Deuces Wild is perhaps the most popular video poker game in the United States. An online version has also attracted a large and loyal player group. Video poker machines with Deuces Wild can be found in many bars and clubs, in addition to casinos. The objective is to have a winning five-card poker hand with one draw. Credits are given for three of a kind or better. (Pairs do not score.) Deuces are wild, of course.

If you have a win, you can decide to “collect” (obtain the credit and play again) or “double.” This option is makes a comparison of two cards for the amount of the bet placed on the poker hand. One is the dealer’s card, and the player gets to choose one card from four dealt face down. If the player wins the challenge, he or she can double again. There is also a “half double” option that risks only half the winnings. If the winnings exceed some high ceiling, set by the house, players are not allowed to double or redouble.

The house edge on Deuces Wild is determined by the payoff schedule. At the top, almost all pay 800 for a natural royal flush, 200 for 4 deuces, 25 for a wild royal flush, and 15 for five of a kind. At the bottom, all pay 0 for two pair or less, 1 for three of a kind, 2 for a straight. The hands in between (flush to straight flush) are where the variation is. There is a version that pays, in the long run, 0.76% more than the value wagered, a positive edge for the player. Most Deuces Wild machines run in the range of 98% to 99%. By being stingy about flushes, full houses and four of a kind, the machine payouts can drop as low as 94%.