When choosing the video poker game you want to play, you might be overwhelmed by the myriad of options casinos tend to offer. With various rules, features, and bonus payouts, video poker games provide plenty of diversity for casino fans.
One of the most popular variations of the game is Deuces Wild, which adds extra excitement to the regular game and gives players the opportunity to rack up impressive payouts. It is not difficult to recognize the appeal of the game, as it is one of the most volatile variations of video poker. Winning streaks also occur quite frequently, which is another reason to prefer betting on Deuces Wild.
While this may be surprising, in reality you will be dealt more hands without deuces than with them. That said, all four deuces acting as wilds give you better chances to form winning hands, which is definitely great news. Thanks to the specific features of this game, you can actually enjoy a very lucrative game without even landing a Royal Flush. Thanks to its various features, Deuces Wild keeps players entertained and provides many chances for a profitable session.
How to Play Deuces Wild
The deck used in Deuces Wild is a standard 52-card deck. The only difference is that the deuces play the role of wilds, which means they can substitute for any rank or suit. Since the wild deuces change the ways hands can be formed, there is a slight difference in the paytable of this video poker variation. The lowest hand that qualifies for a payout is Three of a Kind, meaning that no matter how high-valued a pair may be, you will not be paid if you are holding just two cards of the same rank.
The goal in Deuces Wild is the same as in any other video poker variation: you may hold or discard cards from your initial hand to form a stronger hand and secure a better payout. Of course, in order to enjoy the best outcome while playing, you have to know the best possible strategy. You will also need to know which version of Deuces Wild can bring the results you want. This is why you should learn the best possible payouts and look for a game that offers them.
Deuces Wild Additional TipsThe full-pay version of Deuces Wild is known as the 15/9/5 variant, which indicates that Five of a Kind pays out 15 to 1, Straight Flush rewards 9 to 1, and Four of a Kind pays out 5 to 1. It is probably the best option video poker fans can play, as it provides an expected return above 100% whenever one utilizes perfect strategy. This variant of Deuces Wild, however, is rather hard to find, and players often opt for options with lower payouts.
The main strategy for playing Deuces Wild revolves around making the right decision according to the number of wilds in your initial hand. Once you have mastered this simple strategy, you will be able to make optimal decisions and elevate your video poker gameplay.
This video poker variation is very entertaining, and many players prefer it because of the excitement and payouts it offers. There is even a newer version of the game with five wild cards, which includes the four deuces and a joker. It is estimated that if you use the right strategy, the RTP is 98%, which is a rather good expected return.
Deuces Wild Video Poker Gameplay
Variations of Deuces Wild
While most video poker machines will simply be called Deuces Wild, there are several variations of the game that feature different payouts, requiring a change in strategy. This is why it is useful to recognize the different Deuces Wild variants and pick the one that suits your taste best.
Full-Pay Deuces Wild
As mentioned earlier, the best and probably the most difficult-to-find version of Deuces Wild is the one that offers the highest possible payouts. The full-pay variant is definitely worth playing, as it can turn the tables in your favor and allow you to enjoy much more fruitful outcomes. The paytable for Full-Pay Deuces Wild should look like this:
| Combination | Payout |
|---|---|
| Natural Royal Flush | 250 to 1 up to 4,000 for staking 5 coins |
| Four Deuces | 200 to 1 |
| Wild Royal Flush | 25 to 1 |
| Five of a Kind | 15 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 9 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind | 5 to 1 |
| Full House | 3 to 1 |
| Flush | 2 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 1 to 1 |
The easiest way to recognize a full-pay version of Deuces Wild is to look at the payout for Four of a Kind, which should award 5 coins for staking 1. In most other variations, this hand pays 4 to 1. The expected return on this version when using a perfect strategy is 100.76%.
Almost Positive Deuces Wild
One of the newest variations of Deuces Wild offers an RTP of 99.96% when you use the right strategy. Since the expected return reaches almost 100%, many players refer to this game as Almost Positive Deuces Wild (APDW), as it nearly gives players an advantage over the house.
The paytable for this game has several distinctive payouts that will help you recognize it among the other Deuces Wild options. To play this variant, make sure the Straight Flush pays 11 to 1 instead of 9 to 1; meanwhile, Four of a Kind pays 4 to 1 instead of 5 to 1. Full House pays 4 to 1 instead of 3 to 1, and Flush pays 3 to 1 instead of 2 to 1. Since Straight Flush and Flush have relatively high payouts, the strategy focuses on forming these hands.
Not So Ugly Deuces
This is a popular variation of Deuces Wild, and it offers an RTP of 99.7% whenever you use an optimal strategy. Since video poker enthusiasts often refer to low-paying variations of Deuces Wild as “ugly ducks,” many decided to name this variant Not So Ugly Ducks/Deuces (NSUD) because it allows you to enjoy a far more rewarding game.
The paytable for NSUD should look like this:
| Combination | Payout |
|---|---|
| Natural Royal Flush | 250 to 1 up to 4,000 when 5 coins are staked |
| Four Deuces | 200 to 1 |
| Wild Royal Flush | 25 to 1 |
| Five of a Kind | 16 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 10 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind | 4 to 1 |
| Full House | 4 to 1 |
| Flush | 3 to 1 |
| Straight | 2 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 1 to 1 |
As you can see, like many other Deuces Wild variations, you will be paid 4 to 1 for Four of a Kind, but the payouts for other hands are significantly higher. The payouts are almost the same as those in Almost Positive Deuces Wild, but you will enjoy a higher payout on Five of a Kind, which pays 16 to 1 instead of 15 to 1, while Straight Flush pays only 10 to 1 instead of 11 to 1.
Illinois Deuces
Also known as Airport Deuces, this variation of Deuces Wild was very popular in the early 1990s at the Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria, Illinois. It is the game on which APDW and NSUD are based. If you are using the right strategy, the expected return will be 98.9%.
The paytable for this variation of Deuces Wild looks like this:
| Combination | Payout |
|---|---|
| Natural Royal Flush | 250 to 1 up to 4,000 when 5 coins are staked |
| Four Deuces | 200 to 1 |
| Wild Royal Flush | 25 to 1 |
| Five of a Kind | 15 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 9 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind | 4 to 1 |
| Full House | 4 to 1 |
| Flush | 3 to 1 |
| Straight | 2 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 1 to 1 |
It is easy to recognize this version of Deuces Wild when you look at the payouts for Four of a Kind and Flush, which are increased to 4 to 1 and 3 to 1, respectively. However, the payouts for Five of a Kind and Straight Flush are lower compared to NSUD and APDW.
Midwestern Deuces
One reason you should always check the paytable carefully is to recognize when it is best to avoid certain video poker machines. If you take, for example, the Midwestern Deuces variation, you will have an RTP of only 94.4%, which is significantly lower than that of the games mentioned above. The paytable for this video poker variant would look like this:
| Combination | Payout |
|---|---|
| Natural Royal Flush | 250 to 1 up to 4,000 when 5 coins are staked |
| Four Deuces | 200 to 1 |
| Wild Royal Flush | 20 to 1 |
| Five of a Kind | 10 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 8 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind | 4 to 1 |
| Full House | 4 to 1 |
| Flush | 3 to 1 |
| Straight | 2 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 1 to 1 |
You may be misled because the payouts for Full House and Flush are enhanced, just as they are with Illinois Deuces and NSUD. However, higher-value hands have remarkably lower payouts, with the Wild Royal Flush paying only 20 to 1, Five of a Kind paying 10 to 1, and Straight Flush paying 8 to 1. This proves that if you come across this variation, you are better off not playing.
Short-Term Play vs Long-Term Play
Depending on how long you plan to play Deuces Wild, there are different variants you should consider. For those who intend to spend only a short period of time making smaller bets on video poker, short-term Deuces Wild play is suitable. As stated earlier, in this version of video poker the strategy is based on the number of deuces you are holding.
Short-Term Play
If we start with a hand that has no deuces, your strategy chart would look like this:
| Decision | Action |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | draw no cards |
| Four cards to a Royal Flush | draw one card |
| Straight Flush | draw no cards |
| Four of a Kind | draw one card |
| Full House | draw no cards |
| Flush | draw no cards |
| Straight | draw no cards |
| Three of a Kind | draw two cards |
| Four to a Straight Flush | draw one card |
| Three to a Royal Flush | draw two cards |
| One Pair (if you have a second one, discard it) | draw three cards |
| Four to a Flush | draw one card |
| Four to a Straight | draw one card |
| Three to a Straight Flush | draw two cards |
| Two to a Royal Flush | draw three cards |
| Not a winning hand | draw five new cards |
If you have one deuce in your initial hand:
| Decision | Action |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | draw no cards |
| Five of a Kind | draw no cards |
| Straight Flush | draw no cards |
| Four of a Kind | draw one card |
| Four cards to a Royal Flush | draw one card |
| Full House | draw no cards |
| Three of a Kind | draw two cards |
| Four to a Straight Flush | draw one card |
| Flush | draw no cards |
| Straight | draw no cards |
| Three to a Royal Flush | draw two cards |
| One Deuce | draw four cards |
If you have two deuces in your hand:
| Decision | Action |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | draw no cards |
| Five of a Kind | draw no cards |
| Straight Flush | draw no cards |
| Four of a Kind | draw one card |
| Four to a Royal Flush | draw one card |
| Two Deuces | draw three cards |
Since you always have Three of a Kind with two wild deuces in your hand, you should always draw three cards to improve your chances of landing a better hand.
If your hand has three deuces, the strategy chart looks like this:
| Decision | Action |
|---|---|
| Royal Flush | draw no cards |
| Five of a Kind | draw no cards |
| Three Deuces | draw two cards |
Whenever you are holding three deuces, you already have Four of a Kind. By drawing two more cards, you increase your odds of landing a higher-paying hand.
If your hand consists of four deuces, you do not need to draw any cards. As you can see, when playing Deuces Wild the main strategy is to focus on forming a Royal Flush more often. You have probably noticed that three cards to a Flush or a Straight are not worth keeping, as they will not help you earn a payout. When you have no deuces in your hand, keeping two pairs will not pay out either, which is why you should discard one of the pairs.
Long-Term Play
The majority of players prefer to spend less time on video poker machines, mainly because long-term play requires a bigger budget. Nevertheless, with the rising popularity of online casinos, numerous fans of the game now have the chance to embark on long-term play.
In order to enjoy the best possible outcome, you are advised to opt for the highest-paying variant of Deuces Wild. The great thing about it is that when you know which strategy to utilize, you can achieve an expected return of 100.76%.
To find a high-paying version of Deuces Wild, look for a payout of 20 to 1 for a Wild Royal Flush, 15 to 1 for Five of a Kind, and 5 to 1 for Four of a Kind. Since such a version may be hard to find, you might have to settle for a game that offers 20 to 1 for a Wild Royal Flush and 12 to 1 for Five of a Kind. The payout for Four of a Kind, however, should always be 5 to 1, because a lower payout will not provide a fruitful game.
When you plan to enjoy long-term play, you should always make the maximum bet, which will enable you to earn the bonus payout if you land a Royal Flush. Yet again, the number of deuces in your hand will determine your actions when playing Deuces Wild. If you are holding even a single 2, you should always keep it, as it will help you form winning hands more easily.
Conclusion
Deuces Wild is one of the most popular variations of video poker, and there are several reasons for that. While you are still playing with the standard 52-card deck, you can form winning hands more easily thanks to all four deuces that play the role of wilds. This means that the deuces in the deck can replace any card, no matter the suit or the rank.
There are many variations of Deuces Wild, and while some offer wonderful winning opportunities, others are better avoided. If you check the paytable of the game you are about to play, however, you will have no issue distinguishing a lucrative Deuces Wild game from a poor variation.
The key thing you should always keep in mind is the number of deuces you are holding. This will help you determine which cards to replace so you can enjoy a lucrative game of Deuces Wild. Whether you plan to play for a shorter period or you have prepared the budget for a longer session, you will always need to utilize the right strategy to stack up great payouts on video poker.