Ask the Slot Expert: A pair of video poker questions - Part 2

Question: Could you please advise on the proper cards to hold playing Deuces Wild:

1. 7♦ 10♦ 2 2 2
   Should I keep the Straight Flush or only hold the 3 Deuces?
2. 10♦ J♦ Q♦ K♦ 2
   Should I keep the Royal Flush with a Deuce or discard the Deuce and go for the natural Royal Flush?

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.

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