Deuces Wild is a video poker game in which all four 2s are wild and can stand in for any card. The lowest paying hand is three of a kind, and the best pay table, known as Full Pay Deuces Wild, returns 100.76% with perfect strategy. Most machines pay less, so checking the pay table is the most important thing you can do.
How to Play Deuces Wild
The game plays like any other video poker machine:
- Insert cash or a ticket and choose your coin size and number of coins. Five coins is standard, because the natural royal flush pays 800 per coin on a five-coin bet but only 250 per coin on one to four coins.
- Press Deal to get five cards.
- Touch the cards you want to hold, then press Draw. The cards you did not hold are replaced.
- Your final hand is paid according to the pay table on the screen.
Because deuces are wild, hands are much easier to make than in Jacks or Better. To balance that, three of a kind is the lowest paying hand and returns only your bet, while two pair and single pairs pay nothing.
Deuces Wild Pay Tables
Deuces Wild machines all pay 800 per coin for a natural royal flush on a five-coin bet, but the lower hands vary a lot. The table below shows per-coin pays for three common versions and their return with perfect strategy.
| Hand | Full Pay | Not So Ugly Deuces | Illinois (Airport) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural royal flush (5 coins) | 800 | 800 | 800 |
| Four deuces | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| Wild royal flush | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Five of a kind | 15 | 16 | 15 |
| Straight flush | 9 | 10 | 9 |
| Four of a kind | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Full house | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Flush | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Straight | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Three of a kind | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Return | 100.76% | 99.73% | 98.91% |
The quickest way to judge a machine is to look at the four of a kind, full house and flush pays. Full Pay is the only common version that pays 5 for four of a kind with 3 and 2 for the full house and flush. Many machines pay 4-4-3 on those hands, and the return then depends mostly on the five of a kind and straight flush pays: 16 and 10 gives 99.73%, 15 and 9 gives 98.91%, and tables with smaller pays drop well below 97%.
Full Pay Deuces Wild has all but disappeared. A Las Vegas video poker tracker reports none left in the city, with the last bank removed from Sam’s Town in 2023. For where to look in Las Vegas, see our guide to the best video poker in Las Vegas.
Deuces Wild Strategy Basics
Strategy changes a lot depending on how many deuces you are dealt, so start by counting them. These core rules apply to Full Pay and most similar tables:
- Never throw away a deuce.
- Four deuces: hold all four. The hand pays 200 per coin whatever the fifth card is.
- Three deuces: keep a wild royal flush. Keep five of a kind only when the pair is 10s or higher; otherwise hold just the three deuces and draw two.
- Two deuces: keep four of a kind or better, and draw to four to a royal flush. Otherwise you will usually hold just the two deuces.
- One deuce: keep four of a kind or better. If you also hold four to a royal flush, draw to the royal rather than keeping a full house, flush, straight or three of a kind. Otherwise keep a full house, and usually keep three of a kind, a straight or a flush.
- No deuces: with two pair, keep only one pair, because two pair pays nothing. A single pair is worth more than four to a flush or four to a straight.
For full strategy tables, use a video poker trainer or strategy chart made for the exact pay table you are playing, since small pay changes shift the correct holds.
Using a Players Card
Always use the casino’s players card. Video poker usually earns points or free play at a lower rate than slots, but it still adds to your overall return, and it can earn comps such as meals and room offers. If you are comparing machines, a slightly weaker pay table with a better promotion can sometimes be the better deal, so factor in the casino’s rewards program as well as the pay table.
Other Video Poker Games
If you like Deuces Wild, see our guides to Double Double Bonus Poker, Triple Double Bonus Poker and Ultimate X.
Deuces Wild FAQ
What is the best Deuces Wild pay table?
Full Pay Deuces Wild (800-200-25-15-9-5-3-2-2-1), which returns 100.76% with perfect strategy.
What is the lowest winning hand in Deuces Wild?
Three of a kind, which pays even money.
Should I always bet five coins?
For the best return, yes. The natural royal flush pays 800 per coin only on a five-coin bet. If five coins is too much, play a lower denomination.
Gamble responsibly. If gambling is causing problems for you or someone you know, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET.