Deuces Wild video poker: four wild cards in the deck
In Deuces Wild every 2 is wild. Hands rank the same as poker, but the lowest paying hand is three of a kind, and new hands like five of a kind appear. The full-pay version returns about 100.8% with perfect play.
Reviewed Oct 14, 2026
Answer first
90s| Hand | Full pay (per coin) | Common lower pay |
|---|---|---|
| Natural royal flush | 800 | 800 |
| Four deuces | 200 | 200 |
| Wild royal flush | 25 | 25 |
| Five of a kind | 15 | 15 |
| Straight flush | 9 | 9 |
| Four of a kind | 5 | 4 |
| Full house | 3 | 3 |
| Flush | 2 | 2 |
| Straight | 2 | 2 |
| Three of a kind | 1 | 1 |
Key numbers
Deuces Wild in four numbers
In short
Key takeaways
- With four wild cards, three of a kind is the minimum paying hand.
- Strategy depends first on how many deuces you hold.
- Never discard a deuce.
- Small pay table changes, such as 4 for quads, drop the return below 99%.
Cheat sheet
Deuces Wild hands
Glance the faces — compare in one second.
1Four deuces
Pays 200 per coin
2Five of a kind
Pays 15
3Wild royal
Pays 25
4Three of a kind
Pays 1 — the minimum
Return by version (perfect play)
| Version | Four of a kind | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Full pay | 5 | About 100.8% |
| Not So Ugly Ducks | 4 (five of a kind 16, SF 10) | About 99.7% |
| Common short pay | 4 | About 94%–97% |
Check the full house and quads pays first.
Strategy by deuces held
With four deuces, hold them and draw one. With three, hold them unless you have a wild royal or five of a kind.
With two, hold made quads or better and strong straight flush draws. With one or none, follow a full chart, since pat hands and draws compete.
Sequence
Playing Deuces Wild
Step 01
Check the pay table
Full house and quads pays tell the version.
Step 02
Bet five coins
For the 800 royal.
Step 03
Count your deuces
Strategy starts there.
Step 04
Hold all deuces
Never throw one away.
Step 05
Draw
Use a strategy card if allowed.
Why the return is so high
Full-pay Deuces Wild is one of the few casino games that can return over 100% with perfect play. Casinos offer it rarely and with low limits.
Most players make small mistakes, so real returns are lower.
Hit frequency
Deuces Wild pays on about 45% of hands, similar to Jacks or Better, but more of those hits are three of a kind.
Variance is higher because four deuces and royals carry much of the return.
Floor rules
Deuces terms
Know before you sit
- Wild card
- A card that can stand for any rank or suit.
- Natural royal
- A royal flush with no deuces.
- Wild royal
- A royal flush made with deuces.
- Full pay
- The best common pay table.
Where the return comes from
Four deuces and natural royals are rare but account for a large share of the return. Most sessions see neither.
Short sessions often run below the long-run return, which is why bankroll matters even on full-pay games.
Common mistakes
- Discarding a deuce
- Every deuce is worth holding. Throwing one away gives up value.
- Holding pairs as if they pay
- A pair does not pay. With no deuces, pairs are kept only as draws.
- Ignoring the pay table
- A one-unit cut on quads costs about 5% of return.
- Playing short coins
- The 800 royal needs five coins.
Keep reading
Related pages
Go play
Where to play in Las Vegas
Tap a resort — each row opens that casino’s White Gambling page (hours, game mix, floor facts). Venues with this game in official counts, sorted high to low.
Open a casino page
Real listings · not adsAfter the 90 seconds
Questions before and after you play
A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.
01Basics
What is Deuces Wild?
A video poker game where all four 2s are wild. The lowest paying hand is three of a kind.
What is the best Deuces Wild pay table?
Full pay: 800, 200, 25, 15, 9, 5, 3, 2, 2, 1. It returns about 100.8% with perfect play.
How do I spot the version?
Look at the pays for four of a kind and full house. Full pay shows 5 for quads and 3 for a full house.
02Strategy
Should I ever discard a deuce?
No. Every deuce adds value; holding them is always right. Details vary by game, so check the help screen first.
What do I hold with no deuces?
Pat straights or better, then strong draws like four to a royal. A full chart covers the rest.
Is Deuces Wild harder than Jacks or Better?
A little, because strategy depends on the deuce count, but strategy cards make it manageable.
03Where to play
Is full-pay Deuces Wild common?
It is rare and mostly found in Las Vegas locals casinos at lower denominations. Details vary by game, so check the help screen first.
Is Deuces Wild offered online?
Many licensed online casinos offer it, usually with the pay table in the help screen.
Can I really win long-term?
Only full-pay versions with perfect play exceed 100%, and small mistakes erase the edge.
Sources
- Wizard of Odds — Deuces Wild Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry)The gaming industry’s standard reference for casino-game math, by actuary Michael Shackleford. Not an official registry; our calculators compute these numbers independently. · accessed Oct 14, 2026Rules, odds and house edge
- Wizard of Odds — Video poker Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry)The gaming industry’s standard reference for casino-game math, by actuary Michael Shackleford. Not an official registry; our calculators compute these numbers independently. · accessed Oct 14, 2026Rules, odds and house edge
- Nevada Gaming Control Board · accessed Oct 14, 2026Approved games and gaming revenue reports
- National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 14, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER