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John Robison Gaming Guru  Ask the Slot Expert: A pair of video poker questions - Part 24 November 2026
By John Robison, Slot Expert™ Question: Could you please advise on the proper cards to hold playing Deuces Wild:
Answer: Disclaimer: There might be some oddball Deuces Wild paytable where the following advice does not apply. I checked using all the Deuces Wild paytables in the Wizard of Odds' Video Poker Hand Analyzer and his NSU strategy page. (Hey, Wizard! What's it gonna take to add NSU to the predefined paytables in the Analyzer?) For the first hand, as much as it hurts, hold only the 3 Deuces. True confession: I played this hand incorrectly when I first started playing NSU. I was so excited to be dealt a Straight Flush, I held it and moved on to the next hand. I periodically check my strategy chart for a hand just to be sure I haven't picked up any bad habits. A few years ago, I checked a hand like this one just to to be sure I was playing it correctly and learned I should only hold the Deuces and not the Straight Flush. It sure is nice when you get the fourth Deuce -- happened to me twice a few days ago. A Wild Royal is okay, as is getting another Straight Flush. It's a bit demoralizing to get the consolation prize of 4-of-a-kind. For the second hand, being dealt a 4-card Royal is as close to the big prize as you can get without actually getting it. Holding the 4-card Royal easily beats a Straight, a Flush, and even a Straight Flush. The Wild Royal is usually the third best-paying hand in the paytable, just under 4 Deuces. (The Bonus Deuces Wild paytable variations have various quads between 4 Deuces and Wild Royal, but they're not relevant to this question.) I think it would be unusual to not hold a pat hand that high on the paytable. Take the money and run. Hold the Wild Royal. If you would like to see more non-smoking areas on slot floors in Las Vegas, please sign my petition on change.org. Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert™, at slotexpert@slotexpert.com.
Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert™, at slotexpert@slotexpert.com. Due to the volume of requests, I am unable to reply to every question.
Ask the Slot Expert: A pair of video poker questions - Part 128 October 2026
Question: In video poker, after the initial draw and holding four cards, is the fifth card fixed?
Say I’m dealt four to the Royal, does it matter if I wait a few moments before I hopefully complete the Royal?
Or no, the fifth card has already been chosen?
I’ve heard it’s a matter of machine age. ... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: Explaining to friends why a Bonus Meter is BS21 October 2026
Question: The friends I gamble with believe that the bigger the pots at the top of the screen the better your odds are of getting a bonus.
How I can I explain that this is not true?
Answer: We have to be careful here because every once in a blue moon there is a Bonus Meter that really does ... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: Video poker play recorded...eventually14 October 2026
I was in the middle of a Starbucks bonus stars challenge. Order two days in a row before 11AM and get 30 bonus stars. Do it one more time and get an additional 20 stars.
I made the first purchase at my neighborhood Starbucks. I made the second at the new Starbucks in the Suncoast casino when I picked up ... (read more)
Hit Frequency, Reno, Atlantic City, Double UpHi there, Has there ever been any research done into what number of times a slot machine will pay "anything" during one hundred spins on the average? I have counted many times and find the average slot machine will pay roughly 16 times out of 100 spins. That includes winning a lowly cherry return to a bigger win. ... (read more)Slot Machine Pay OffDear John, In reference to the reader's question about slot machines where you play for gold or silver tokens: In Las Vegas, many of the casinos have 25-cent slots that pay off a $10 jackpot with a $10 silver souvenir token. ... (read more)Declare Your Independence from the SlotsOn this Independence Day as we celebrate 226 years of independence from the tyranny of the British, consider making your own Declaration of Independence from the tyranny of the slot machines. You don't have to stop playing machines altogether. Just switch to playing video ... (read more)Guide to Winning at Slots: The Best Number of Coins to PlayEvery casino guide to gaming recommends playing maximum coins on all slot machines. And almost everyone who's written a book about slots also recommends playing maximum coins when playing a slot machine. I analyzed over 1,000 slot machine programs and I discovered that ... (read more)John Robison |
John Robison |
