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Digging the Deuces
The other popular wild-card video poker game is Deuces Wild. Because it has four wild cards, it complicates the strategy that is necessary to succeed at the machines.
Just as in other varieties of video poker, it’s important to note the pay table on Deuces Wild. But it’s not as easy as with Jacks-or-better. Club executives have discovered several different ways to alter the pay tables that will alter the payback percentages.
The object of Deuces Wild, obviously, is to obtain the wild cards to get those valuable hands. But what does it mean when you start off the hand with Deuces?
Even in the highest paying version of Deuces Wild—at 100.6 percent—you will receive No Deuce hands 66 percent of the time, which means that 80 percent of your hands will be losers. Another 14 percent will be the minimum three-of-a-kind winner, which is actually just a push. So if you don’t get a Deuce before the draw, you will actually win only six percent of the time.
The small variations in the pay table are the reason for the variation in payback percentage for expert play.
Some basic rules are not to play any machine that does not pay five-for-one for four-of-a-kind. And most important of all, even if you’ve got a shot at a natural royal, do not discard any Deuce!
I Stand with any ,wtural winning hand, except for a natural straight flush starling with Nine. Discard the Nine and go for the royal.
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Play Poker Against Player
Freddie Rides Again
Once AI left to get some cigarettes when he dropped out of a hand. He paused on the way back and noted that Freddie had played in twin beds on 5, 5, 6, 6, and 10. This is against the percentages. While the chance of making the full house is very high, it wills ordinarily not be enough to win the pot. But he made four 6s and that was certainly enough to take the high.
Then this hand came up. Fred held A., Q., QO, 21V, 2 . The center poker cards were turned two at a time with a bet after the turn of each pair.
As AI thought about this one, he concluded it was one of the strangest hands of twin beds he had ever seen. Fred had been elated when the queen appeared on the second round. (Queens seemed to be glued to Fred that night.) He was even more elated when the pair of aces came up as the last two cards were turned.
Poker Betting
The online poker betting was a fast 30, 60, 90, $1.20. Four players remained for the rolling-one of them had bet and each of the others raised they all rolled a card and the high man bet SO-raise, raise, raise. Again each succeeding player raised, which is unusual. They turned another card and the bet went to $1.20. The next bet reached $1.20 but not as rapidly. Paul pondered awhile and almost raised a dime. This was the pattern when the fourth card was rolled: Al surveyed the board and, strangely enough, there were probably no low players. Frank must have a jack in the hole. He had bet or raised at every possible opportunity, and no other hole card would explain his action. Herb had also played with exceptional strength and had four 9s. He would never have bet so strongly all the way to the end on any other possible holding. Paul could have a 7 low, but his play suggested that he had the missing 6-four 6s.
Al watched Freddie, hoping he would see the situation, but he realized that Fred wasn't concerned. He wasn't studying the jackpot cards at all, quite satisfied with aces full. Frank was high and bet 30 cents. Fred still figured he had it and raised to 60 cents. The next two called and Frank, who could have taken the last call, didn't bother. There was no hope that the others would all call high. He made it 90 cents. This time Fred just called, as did the others.
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