategy.

The key to winning big in Deuces Wild is to go for the Royal Flush more frequently than you would with Jacks or Better.  Thus, when you have three cards toward a Royal Flush you will discard two cards and go for the Royal.  If you have two Deuces and a 10 or higher along with two cards lower than 10, keep the 10 and discard the lower valued cards, going for the Royal Flush.

Likewise, if you have two Deuces and three cards below 10 in value, discard all of the lower valued cards keeping the Deuces, unless two of the cards are paired.  In that case you have Four of a Kind, or four cards to a Straight Flush.  If you have two Deuces and no other cards to make Four of a Kind, or a Royal of Straight Flush, discard all of the cards while keeping the Deuces. 

If your hand is really poor and you’re dealt five unrelated cards, get rid of all of them and draw five new cards.

Please note that three card Flushes or Straights are worthless in this game as are single unmatched High Cards.  Discard these hands.  With no Deuces, you should also discard of two pair hands since they don’t pay.  Hang onto one of the pairs and draw three new cards.

If you are dealt a pair on the first round, keep it, unless you are dealt a Three-Card Royal Flush.  In that case, dump the pair and go for the Royal. 

In Deuces Wild you will find that many of the hands you are dealt will contain nothing of value and that you will frequently be drawing five new cards.  Three card Straights and Flushes fit in this category along with unmatched High Cards.  Don’t be afraid to discard all of the first five cards if you hold nothing of value.

Our Simplified Deuces Wild Strategy applies to the following versions of Deuces Wild:

1.      Deuces Wild

2.      Loose Deuces

3.      Deuces Deluxe

4.      Bonus Deuces Wild

Do not start with Deuces Wild or any of the Deuces Wild variations.  Start with Jacks or Better and master it before trying your hand at any of the Deuces Wild games.

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