Deuces Wild Calculator: Strategy & Pay Tables Guide (2026)
Deuces Wild Calculator: Master Wild Card Video Poker
Deuces Wild transforms video poker by making all four 2s wild cards. This creates more winning hands but requires completely different strategy. Our free calculator analyzes pay tables and shows optimal holds for any hand.
What Is Deuces Wild?
Deuces Wild is video poker where all 2s substitute for any card. Four wild cards dramatically increase winning frequency but change the pay table to compensate.
Quick Answer: Full-pay Deuces Wild (FPDW) returns 100.76% with perfect strategy—one of the only positive expectation games in the casino. The key is finding full-pay machines (increasingly rare) and mastering the unique strategy where natural royals pay less but wild hands pay more.
How to Use Our Free Deuces Wild Calculator
Use the Deuces Wild Calculator →
Enter the pay table to see expected return and get optimal strategy.
Step-by-Step Instructions
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Enter Pay Table: Input payouts for each hand
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View Expected Return: See theoretical RTP
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Input Your Hand: Get optimal hold recommendations
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Compare Machines: Find the best pay tables
Input Fields Explained
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Royal | Without wilds | 800 |
| Four Deuces | All four 2s | 200 |
| Wild Royal | Royal with deuces | 25 |
| Five of a Kind | With wilds | 15 |
| Expected Return | Theoretical RTP | 100.76% |
Understanding Deuces Wild Pay Tables
Full-Pay Deuces Wild (FPDW)
| Hand | Payout (per coin) |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Expected Return: 100.76%
Common Pay Table Variations
| Version | Four Deuces | Wild Royal | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Pay | 200 | 25 | 100.76% |
| Not So Ugly (NSUD) | 200 | 25 | 99.73% |
| Loose Deuces | 500 | 25 | 100.97% |
| Colorado Deuces | 200 | 20 | 98.91% |
| Airport Deuces | 200 | 20 | 94.34% |
Check pay tables carefully—variations look similar but returns differ dramatically.
Deuces Wild Strategy Fundamentals
Strategy Changes with Deuces
The number of deuces in your hand completely changes strategy:
No Deuces: Play similar to standard video poker but value straights/flushes more
One Deuce: Never break from one deuce for a drawing hand
Two Deuces: Hold any paying hand, draw three
Three Deuces: Hold all three, draw two
Four Deuces: Done—maximum hand (hold all five)
Basic Strategy by Deuce Count
No Deuces (Most Common):
- Pat royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind
- Four to a royal
- Pat full house, flush, straight, three of a kind
- Four to a straight flush
- Three to a royal
- One pair (discard other pair from two pair!)
- Four to a flush
- Four to an outside straight
- Three to a straight flush
- Discard everything
One Deuce:
- All paying hands (three of a kind+)
- Four to a wild royal
- Four to a straight flush
- Three to a wild royal
- Three to a straight flush
- Deuce only (discard everything else)
Two Deuces:
- All paying hands (wild royal through four of a kind)
- Four to a wild royal
- Two deuces only
Real-World Deuces Wild Examples
Example 1: No Deuces Decision
Hand: K♠ K♥ 7♦ 8♦ 9♦
Options:
- Keep pair of kings: EV = 0.56
- Keep 7-8-9 diamonds (three to SF): EV = 0.65
Correct: Keep the three to straight flush. Unlike Jacks or Better, straight flush draws beat high pairs in Deuces Wild.
Example 2: One Deuce
Hand: 2♠ J♥ 10♥ 4♣ 7♦
Options:
- Keep deuce only: EV = 2.54
- Keep deuce + J-10: EV = 2.41
Correct: Keep deuce only. One deuce alone has higher EV than deuce with suited high cards.
Example 3: Two Deuces
Hand: 2♠ 2♥ A♣ K♦ Q♠
Options:
- Keep both deuces + AKQ: EV = 3.41
- Keep deuces only: EV = 7.38
Correct: Keep only the two deuces. Never hold non-deuce cards with two deuces unless you have a paying hand.
Example 4: Breaking Two Pair
Hand: K♠ K♥ 9♦ 9♣ 3♠ (no deuces)
Correct: Keep only ONE pair (kings). In Deuces Wild, two pair pays the same as three of a kind, so keeping one pair gives you better drawing odds.
Finding Full-Pay Deuces Wild
Where to Look
Las Vegas:
- Downtown casinos (becoming rare)
- Locals casinos occasionally
- High-denomination machines
Online:
- Some regulated sites offer FPDW
- Verify pay table before playing
Identifying Full Pay
Check these key payouts:
- Four Deuces: 200
- Wild Royal: 25
- Straight Flush: 9
- Four of a Kind: 5
All four must match for true full-pay.
Bankroll for Deuces Wild
Variance Considerations
Deuces Wild has moderate-high variance:
- Four deuces: ~1 in 4,900 hands
- Natural royal: ~1 in 49,000 hands
- Most return comes from four of a kind
Recommended Bankroll
| Denomination | Session Bankroll |
|---|---|
| $0.25 | $300-400 |
| $0.50 | $600-800 |
| $1.00 | $1,200-1,600 |
| $5.00 | $6,000-8,000 |
Why Larger Than Jacks or Better?
- Higher variance
- Four deuces is a significant portion of return
- Natural royals are rarer (harder to make without wilds)
Common Deuces Wild Mistakes
1. Playing Jacks or Better Strategy
Mistake: Treating deuces like standard video poker Reality: Strategy is completely different Fix: Learn deuce-specific strategy
2. Keeping Two Pair
Mistake: Holding both pairs Reality: Two pair pays same as three of a kind Fix: Keep one pair, draw three
3. Breaking from Deuces
Mistake: Discarding a deuce Reality: Never discard a deuce—ever Fix: Always hold all deuces
4. Ignoring Pay Table Differences
Mistake: Assuming all Deuces Wild is the same Reality: Return varies from 94% to 100%+ Fix: Verify full-pay before sitting down
5. Holding Kickers with Deuces
Mistake: 2♠ K♥ - keeping the king Reality: Deuce alone has higher EV Fix: With one deuce, usually hold deuce only
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Deuces Wild better than Jacks or Better?
Full-pay Deuces Wild (100.76%) beats full-pay Jacks or Better (99.54%). But full-pay DW is much rarer.
Why does two pair only pay like three of a kind?
With four wild cards, three of a kind is much more common. The pay table adjusts to maintain house edge.
Should I always hold all deuces?
Yes, always. A single deuce is worth holding alone. Never discard a deuce for any reason.
Can I really have positive expectation?
Yes, full-pay Deuces Wild returns 100.76%. The challenge is finding machines and playing perfect strategy.
Why is the natural royal payout lower?
Natural royals are rarer when you're not chasing them (often holding deuces instead). The strategy shifts payouts to more common hands.
How hard is Deuces Wild strategy?
Harder than Jacks or Better due to multiple strategy tables (0-4 deuces). Expect 2-4 weeks to master.
Advanced Deuces Concepts
Expected Value by Hand Type
| Hand | Contribution to Return |
|---|---|
| Natural Royal | 1.76% |
| Four Deuces | 4.08% |
| Wild Royal | 1.78% |
| Five of a Kind | 3.21% |
| Straight Flush | 4.42% |
| Four of a Kind | 32.37% |
| Full House | 4.72% |
| Flush | 3.34% |
| Straight | 5.00% |
| Three of a Kind | 40.08% |
Over 70% of return comes from four of a kind and three of a kind.
Sequential Royal Bonus
Some machines offer bonus for natural royal in sequence (10-J-Q-K-A of same suit dealt in order):
- Bonus can be 10,000+ coins
- Changes strategy slightly toward royal draws
- Still very rare to hit
Pro Tips for Deuces Wild
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Find full-pay first: Everything else is secondary
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Master deuce count strategy: Different rules for 0-4 deuces
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Never discard deuces: Absolute rule, no exceptions
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Expect four of a kinds: They're your bread and butter
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Practice extensively: Strategy is complex, mistakes are costly
Related Video Poker Calculators
- Video Poker Pay Table Calculator - Compare all games
- Jacks or Better Calculator - Classic VP
- Double Bonus Calculator - Bonus variants
- Joker Wild Calculator - Single wild card
- Video Poker Bankroll Calculator - Session planning
Conclusion
Deuces Wild offers the rare opportunity for positive expectation gambling—if you find full-pay machines and master the unique strategy. Our calculator analyzes any pay table, shows expected return, and provides optimal hold decisions for every hand configuration.
Calculate Your Deuces Wild Strategy Now →
At 100.76% return, full-pay Deuces Wild is one of gambling's best kept secrets. The wild cards change everything—embrace the different strategy, find the right machines, and enjoy one of the casino's only beatable games.
