This card plays as if it were the fifth card in every player's hand. It is also a wild card, and every other card of its rank is also wild. The first betting round is then played, followed by a draw in which each player replaces cards from his hand with an equal number, so that each player still has only four cards in hand. Jan 21, 2019 'Not So Ugly Ducks' Deuces Wild Strategy Introduction. This section contains my intermediate strategy for the 'Not So Ugly Ducks' deuces wild game, mostly noted by paying 16 for a 5 of a kind and 10 for a straight flush. The following table shows the probabilities and return based on optimal strategy.

Ask any experienced video poker about Deuces Wild and you’ll likely see their eyes light up. That twinkle is tied to Deuces Wild’s status as one of the best bets a casino gambler will ever find, provided the pay table is configured correctly.

I’ll get into the nitty gritty of pay table comparison down below, but for now, just know that a full pay Deuces Wild machine offers basic strategy players a 100.76% payback percentage. No need to adjust your screen either. Skilled players can really reap a long-term advantage over the house playing Deuces Wild.

Like I said, the details behind that advantage will be discussed later in the page.

When you’ve gotten your feet wet and want to learn how to play Deuces Wild perfectly, this page is the ticket. Whether you prefer to play on machines in your local land-based gambling hall, or on the computer or smartphone through the top-rated online casinos knowing a few simple tricks of the trade separates the best from the rest.

On that note, the list below highlights five crucial rules and strategies for Deuces Wild video poker that most players just don’t know much about.

1 – Mastering Deuces Wild Basic Strategy Really Is Easier Than You’d Imagine

You can call it the Rosetta Stone, Holy Grail, or Bible of online video poker, but basic strategy really is an all-important talisman used to understand the game’s fundamental mysteries.

Every variant out there, from Jacks or Better to Double Double Bonus Poker, has been broken down by statistical analysis to arrive at the game’s basic strategy. The basic strategy chart provides a key to making the most mathematically profitable discard/draw decision given every possible five-card starting hand.

Let’s say you’ve been dealt something like the 2d-2h-Ad-Ah-Kh, giving you two main hands or draws to work with.

You could hold the deuces with the two aces to make a pat four of a kind, which is good for a guaranteed five-coin payout and a one-card draw at five of a kind and 15 coins.

Deuces Are Wild Card Game

Or you could hold the deuces with the Ah and Kh to give yourself a four-card royal flush draw. In this case, you aren’t guaranteed to win anything, but if you land another deuce, or the Qh, Jh, or 10h, you’ll complete a wild royal flush to scoop 25 coins.

Deciding between close calls like this is what strategic thinking in video poker is all about. And as you can see by using the Deuces Wild basic strategy chart below, holding onto the four of a kind is ranked just ahead of a four-card royal draw (when you have two deuces):

Three Deuces

Two Deuces

One Deuce

No Deuces

To use this chart effectively, simply assess your “deuce count” and use that particular subsection. Then, scan your five-card starting to see which hand(s) and draw(s) you currently hold. Finally, choose the option which ranks highest on the list to ensure you’re always playing perfectly.

2 – The Full Pay Machines Create an Edge for the Player

Most video poker players know that using basic strategy correctly in Deuces Wild can create a rare player edge.

But what they don’t know is that this player advantage of 0.76% over the house can only be attained using a specific pay table setup. When you play Jacks or Better, the “full pay” table uses a 9/6 alignment for full houses and flushes, respectively.

And in Deuces Wild, you’re looking for the following 15/9/5/3 setup to score full pay odds:

Deuces Wild Full Pay Table (by Coins Wagered)

Be sure to bet the maximum of five coins per hand though, as wagers of one to four coins don’t count for the jackpot payout of 4,000 coins on a natural Royal Flush. Thus, betting anything less than the max reduces your payback rate to 99.67%, sending an edge of 0.33% back to the house.

3 – Adjustments to Full Pay Table Turn Deuces Wild Gold Mine Into a Landmine

At this point, you’re probably wondering why skilled players haven’t skinned casinos for all they’re worth, grinding full play Deuces Wild while applying basic strategy.

That’s a great question too, and the answer lies in the casinos’ ability to adjust any machine’s pay table as they see fit. Just like Jacks or Better enthusiasts know to avoid inferior 9/5 or 8/6 pay tables, diehard Deuces Wild fans have learned to avoid the pay tables below like the plague:

Deuces Wild Inferior Pay Table Adjustments

As you can see, anything less than the 15/9/5/3 full pay alignment creates a big hit to your payback percentage.

How big of a hit all depends on the pay table’s exact configuration, so steer clear of the substandard setups shown here:

Deuces Wild Pay Table Comparison

Casinos nowadays spread Deuces Wild only rarely, and for higher stakes. But you can still find machines out there when you know where to look.

And thanks to the fine folks at vpFREE2, you’ll know exactly where to look after consulting their searchable video poker machine placement database.

4 – Not So Ugly Ducks Is a Great Game If Full Pay Machines Aren’t Available

While the full pay 15/9/5/3 machines are increasingly rare, you’ll still find plenty of Deuces Wild games using modified 16/10/4/4 setup.

Affectionately known as “Not So Ugly Ducks” (NSUD) within video poker circles, this form of Deuces Wild still offers players a 99.73% payback rate. That’s no player edge, I’ll be the first to admit that, but when you don’t have access to full pay games, playing Not So Ugly Ducks according to basic strategy only gives the casino a slight 0.27% edge.

That’s twice as good as the best basic strategy blackjack experts have it, so when in doubt, look for Not So Ugly Ducks to get your Deuces Wild fix.

5 – Online Casinos Offer Significant Six-Figure Scores on the Progressive Jackpot

While players on other software platforms are chasing 4,000-coin jackpots for landing the elusive royal flush, fans of Microgaming online casinos can win truly life-changing money.

5 Card Draw Rules

You’ll need to hit a natural royal flush in all diamonds, which is obviously a huge long shot, but when the cards cooperate, you can pay off your mortgage, travel the world, or enjoy the six-figure windfall however you see fit.

Conclusion

Deuces Wild video poker has blossomed from obscure offshoot to bona fide classic in just a few decades. The reasons why are easy to see too, what with highly strategic side challenging players on every hand, and that sweet player edge on full pay machines.

5 Card Draw Deuces Wild

This game was specifically designed to reward skillful play, so know that you’ve learned about the five rules and strategies presented here, get out there and even the score against casinos everywhere.