‘BONUS DEUCES’ DEUCES WILD STRATEGY One of the most common Deuces Wild variations is the ‘Bonus Deuces‘ genre of games.I say ‘genre‘ of games because there are several ‘spin-offs’ on the original ‘Bonus Deuces Wild‘.There’s also ‘Double Deuces Wild‘, ‘Double Bonus Deuces Wild‘ and the same game under a different name ‘Deuces Wild Bonus Poker‘. Deuces Wild Video Poker Strategy. What your gameplay will be depends upon how many deuces you will get as they act as a wild card. You have to remember that you only get a payout if you have a three of a kind or higher, so you need to play accordingly so your bets are actually worth it.
The gameplay in Deuces Wild Bonus Poker is no different than it is in any other video poker game. You start by deciding how many coins you want to bet. As with most VP games, you can choose to play for anywhere between 1 and 5 coins.
But you should always bet 5 coins, no matter what.
Here’s why:
The best paying hand in the game is the royal flush, and it pays off at 800 to 1—but only if you’ve made the max coin bet. If you bet 4 coins or fewer, the royal flush only pays off at 250 to 1. A royal flush only shows up once every 40,000 hands or so, but the payout for the hand is so high that it makes a noticeable difference in your overall payback percentage.
Once you’ve placed your bet, you’re dealt a hand of 5 cards. Keep in mind that Deuces Wild Bonus Poker is a gambling machine. When we way that you’re dealt a hand of 5 cards, we’re talking about animation on a computer monitor. But one of the big differences between video poker and slot machines is the use of a deck of cards.
Here’s why that’s important:
On a slot machine, you get paid off based on what combination of symbols appear on the screen. But you have no way to know what the odds of getting a particular symbol are. You also have no decisions to make which can affect your odds.
A slot machine is a completely opaque game where you insert money and sometimes get money back. You have no way of knowing what the inner workings of the game are.
But a video poker machine, on the other hand, bases its symbols on playing cards. And they base the probability of getting any of those symbols on a deck of playing cards, too. Any particular card has a probability of 1/52 of showing up.
The major one is that, since the payoffs for the game are based on poker hand rankings, we can calculate the payback percentage for the machine. We’ll talk about that more in the section on probability and pay tables below, but for now, the main thing to know is that we have the information we need to calculate the house edge for Bonus Deuces Wild.
Once you get your 5 cards, you get to decide if you want to keep all of them or some of them. The cards you decide to get rid of are replaced by the computer, and your final hand ranking determines how much you get paid in winnings.
This is an important distinction, too. Not only do we know the math behind the game, but we have decisions to make. These decisions can affect our return on the machine.
Here’s a simple, absurd example of how incorrect play could cost you a lot of money on a video poker machine.
Let’s say you’re dealt a natural royal flush. You still have the option of discarding any or all of those cards. If you do so, you give up an 800 to 1 payoff. No matter what happens, you’re going to come out way behind where you would have come out if you had just held onto your natural royal flush.
Every hand has 32 possible ways to play it, based on which cards and how many you keep and/or discard. That might sound like a lot, but it’s not too hard to break it down:
You can keep all 5 cards. That’s one choice.
You can discard all 5 cards. That another choice, for a total of 2.
You can discard 4 cards and keep 1 card. There are 5 different ways to do that, based on which cards you keep and which one you throw away.
And so on, all the way down to keeping a single card and discarding the other 4.
Deuces Wild Poker Strategy Guide
Of all 32 of these choices, on any given hand, only one choice will have the highest expected value. The expected value is the probability of winding up with a given payoff averaged across all the possibilities and factoring in the likelihood of each.
Here’s the other distinguishing characteristic of this game, and you probably already figured it out.
The 2s count as wild cards. They can stand in for a card that you need in order to complete a hand. This makes the play of this game considerably different from what you’d expect playing something like Jacks or Better. The wild cards make it more likely that you’ll have a stronger hand.
Once you get your final hand, you get paid off based on the pay table. It lists all the possible final hands along with how much they pay off. We cover the details of Deuces Wild Bonus Poker pay tables in the next section
The Game
Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild (NSUDW) represents another good gaming option for beginners, which offers an expected return of 99.73%. Some experts refer to it as a 20/20 game, as a player will earn 20 coins for every 5-coin bet he/she makes, if he/she holds a Full House or Four of a Kind. In addition, the game will pay 16 coins per 1-coin bet for a combination such as Five of a Kind and 10 coins per 1-coin bet for a Straight Flush.
The label ”not so ugly” is credited to video poker writer Skip Hughes.
This game version is offered on machines with larger denominations and is considered as legal in those states, which decree less-than-100-percent returns. These two circumstances explain why the game is easier to find than Full-Pay Deuces Wild.
At times casinos may downgrade Full-Pay Deuces Wild (they may reduce the percentage of return offered by the game). In such cases Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild is the game to replace it.
We should note that Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild requires a very different playing strategy compared to that used for the Full-Pay Deuces Wild game.
There is another variation of the Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild game, called ”pseudo Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild” (pNSUDW). It will usually pay 15 coins per 1-coin bet for a combination such as Five of a Kind and 9 coins per 1-coin bet for a Straight Flush. It is also a casino advantage game, as it offers an expected return of 98.91%.
Last but not least, a similar game to Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild was recently added to IGT's game compilation. As a variation, it will pay 15 coins per 1-coin bet for a combination such as Five of a Kind and 11 coins per 1-coin bet for a Straight Flush. Its expected return is higher than that offered by the traditional Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild game, or 99.96%.
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Now, let us take a look at the pay table for each of the three games we mentioned above.
| Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild Pay Tables | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| NSUDW | pNSUDW | IGT NSUDW | |
| Royal Flush | 800 | 800 | 800 |
| Four Deuces | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| Royal Flush w/2 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Five of a Kind | 16 | 15 | 15 |
| Straight Flush | 10 | 9 | 11 |
| Four of a Kind | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Full House | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Flush | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Straight | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Three of a Kind | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Expected Return | 99.73% | 98.91% | 99.96% |
The Strategy
We are going to present the play strategy for Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild in a table form, where the possible combinations are shown in order, with the highest-ranking hand being on top. The table should be examined from top to bottom, so that one is able to locate the particular hand he/she was dealt. The first column of the table shows the different hands dealt, while the second one points out which cards, if any, one needs to hold. After a player has found the specific combination, he/she needs to conform with the instructions in the second column, unless, of course, his/her situation matches one of the exceptions in the third column. If the latter is true, the player needs to conform with the instructions in the third column, where exceptions are presented in order of relevance. If number one exception matches one's situation, he/she needs to follow it. If not, he/she will need to move further to the number two exception and etc. The fourth column features actions one should never take when dealt that particular hand. It includes useful information, which could prevent costly mistakes.
Jacks or Better
8/5 Bonus Poker
9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe
Full Pay Deuces Wild
Not So Ugly Deuces Wild
| Dealt Hand (What is available) | What needs to be done | Exceptions | Actions one should avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Royal Flush | Hold a Natural Royal Flush | None | 1. One should abstain from selecting the Double Down option, which may be available. |
| Wild Royal Flush | Hold Wild Royal Flush (a combination containing one, two or three Deuces) | 1. When playing a progressive Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild that pays over 5 365 coins, if one has one Deuce, he/she should discard it and keep four to a Natural Royal Flush. | 1. One should never keep three Deuces over a Wild Royal Flush. He/she should keep the Wild Royal Flush. 2. Unless playing a progressive Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild that pays over 5 365 coins, one should never keep four to the Royal Flush over the Wild Royal Flush. He/she should keep the Wild Royal Flush. |
| Four Deuces | Hold Four Deuces | None | None |
| Five of a Kind | Hold Five of a Kind | None | 1. One should never keep three Deuces over Five of a Kind. He/she should always keep Five of a Kind. |
| Straight Flush | Hold Straight Flush | 1. One should keep three Deuces. | 1. One should never keep a Straight Flush over three Deuces. He/she should keep the three Deuces only. |
| Four of a Kind | Hold Four of a Kind | 1. One should keep three Deuces. | 1. One should never keep Four of a Kind over three Deuces. He/she should keep the three Deuces only. |
| Full House | Hold Full House | None | None |
| Flush | Hold Flush | 1. One should keep four to a Royal Flush or four to a Wild Royal Flush. 2. One should keep four to a Straight Flush, in case they include two Deuces and two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or two Deuces and two cards Five and higher, with one gap. 3. One should keep two Deuces. | 1. One should never keep a Flush over four to a Royal Flush. He/she should keep the four to a Royal Flush only. 2. One should never keep a Flush over four to a Straight Flush with two Deuces, two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or over four to a Straight Flush with two Deuces, two cards Five and higher, with one gap. He/she should keep the four cards instead. 3. One should never keep a Flush over Two Deuces. He/she should keep the Deuces only. |
| Straight | Hold Straight | 1. One should keep four to a Royal Flush. 2. One should keep four to a Straight Flush, in case they include two Deuces and two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or two Deuces and two cards Five and higher, with one gap. 3. One should keep two Deuces. | 1. One should never keep a Straight over four to a Royal Flush. He/she should keep the four to a Royal Flush only. 2. One should never keep a Straight over four to a Straight Flush with two Deuces, two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or over four to a Straight Flush with two Deuces, two cards Five and higher, with one gap. He/she should keep the four cards instead. 3. One should never keep a Straight over Two Deuces. He/she should keep the Deuces only. |
| Three of a Kind | Hold Three of a Kind | 1. One should keep four to a Wild Royal Flush. 2. One should keep four to a Straight Flush, in case they include two Deuces and two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps (Four and Five of Spades); or two Deuces and two cards Five and higher, with one gap (Five and Seven of Spades). 3. One should keep two Deuces. 4. One should keep four to a Straight Flush with one Deuce. | 1. One should never keep Three of a Kind over four to a Wild Royal Flush. He/she should keep four to a Wild Royal only. 2. One should never keep Three of a Kind over four to a Straight Flush with two Deuces, two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or two Deuces, two cards Five and higher, with one gap. He/she should keep the four to a Straight Flush. 3. One should never keep Three of a Kind over two Deuces. He/she should keep the two Deuces only. 4. One should never keep one Deuce over four to a Straight Flush. He/she should keep the four to a Straight Flush only. |
| Two Pair | Hold Two Pair | 1. One should keep three to a Royal Flush. | 1. One should never keep Two Pair over three to a Royal Flush. He/she should keep the three to a Royal Flush only. 2. One should never keep a Pair when dealt Two Pair. He/she should keep both pairs. |
| One Pair (0 Deuces) | Hold the Pair | 1. One should keep three to a Royal Flush. 2. One should keep Four to a Flush. | 1. One should never keep a Pair over three to a Royal Flush. He/she should keep the three to a Royal Flush. 2. One should never keep a Pair over Four to a Flush. He/she should keep the Four to a Flush. |
| Four to a Flush | Hold Four to a Flush | 1. One should keep four to a Straight Flush with one Deuce. 2. One should keep three to a Wild Royal Flush or three to a Natural Royal Flush. 3. One should keep three to a Straight Flush, in case they include one Deuce and two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or one Deuce and two cards Five and Higher, with one gap. 4. One should keep one Deuce. | 1. One should never keep a Four to a Flush over three to a Wild Royal Flush or three to a Natural Royal Flush. He/she should keep the three to a Royal Flush. 2. One should never keep a Four to a Flush over three to a Straight Flush with one Deuce, two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or over three to a Straight Flush with one Deuce, two cards Five and higher, with one gap. He/she should keep the three to a Straight Flush. 3. One should never keep a Four to a Flush over one Deuce. He/she should keep the Deuce only. 4. One should never discard a Natural Four to a Flush (Four to a Flush which has no Deuces). He/she should keep the Natural Four to a Flush. |
| Open-Ended Four-Straight | Hold Open-Ended Four-Straight | 1. One should keep three to a Wild Royal Flush or three to a Natural Royal Flush. 2. One should keep three to a Straight Flush, in case they include one Deuce and two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or one Deuce and two cards Five and higher, with one gap. 3. One should keep one Deuce, unless he/she has a Deuce and unsuited Six, Seven, Eight; Seven, Eight, Nine; Eight, Nine, Ten; Nine, Ten, Jack. Then, he/she should keep the four-card combination. | 1. One should never keep four to a Straight over three to a Wild Royal Flush or three to a Natural Royal Flush. He/she should keep the three to a Royal Flush. 2. One should never keep four to a Straight over three to a Straight Flush with one Deuce, two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or over three to a Straight Flush with one Deuce, two cards Five and higher, with one gap. He/she should keep the three to a Straight Flush. 3. One should never keep four to a Straight with a Deuce. Instead, he/she should keep the Deuce only. Exceptions are one Deuce and unsuited Six, Seven, Eight; Seven, Eight, Nine; Eight, Nine, Ten; Nine, Ten, Jack. Then, he/she should keep the four-card combination. |
| Inside Four-Straight | Hold Inside Four-Straight | 1. One should keep three to a Wild Royal Flush or three to a Natural Royal Flush. 2. One should keep three to a Straight Flush, in case they include one Deuce and two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or one Deuce and two cards Five and higher, with one gap. 3. One should keep three to a Straight Flush with no Deuces. 4. One should keep one Deuce. 5. One should keep suited Jack and Ten, or Jack and Queen, or Queen and Ten. 6. In case the Inside Four-Straight includes an unsuited Ace, Three, Four, Five, then one should keep nothing. | 1. One should never keep a Straight over three to a Wild Royal Flush or three to a Natural Royal Flush. He/she should keep the three to a Royal Flush. 2. One should never keep four to a Straight over three to a Straight Flush with one Deuce, two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or over three to a Straight Flush with one Deuce, two cards Five and higher, with one gap. He/she should keep the three to a Straight Flush. 3. One should never keep Inside Four-Straight over three to a Straight Flush with no Deuces. He/she should keep the three to a Straight Flush. 4. One should never keep Inside Four-Straight over one Deuce. He/she should keep the Deuce only. 5. One should never keep an Inside Four-Straight over a suited Jack and Ten, or Jack and Queen, or Queen and Ten. Instead, he/she should keep the suited two cards. 6. One should never keep an unsuited Ace, Three, Four, Five. |
| Three to a Straight Flush (0 Deuces) | Hold three to a Natural Straight Flush (a Straight Flush that has no Deuces) | None | None |
| Three to a Straight Flush (one Deuce) | Hold one Deuce | 1. One should keep three to a Wild Royal Flush with one Deuce. 2. One should keep three to a Straight Flush, in case they include one Deuce and two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or one Deuce and two cards Five and higher, with one gap. | 1. One should never discard three to a Wild Royal Flush with one Deuce. He/she should keep three to a Wild Royal Flush. 2. One should never discard three to a Straight Flush with one Deuce, Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or three to a Straight Flush with one Deuce, Five and higher, with one gap. He/she should keep the three to a Straight Flush. |
| High Cards | Hold nothing | 1. One should keep three to a Royal Flush. 2. One should keep two to a Royal Flush, unless one of the cards is an Ace. If that is indeed the case, he/she should keep nothing. 3. One should keep one Deuce. | 1. One should never keep 2 or 3 unrelated high cards. If there are such, he/she should keep nothing. 2. One should never discard three to a Royal Flush. 3. One should never keep two to a Royal Flush, in case one of the cards is an Ace. If that is indeed the case, he/she should keep nothing. 4. One should never discard one Deuce. |