Deuces Wild Appendix 1

Introduction

In full pay deuces wild video poker, when faced with the choice between (1) keeping just a deuce or (2) holding three cards towards a royal flush, including a deuce and an ace—provided there are no cards that could disrupt the royal by forming a flush or straight—the ideal decision is to aim for the royal flush. For instance, consider the following hand: 2 of clubs, 3 of diamonds, 6 of diamonds, Q of spades, A of spades.

Typically, the optimal choice in such scenarios is to retain the deuce, queen, and ace. Nonetheless, this particular decision is among the few exceptions. Below, you will find a comprehensive list of these exceptions, ordered first based on whether the two cards being discarded share a suit and then according to the highest suited card alongside the ace. Pairs of discards falling under the exception are detailed.

• 10: none.
• Jack: 3/4.
• Queen: 3/4, 3/5, 3/6.
• King: 3/4, 3/5, 3/6, 3/7, 3/9, 4/5, 4/6.

• 10: 3/4.
• Jack: 3/4, 3/5.
• Queen: 3/4, 3/5, 3/6, 4/5.
• King: 3/4, 3/5, 3/6, 3/7, 3/8, 3/9, 4/5, 4/6.

There exists an alternative exception that works in the opposite direction. When holding 2/A/J/10/7, in which the ace is paired with either the jack or the ten and the other cards have different suits from each other and from the royal flush, it is advisable to keep the three cards leading to the wild royal, even with the penalty card involved. Awareness of this exception can save you one cent for each $392,584.27 you wager in the machine.

Written by: Michael Shackleford