How to Play Deuces Wild: Strategy & Odds Guide
Deuces Wild is a video poker variant where all four 2s are wild, substituting for any card. This dramatically changes hand frequencies, strategy, and payouts. Full-pay Deuces Wild offers over 100% return—one of the few positive-expectation casino games.
Table of Contents
- What Is Deuces Wild?
- Hand Rankings
- Pay Tables
- Strategy by Number of Deuces
- Odds and House Edge
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Deuces Wild?
In Deuces Wild, all four 2s (deuces) act as wild cards. A deuce can become any card to complete the best possible hand. This means:
- Five of a kind is possible
- Hands like three of a kind are very common
- Minimum winning hand is three of a kind (not a pair)
Hand Rankings
Deuces Wild uses modified hand rankings:
| Rank | Hand | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Natural Royal Flush | A-K-Q-J-10, no wilds |
| 2 | Four Deuces | All four 2s |
| 3 | Wild Royal Flush | Royal flush using deuce(s) |
| 4 | Five of a Kind | Only possible with wilds |
| 5 | Straight Flush | Five consecutive, same suit |
| 6 | Four of a Kind | Four cards same rank |
| 7 | Full House | Three of a kind + pair |
| 8 | Flush | Five cards same suit |
| 9 | Straight | Five consecutive cards |
| 10 | Three of a Kind | Three cards same rank |
No payout for pairs or two pair—they're too common with wild cards.
Pay Tables
Full-Pay Deuces Wild (100.76% Return)
| Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Natural Royal Flush | 800 |
| Four Deuces | 200 |
| Wild Royal Flush | 25 |
| Five of a Kind | 15 |
| Straight Flush | 9 |
| Four of a Kind | 5 |
| Full House | 3 |
| Flush | 2 |
| Straight | 2 |
| Three of a Kind | 1 |
This pay table returns 100.76%—player advantage! But it's rare.
Not So Ugly Deuces (NSUD) - 99.73% Return
| Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Natural Royal Flush | 800 |
| Four Deuces | 200 |
| Wild Royal Flush | 25 |
| Five of a Kind | 16 |
| Straight Flush | 10 |
| Four of a Kind | 4 |
| Full House | 4 |
| Flush | 3 |
| Straight | 2 |
| Three of a Kind | 1 |
More common and still excellent.
Strategy by Number of Deuces
Deuces Wild strategy depends entirely on how many deuces you're dealt.
No Deuces
Hold in this order:
- Pat straight flush or higher
- Four to a royal flush
- Pat full house or lower
- Four to a straight flush
- Three of a kind
- Four to a flush
- Pair (just one—discard the other if two pair)
- Four to an outside straight
- Three to a royal flush
- Three to a straight flush
- Discard everything
Key: Never hold two pair—keep one pair, discard the other.
One Deuce
- Pat four of a kind or better
- Four to a royal flush
- Pat full house
- Three of a kind
- Four to a straight flush
- Three to a royal flush
- Pat flush or straight
- Deuce only
Two Deuces
- Pat four of a kind or better
- Four to a royal flush
- Two deuces only (discard everything else)
Three Deuces
- Pat royal flush or five of a kind
- Three deuces only
Four Deuces
Hold all four. Never break four deuces.
Odds and House Edge
Full-Pay Deuces Wild
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Return | 100.76% |
| Player Edge | 0.76% |
| Natural Royal Odds | 1 in 45,282 |
| Four Deuces Odds | 1 in 4,909 |
Not So Ugly Deuces
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Return | 99.73% |
| House Edge | 0.27% |
Hand Frequencies (Full-Pay)
| Hand | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Three of a Kind | 28.4% |
| Straight | 5.7% |
| Flush | 2.6% |
| Full House | 2.1% |
| Four of a Kind | 6.0% |
| Straight Flush | 0.5% |
| Wild Royal | 0.3% |
| Five of a Kind | 0.3% |
| Four Deuces | 0.02% |
| Natural Royal | 0.002% |
| No Win | 54.1% |