Deuces Wild is one of the most dynamic online video poker games, distinguished by its paytables. Popular versions include short pay, “Not-So-Ugly” Deuces (NSUD), and full pay. Among the three, the full pay is the best! It offers a 100.76% return to players who play optimally using the Deuces Wild strategy chart.
This casino guide presents you with the video poker strategy chart for Deuces Wild to help you play with precision based on the number of deuces in your hand.
Download our Deuces Wild Strategy Chart
Deuces Wild Video Poker: Full-Pay vs Short Pay vs NSUD Guide
Always compare Deuces Wild and other paytables before playing. Full-pay Deuces Wild is the 9/5 paytable variant with an RTP of 100.76% when played optimally. Straight Flush returns 9 coins per coin bet, and Four of a Kind pays 5 coins per coin bet.
In contrast, the NSUD pays 10 coins for a Straight Flush but only 4 for Four of a Kind, while the short pay version pays 9 coins for a Straight Flush and 4 for Four of a Kind.
These slight changes result in slight reductions in RTP: 99.73% for NSUD and 94.34% for short pay.
Below is a complete Full-Pay Deuces Wild paytable:
| Paying Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Natural Royal Flush | 800:1 |
| Four Deuces | 200:1 |
| Wild Royal Flush | 25:1 |
| Five of a Kind | 15:1 |
| Straight Flush | 9:1 |
| Four of a Kind | 5:1 |
| Full House | 3:1 |
| Flush | 2:1 |
| Straight | 2:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 1:1 |
How To Use the Deuces Wild Strategy Chart
Follow these steps to use the Deuces Wild strategy cheat sheet.
- Download the strategy chart PDF. You can compare with Jacks or Better strategy charts to avoid mistakes.
- Look at the chart from top to bottom to find the first hand that matches your dealt cards.
- Take action by holding specific cards and discarding the rest as recommended on the Deuces Wild Bonus Poker Strategy Cheat Sheet.
The Deuces Wild video poker strategy chart is an essential tool for leveraging deuce draws.
It indicates whether to hold or discard a hand based on how many deuces (wild cards) you possess as you follow Deuces Wild rules and gameplay steps.
Here is the detailed Deuces Wild strategy chart.
4 Deuces (4D)
Hold all four cards. This is the easiest decision in Deuces Wild, with a guaranteed payout.
3 Deuces (3D)
Priority:
- Wild Royal Flush: Hold all five cards.
- Five of a Kind: Hold three deuces + a pair.
- Three Deuces Only: Without any pair, hold only the three deuces and discard the two natural cards.
- Four to a Royal Flush: Hold three deuces + two royal cards.
- Straight Flush or Lower: Hold three deuces + two cards of the same suit.
2 Deuces (2D)
Hold:
- Royal Flush: Two deuces + three royal cards.
- Five of a Kind: Two deuces + three same-ranked cards.
- Straight Flush: Two deuces + three suited consecutive cards.
- Four of a Kind: Two deuces + two same-ranked cards + one natural card.
- Four to a Royal Flush: Four royal cards (includes the two deuces).
- Four to a Straight Flush: Four straight flush cards (includes the two deuces).
- Two Deuces Only: Hold the deuces and discard the rest.
1 Deuce (1D)
Hold:
- Royal Flush: One deuce + four royal cards.
- Five of a Kind: One deuce + same-ranked cards.
- Straight Flush: One deuce + four suited consecutive cards.
- Four of a Kind: One deuce + three same-ranked cards + one natural card.
- Full House: One deuce + four full house cards.
- Four to a Royal Flush: Four royal cards (includes a deuce).
- Three of a Kind: Trips + a deuce.
- Flush: Hold all five.
- Straight: Hold all five.
- Four to a Straight Flush: Hold the four cards.
- Three to a Royal Flush: Hold the three cards.
- Three to a Straight Flush: Hold the three cards (if connected or one-gap).
- One Deuce Only: Hold just the wild card and discard everything else.
Zero Deuces (0D)
For “deuceless” hands, hold in this order:
- Royal Flush
- Four of a Kind
- Straight Flush
- Full house
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a Kind
- Four to a Royal Flush
- Four to a Straight Flush
- Two Pairs
- Pair
- Four to a Flush
- Three to a Royal Flush
- Three to Straight Flush
- Four to a Straight (open-ended)
- Two to a Royal Flush (J-Q or higher)
- Three to a Straight Flush (two-gap)
- Two to a Royal Flush (with 10)
- Four to a Straight (inside)
Anything aside from the above hands, discard them and draw five cards.
Simplified Deuces Wild Strategy Chart
There are summarized versions of all video poker strategy charts. For quick gameplay, here is a memorizable Deuces Wild strategy chart:
4 Deuces: Hold four deuces.
3 Deuces: Hold any made hand (five of a kind, straight flush, four of a kind). Otherwise, draw two.
2 Deuces: Keep five of a kind, straight flush, or four of a kind. If you have three of a kind, draw two for improvement.
1 Deuce: Hold four of a kind+, four to royal, full house, four to straight flush, three of a kind/straight/flush, and three to royal.
0 Deuces: Keep any paying hand (three of a kind or better). If not, hold four to a royal flush or straight flush draw. And discard the rest.
Examples for Deuces Wild Strategy
The table below shows examples of video poker strategy chart Deuces Wild use cases.
| No of Deuces | Scenario | Hold | Discard | Action |
| 4D | 2♠, 2♥, 2♦, 2♣, 5♣ | All | None | Four Deuces is a big win. |
| 3D | 2♠, 2♥, 2♦, 8♣, A♠ | 2♠, 2♥, 2♦ | 8♣, A♠ | Three deuces are wild cards. Draw two new cards, e.g., K♦, Q♦ for a Wild Royal. |
| 2D | 2♠, 2♥, 5♠, 5♦, 9♣ | 2♠, 2♥, 5♠, 5♦ | 9♣ | You can form Four of a Kind. |
| 1D | 2♥, 5♠, 7♦, 9♣, J♥ | 2♥ | 5♠, 7♦, 9♣, J♥ | Draw four new cards. |
| 0D | A♠, A♥, A♦, K♠, K♥ | All | None | Keep your hand; it’s a Full House. |
Find more printable poker charts for more examples.
Common Mistakes To Avoid for Deuces Wild Strategy
- You should not select another variant over the full-pay Deuces Wild.
- Do not hold a two-pair hand; it is a wrong move.
- You should not discard a deuce. It is your wild card.
- Try not to break strong hands like wild royal hands.
- Do not draw a card without considering the value of the hand you have first.
Remember to check out the Double Double Bonus Poker strategy if that is the game you prefer.
FAQs
What is the best strategy for Deuces Wild video poker?
Use a Deuces Wild strategy chart to make mathematically optimal decisions.
How do I use a Deuces Wild strategy chart while playing?
Compare your dealt hand to the chart from top to bottom and hold the first hand that matches your cards.
What does “full-pay Deuces Wild” mean?
It refers to the 100.76% payout version of the game, offering the best possible return when played with perfect strategy.
Should I ever throw away a deuce in Deuces Wild?
Never. Each deuce is wild, dramatically increasing your odds of forming premium hands.
How many wild cards are there in Deuces Wild poker?
There are four wild cards in Deuces Wild.
What’s the difference between full-pay and short-pay Deuces Wild?
Full-pay machines pay the highest possible amounts per hand (100.76% RTP), while short-pay versions slightly reduce the payouts to 99.73%.
Is there a simple Deuces Wild strategy for beginners?
Yes. It is a condensed chart for easy remembrance.
How much can you win with the right Deuces Wild strategy?
Using the Deuces Wild strategy chart can yield a 100.76% return on your wager over time on full-pay machines.
What is the payout for a natural royal flush in Deuces Wild?
A natural royal flush (without deuces) typically pays 800 credits for a five-coin max bet.
Where can I download a printable Deuces Wild strategy chart?
Printable versions of the Deuces Wild strategy chart are available at Slotsparadise.com.