There are dozens of different video poker games available today on the casino floor (and online). Most of these games are based on Jacks or Better poker. They are played with one deck of 52 cards and closely match standard poker.
There is also a class of video poker games that have wild cards. The majority have either one or two jokers that are wild or deuces that are wild. They are also played with one deck of cards. The composition of that deck changes for wild card games, but the game closely matches regular poker.
That is where the similarity ends. This article explores the difference between standard (non-wild card) casino games and wild card games.
If this article interests you, keep reading. Alternatively, explore other topics like blackjack strategy, roulette strategy, and craps strategy.
Contents
- Differences between standard and wild card video poker games
- How wild cards affect pay tables
- How wild cards affect playing strategy
- Considerations
- Summary
Differences between standard and wild card video poker games
Standard video poker games have the standard 52 cards in the deck. There are four suits of 13 cards each – and that is it. All hands must be formed by the actual cards making up that hand. For example, three-of-a-kinds must have three cards of the same rank (e.g. three 3s, three 7s, three kings, etc.).
Wild card games have one or more cards that can act as a card of any suit and rank. For example, if there are four cards of a straight flush (e.g. 3, 4, 6, and 7 of diamonds) a wild card would become the 5 of diamonds.
The joker is always a wild card in any game that has them. If there is one joker, the deck will contain 53 cards – the normal 52 plus the joker. If there are two jokers, the deck contains 54 cards.
The most common wild card in video poker, however, is the 2, also called the deuce. In the case of deuces wild games, there are 52 cards just like the standard game, but the four deuces can each become a card of any suit and rank.
How wild cards affect pay tables
Obviously, one or more wild cards in the mix helps the player score more winning hands. Not only that, but when there is a winning hand not counting wild cards, the final winning hand will usually make a higher-paying hand.
The casino would quickly go broke on wild card video poker if the pays for winning hands matched those for standard video poker.
For this reason, pay tables have reduced pays for most winning hands. Some examples are included in the table below. The numbers are what is paid for the hand with five credits bet. The numbers can vary from game to game but give the reader a baseline.
| Hand |
Jacks or Better |
Joker Poker | Deuces Wild |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Royal Flush |
4000 | 4700 | 4000 |
|
Royal Flush w/Wild |
-- | 500 | 125 |
|
4 Deuces |
125 | 85 | 1000 |
|
5 of a Kind |
-- | 1000 | 75 |
|
Straight Flush |
250 | 250 | 45 |
|
4 of a Kind |
125 | 85 | 20 |
|
Full House |
45 | 35 | 20 |
|
Flush |
30 | 25 | 15 |
|
Straight |
20 | 15 | 10 |
|
3 of a Kind |
15 | 10 | 5 |
|
Two Pair |
10 | 5 | -- |
|
Kings or Better |
-- | 5 | -- |
|
Jack or Better |
5 | -- | -- |
Notice there are two additional paying hands on the pay tables of wild card games – 5 of a Kind and Royal Flush with a Wild Card. The five of a kind is possible when the wild card or cards can substitute for cards of the same rank in the hand.
For example, three 4s and two wild cards makes a five of a kind. In Joker Poker, the player needs a natural diye of a kind and the joker to qualify. That is why Joker Poker pays 1000-for-5 for the hand and Deuces Wild (with four wild cards) pays only 85-for-5.
Other differences include:
- Joker Poker pays 500-for-5 for a Wild Royal Flush, Deuces Wild pays just 125-for-5, since there are four deuces that are wild cards.
- A straight flush pays 250-for-5 on Jacks or Better and Joker Wild, but 45-for-5 on Deuces Wild.
- All hands lower on the pay table pay less than Jacks or Better on Joker Wild and even less on Deuces Wild.
- The lowest paying hand on Joker Wild is a pair of kings or better (although some Joker Wild pay tables have two pairs as the lowest paying hand).
- The lowest paying hand on Deuces Wild is 3-of-a-kind.
- The second highest paying hand on Deuces Wild is a hand containing the four wild deuces.
How wild cards affect playing strategy
The strategy for standard games is arranged in one list from highest return to lowest return. The video poker strategy for wild card games has groups of lists in the same order. The groups are separated by number of wild cards in the game:
Two groups for Joker Wild:
- With Joker
- No Joker
Three groups for two Jokers Wild:
- Two Jokers
- One Joker
- No Joker
Five groups for Deuces Wild:
- Four Deuces
- Three Deuces
- Two Deuces
- One Deuce
- No Deuces
The plan for how to win at video poker wild card games can dramatically change based on the number of wild cards.
Considerations
For casual players, the main factor is the type of game they enjoy playing.
For regular players factors might include a combination of return, variance, and complexity of the strategy as well as the type of preferred game.
Some players prefer wild cards, some do not. If players enjoy the game(s) they play and can afford the game, they should play that (or those) games.
Summary
Standard and wild card video poker games have very different pay tables. They also play differently. The type of game played is totally at the player’s discretion. If they enjoy the game and can afford it, they should play it.
