Deuces Wild
Deuces Wild is a video poker variant in which all four 2s are wild, substituting for any card. Full-pay versions can theoretically return slightly over 100% with perfect play, but such paytables are rare and the optimal strategy is quite different from Jacks or Better.
| Wild Cards | All four 2s |
|---|---|
| Full Pay Rtp | ~100.76% (rare, perfect play) |
| Typical Rtp | ~98%–99% |
| Strategy | Distinct from Jacks or Better |
Wild deuces change everything
With every 2 acting as a wild card, strong hands appear far more often, so the minimum paying hand is raised to three of a kind and the payouts are restructured. The fabled ‘full-pay’ Deuces Wild can return just over 100% with flawless play — a rare positive-expectation game — but those machines are scarce, and most pay 98%–99%. The strategy is meaningfully different from Jacks or Better, so don’t carry one over to the other.
Frequently asked questions
Can Deuces Wild really return over 100%?
Only on rare full-pay machines with flawless strategy. Most versions return 98%–99%, so check the paytable carefully.
Is the strategy the same as Jacks or Better?
No. Wild deuces change which hands to hold, so Deuces Wild needs its own optimal strategy.
Sources
- Video-poker paytable analysis
- Standard RTP references