The phrase deuces wild paytable is the single most important thing to check before you sit down at any machine or click “deal” in an online video-poker lobby. Small differences in payouts change the mathematics of the game dramatically — and that affects not just the house edge but the strategy you should use. Below I’ll walk you through how to read a deuces wild paytable, explain how it changes expected value, share practical strategy rules (including common exceptions I learned from playing both live and online), and point out where to look for the best versions of the game.
If you want to explore games and paytables while practicing, try the demo tools at keywords — they make it easy to view paytables and test strategy without risking real money.
What the deuces wild paytable tells you
A paytable lists every winning hand and its payout, usually expressed in coins per coin bet (or in coin multiples for a max bet). In deuces wild, all 2s (deuces) act as wild cards and can substitute for any rank. As a result, the hand rankings differ from standard Jacks or Better: five of a kind becomes possible and is commonly a top prize below the natural royal flush. Typical paytable rows include:
- Natural Royal Flush (no deuces used)
- Four Deuces
- Wild Royal Flush (uses at least one deuce)
- Five of a Kind
- Straight Flush
- Four of a Kind
- Full House
- Flush
- Straight
Two critical takeaways when you read any deuces wild paytable:
- Which high-tier wins are paid most generously — especially the relationship between natural royal, four deuces, and five-of-a-kind — largely determine the return to player (RTP).
- Most casinos offer multiple paytable variants. “Full-pay” deuces wild (a specific set of payouts) has long been known as the most player-friendly. Many land-based and online variants reduce one or two payouts to tilt the math back toward the house.
Sample paytable (common full-pay pattern)
Below is a representative paytable often identified as “full pay” by video-poker players. Use this as an example when comparing machines or game lobbies. Exact formats can vary, but the hierarchy is similar across implementations.
| Hand | Payout (coins per 1 coin bet) |
|---|---|
| Natural Royal Flush | 800 |
| Four Deuces | 200 |
| Wild Royal Flush | 25 |
| Five of a Kind | 15 |
| Straight Flush | 9 |
| Four of a Kind | 4 |
| Full House | 3 |
| Flush | 2 |
| Straight | 2 |
Why numbers matter: a “full-pay” deuces wild configuration like this (played with perfect strategy) is famously near or slightly above break-even — meaning the game can return around or above 100% in the long run. Most real-world offerings reduce one or more of these payouts and drop the RTP into the high-90s or lower. Always compare the machine’s paytable to the above as a baseline.
How the paytable changes strategy
Strategy for deuces wild is driven by two overlapping principles: you must preserve powerful wild combinations (deuces and near-royal draws) while avoiding small, tempting plays that reduce the chance of high pays. Here are practical, experience-based rules I use when playing:
- Always keep any pat (already-made) paying hand: natural royal, four deuces, wild royal, five of a kind, straight flush, four of a kind, etc.
- If you hold a deuce, prioritize it: one deuce plus promising cards often beats holding a single high card that won’t pair.
- Keep four to a natural royal if you have it — but be mindful: if you have a deuce present the value of some draws changes (a four-to-a-royal plus a deuce can be converted to five of a kind or a wild royal).
- Avoid breaking up four deuces unless you’re guaranteed a better pat; the payout for four deuces is large enough to make them sacrosanct.
- With three to a royal and no deuces, fold to four-to-a-flush if the paytable skews flush payments higher; these situational swaps depend on the specific paytable.
These rules reflect general best practices but they’re intentionally simplified. A complete, mathematically optimal strategy chart for each paytable exists and can be memorized or referenced; if you plan to play high stakes or frequently, study the exact table for the game you play.
A real-hand example
Imagine you’re dealt: 2♠, K♣, Q♦, J♥, 10♠. You have a deuce plus a four-card royal (K-Q-J-10). The obvious temptation is to hold the high cards and discard the deuce — don’t. Hold the deuce and the four to a royal. The deuce can turn into a wild royal or complete a five of a kind. In practicum, keeping the deuce improves expected value significantly over discarding it for a simple high-card draw.
RTP and variance considerations
Deuces wild is a high-variance video poker game. The presence of wild cards increases both the frequency of large payouts (five of a kind, four deuces) and the swings you’ll experience session-to-session. Two practical guidelines from my own play and bankroll management:
- Bankroll: plan for longer sessions and bigger bankroll swings than Jacks or Better. A rough rule-of-thumb is to have at least 300–500 times the coin size you’re betting for comfortable play, especially if you’re playing on machines with large top payouts but lower frequency.
- Stakes and coin size: many deuces wild paytables reward playing the maximum number of coins (5-coin bet) because of the boosted natural-royal multiplier. Know the machine’s coin-bonus structure before you start.
Also remember: a “full-pay” deuces wild game with perfect play can be very close to break-even or slightly positive for a mathematically perfect player. In practice, most casino versions lower key payouts and the RTP drops below 100%, so don’t assume automatic advantage unless you’ve verified the paytable.
Where to find the best deuces wild paytable
Before staking real money, do the following checks:
- Open the game’s “Help” or “Paytable” screen. Online lobbies and real machines show every payout clearly.
- Compare the top-tier payouts (natural royal, four deuces, five of a kind) to a known full-pay baseline.
- Check whether the game offers any progressive jackpots or unique multipliers that change the effective RTP.
For practice and research, sites with free-play modes and clear paytable displays are invaluable. If you want a place to try different paytables quickly, see the practice options at keywords, which make it easy to compare variants side-by-side.
Common pitfalls and final tips
Players often make the following mistakes when they ignore the paytable or rely on intuition alone:
- Breaking up deuces too often for partial straights or flushes that have lower EV.
- Failing to bet max coins when the machine’s bonus structure requires it for the best RTP.
- Playing a seemingly “fun” variant without realizing the house edge is significantly higher than full-pay versions.
To improve quickly: spend time with a strategy trainer, review hand-by-hand decisions, and memorize the top 10–20 decision rules for your chosen paytable. Even a small proficiency improvement can shift long-term results substantially because video poker is one of the few casino games where player decisions materially affect expected return.
Summary — make the paytable your compass
In short, the deuces wild paytable is where the game’s math lives. Treat it like a map before you play: check it, understand the high-payout relationships, and adapt your strategy to the exact payouts listed. With careful selection of paytables, disciplined bankrolls, and a solid strategy, you can minimize the house edge and enjoy a game that rewards thoughtful play and patience.
If you’re interested in comparing paytables or practicing without risk, the demo and paytable viewers at keywords are a useful next step — try a few variants, note the differences, and then choose the machine that offers both the payout structure and volatility that match your goals.
Whether you play casually or study to improve, making the deuces wild paytable your first concern will make you a smarter, more profitable player over time.
