Video poker strategy variations

Different versions of video poker use one or more variations on the rules, as well as different payout schedules. This will affect both the game play and your overall strategy.

For instance, deuces Wild games use a 52-card pack but are different to Jacks or Better in that the twos or deuces are wildcards. This means that they can be used as any value in any suit. Given that there are 4 deuces in the pack and only 52 cards, it is likely that you will end up with at least one of them in your hand around a third of the time.

Clearly this has a big impact on the type of hands that you will be able to achieve, which explains why you will not normally be rewarded with any payout for anything less than three of a kind, while five of a kind will pay out only 15 for 1.

One of the key things you should do with a deuces wild game is play a little more slowly. Taking a little longer to evaluate your hand is necessary, since you cannot always immediately see some of the potentially strong hands that are available to you when you are dealt one, two or three deuces.

Some basic rules of thumb for deuces wild games:

1. Look out for straights, flushes, straight flushes and Royal Flushes that can be made up with one or more deuces.
2. Two deuces and three of a kind is five of a kind.
3. Two deuces and a pair is four of a kind.
4. With two deuces and two cards to either a straight flush or a Royal Flush, you should keep those four cards and draw one new one
5. With two deuces and one card to a Royal Flush, keep those three cards and draw two new ones.
6. With two deuces and nothing else, you should draw three new cards to the deuces.
7. With one deuce and three to a Royal Flush, always discard the other card.
8. If you have no deuces and have a winning hand, retain the winning hand.
9. If you have been dealt two pairs, discard the lower pair – two pairs is not a winning hand and your chances of getting another card to make up a full house are only 4 in 47.
10. Your best course of action is often to draw five new cards.

Another variation is Joker Poker, where an extra card or even two extra cards are added to the pack. Again, the payout schedule may be different as might be the minimum requirement for a winning hand. Some games even combine the use of jokers, deuces, multiple decks and unusual bonuses, resulting in games that are not necessarily any more complex, but which require you to adopt different playing strategies once you have assessed how the payout schedule and card composition should affect your approach to the game.

These games should be approached with caution whilst you are learning. It makes more sense to gain a masterful understanding of the more ‘transparent’ versions before you start having to factor in the probability effect of wildcards into your play. That is of course unless you just want to play for the fun of it, in which case it makes no difference at all…