Deuces Wild 20/12/10/4/4/3 Strategy
Deuces Wild 20/12/10/4/4/3 returns 97.58% with perfect play at low volatility. The pay table and numbers below are computed combinatorially, not estimated.
Pay table
| Hand | Pays (per coin) | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Royal Flush | 800 | 1.82% |
| Four Deuces | 200 | 3.69% |
| Wild Royal Flush | 20 | 3.56% |
| Five Of A Kind | 12 | 3.58% |
| Wild Straight Flush | 10 | 5.46% |
| Wild Four Of A Kind | 4 | 24.34% |
| Wild Full House | 4 | 10.44% |
| Wild Flush | 3 | 6.37% |
| Wild Straight | 2 | 11.64% |
| Wild Three Of A Kind | 1 | 26.68% |
Royal-flush payouts above show the per-coin value at max bet — always bet five coins to earn the full royal jackpot.
Key numbers
- Return with perfect play: 97.58%
- Royal flush: about 1 in 44,072 hands
- Hit frequency (paying hand or better): 44.4%
- Volatility: Low
How strategy works
From the five cards you're dealt, the correct hold is the one with the highest expected value — the average coins it returns over the long run. The biggest payouts here are Natural Royal Flush (800), Four Deuces (200), Wild Royal Flush (20), which shape which draws are worth chasing. PerfectPLAY computes the optimal hold and its expected value for every possible hand, so you can learn the exact play rather than a rule of thumb.
You’re reading original analysis. Every hold and expected value here is calculated in-house by PerfectPLAY.vegas for this exact pay table — nothing aggregated, nothing taken from elsewhere. These are never generic charts copied from another site.
Hand-by-hand strategy
The optimal hold and its expected value for every key decision in Deuces Wild 20/12/10/4/4/3, computed combinatorially by vpengine — not rules of thumb.
4 to a Royal Flush — over a made wild flush
Optimal hold: 4 to a Royal Flush — EV 19.25 coins. Next best: holding 4 to Wild Straight Flush — EV 17.12 coins (margin 2.13 coins). The optimal play discards a made wild flush (pays 15 coins).
4 to a Royal Flush — over a made wild straight
Optimal hold: 4 to a Royal Flush — EV 96.27 coins. The optimal play discards a made wild straight (pays 10 coins).
4 to a Royal Flush — over a made wild straight flush
Optimal hold: 4 to a Royal Flush — EV 96.80 coins. The optimal play discards a made wild straight flush (pays 50 coins).
4 to a Royal Flush — vs Hold 1 pair: 3 through Ace
Optimal hold: 4 to a Royal Flush — EV 96.48 coins. Next best: holding 1 pair — EV 2.70 coins (margin 93.78 coins).
3 of a kind — over a made five of a kind
Optimal hold: 3 of a kind — EV 69.76 coins. The optimal play discards a made five of a kind (pays 60 coins).
3 of a kind — over a made wild straight flush
Optimal hold: 3 of a kind — EV 69.94 coins. The optimal play discards a made wild straight flush (pays 50 coins).
3 of a kind — over a made wild four of a kind
Optimal hold: 3 of a kind — EV 23.40 coins. The optimal play discards a made wild four of a kind (pays 20 coins).
4 of a kind — over a made wild four of a kind
Optimal hold: 4 of a kind — EV 23.40 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Royal Flush — EV 22.34 coins (margin 1.06 coins). The optimal play discards a made wild four of a kind (pays 20 coins).
4 to a Wild Royal Flush — over a made wild flush
Optimal hold: 4 to a Wild Royal Flush — EV 16.17 coins. The optimal play discards a made wild flush (pays 15 coins).
4 to a Wild Royal Flush — over a made wild straight
Optimal hold: 4 to a Wild Royal Flush — EV 14.89 coins. The optimal play discards a made wild straight (pays 10 coins).
4 to a Wild Royal Flush — vs Wild 3 of a kind
Optimal hold: 4 to a Wild Royal Flush — EV 15.00 coins. Next best: holding Wild 3 of a Kind — EV 9.25 coins (margin 5.75 coins).
Hold two deuces — over a made wild flush
Optimal hold: Hold two deuces — EV 15.00 coins. Next best: holding 4 to Wild Straight Flush — EV 15.00 coins (margin 0.00 coins). The optimal play discards a made wild flush (pays 15 coins).
Wild 3 of a kind — vs 4 to a wild straight flush
Optimal hold: Wild 3 of a kind — EV 9.25 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Wild Straight Flush — EV 8.29 coins (margin 0.96 coins).
4 to a wild straight flush — over a made wild straight
Optimal hold: 4 to a wild straight flush — EV 10.95 coins. The optimal play discards a made wild straight (pays 10 coins).
4 to a wild straight flush — vs Wild 3 of a kind
Optimal hold: 4 to a wild straight flush — EV 9.68 coins. Next best: holding Wild 3 of a Kind — EV 9.25 coins (margin 0.43 coins).
4 to a Straight Flush — vs Hold 1 pair: 3 through Ace
Optimal hold: 4 to a Straight Flush — EV 6.80 coins. Next best: holding 1 pair — EV 2.70 coins (margin 4.10 coins).
3 to a Royal Flush — vs 4 to a straight
Optimal hold: 3 to a Royal Flush — EV 6.36 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Straight — EV 2.55 coins (margin 3.81 coins).
3 to a Royal Flush — vs Hold 1 pair: 3 through Ace
Optimal hold: 3 to a Royal Flush — EV 6.29 coins. Next best: holding 1 pair — EV 2.70 coins (margin 3.59 coins).
3 to a Royal Flush — vs Hold 2 pairs
Optimal hold: 3 to a Royal Flush — EV 6.38 coins. Next best: holding 2 pairs — EV 3.40 coins (margin 2.98 coins).
3 to a Royal Flush — vs Nothing: Discard all cards
Optimal hold: 3 to a Royal Flush — EV 6.43 coins. Next best: holding Nothing — EV 1.65 coins (margin 4.78 coins).
3 to wild straight flush — vs Hold single Deuce only
Optimal hold: 3 to wild straight flush — EV 5.15 coins. Next best: holding single Deuce only — EV 5.10 coins (margin 0.05 coins).
4 to a Flush — vs 4 to a straight
Optimal hold: 4 to a Flush — EV 3.83 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Straight — EV 2.55 coins (margin 1.28 coins).
4 to a Flush — vs Hold 1 pair: 3 through Ace
Optimal hold: 4 to a Flush — EV 3.83 coins. Next best: holding 1 pair — EV 2.70 coins (margin 1.13 coins).
4 to a Flush — vs Nothing: Discard all cards
Optimal hold: 4 to a Flush — EV 3.83 coins. Next best: holding Nothing — EV 1.65 coins (margin 2.18 coins).
Hold 1 pair: 3 through Ace — vs 2 to a Royal Flush
Optimal hold: Hold 1 pair: 3 through Ace — EV 2.70 coins. Next best: holding 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 1.98 coins (margin 0.72 coins).
Hold 1 pair: 3 through Ace — vs 3 to a Straight Flush
Optimal hold: Hold 1 pair: 3 through Ace — EV 2.70 coins. Next best: holding 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 2.54 coins (margin 0.16 coins).
Hold 1 pair: 3 through Ace — vs 4 to a straight
Optimal hold: Hold 1 pair: 3 through Ace — EV 2.70 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Straight — EV 2.55 coins (margin 0.15 coins).
Hold 2 pairs — vs 3 to a Straight Flush
Optimal hold: Hold 2 pairs — EV 3.40 coins. Next best: holding 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 2.90 coins (margin 0.50 coins).
3 to a Straight Flush — vs 2 to a Royal Flush
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 1.72 coins. Next best: holding 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 1.65 coins (margin 0.07 coins).
3 to a Straight Flush — vs 4 to a straight
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 1.72 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Straight — EV 1.70 coins (margin 0.02 coins).
3 to a Straight Flush — vs Hold 1 pair: 3 through Ace
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 2.73 coins. Next best: holding 1 pair — EV 2.70 coins (margin 0.03 coins).
3 to a Straight Flush — vs Nothing: Discard all cards
Optimal hold: 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 1.68 coins. Next best: holding Nothing — EV 1.64 coins (margin 0.04 coins).
4 to a straight — vs 2 to a Royal Flush
Optimal hold: 4 to a straight — EV 1.70 coins. Next best: holding 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 1.68 coins (margin 0.02 coins).
4 to a straight — vs 3 to a Straight Flush
Optimal hold: 4 to a straight — EV 1.70 coins. Next best: holding 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 1.68 coins (margin 0.02 coins).
4 to a straight — vs Nothing: Discard all cards
Optimal hold: 4 to a straight — EV 1.70 coins. Next best: holding Nothing — EV 1.64 coins (margin 0.06 coins).
2 to a Royal Flush — equal EV vs 4 to a straight
Optimal hold: 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 1.70 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Straight — EV 1.70 coins (margin 0.00 coins).
Both holds have the same expected value, so either is a correct play.
2 to a Royal Flush — equal EV vs Nothing: Discard all cards
Optimal hold: 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 1.62 coins. Next best: holding Nothing — EV 1.62 coins (margin 0.00 coins).
Both holds have the same expected value, so either is a correct play.
2 to a Royal Flush — vs 3 to a Straight Flush
Optimal hold: 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 1.80 coins. Next best: holding 3 to a Straight Flush — EV 1.72 coins (margin 0.08 coins).
2 to a Royal Flush — vs 4 to a straight
Optimal hold: 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 1.71 coins. Next best: holding 4 to a Straight — EV 1.70 coins (margin 0.01 coins).
2 to a Royal Flush — vs Nothing: Discard all cards
Optimal hold: 2 to a Royal Flush — EV 1.63 coins. Next best: holding Nothing — EV 1.62 coins (margin 0.01 coins).
FAQ
- What's Deuces Wild 20/12/10/4/4/3 like to play?
- Basic Deuces Wild is the foundational version of Deuces Wild, offering a fundamentally different experience from fixed-rank poker games by allowing wild cards to reshape hand strength and outcomes. Paytables emphasize premium combinations over steady payouts, and these games are among the most difficult to play correctly due to the complexity introduced by wild cards. The appeal lies in managing frequent wild-card decisions and the potential for high-value results when multiple Deuces appear. This paytable weakens Wild Royal Flush and Five of a Kind payouts.
- How difficult is Deuces Wild 20/12/10/4/4/3 to play perfectly?
- Like every Deuces Wild paytable, Deuces Wild 20/12/10/4/4/3 has a difficulty rating of High. Difficulty measures how hard a paytable is to play with Perfect Play — some paytables have simple, obvious holds, while games rated High or Very High have more frequent close-call decisions where a small mistake costs meaningful return over time.
- How much bankroll should I set aside to play Deuces Wild 20/12/10/4/4/3?
- PerfectPLAY recommends a conservative session bankroll of about 175 units for Deuces Wild 20/12/10/4/4/3 — one unit is a single max bet (5 coins). At a 25¢ denomination ($1.25 max bet), that's roughly $218.75 for a session; at $1 ($5 max bet), about $875. This comes from a Risk-of-Ruin simulation of a 300-hand session using this paytable's own return and variance, targeting about a 5% chance of running out during that session.
- Can I practice Deuces Wild 20/12/10/4/4/3 at PerfectPLAY.vegas?
- Deuces Wild 20/12/10/4/4/3 training is a PerfectPLAY.vegas membership feature. Bonus Poker 6/5 is free to try; join PerfectPLAY to practice Deuces Wild 20/12/10/4/4/3 with real-time, hand-by-hand feedback and the exact expected value of every hold.