Many serious poker players will be horrified that I should discuss this game at all, but it is perhaps the most underrated of all forms of poker—simply because it is played most often by women's afternoon clubs and others who do not take the game seriously.

Actually deuces wild is just as good as any other form of poker and presents its own peculiar problems.

The basis of the game is not to play unless you have at least one deuce, unless occasionally you are dealt three of a kind or better. No two pairs and no single pair without a deuce are worth playing. The average winning hand is three aces. Three of a kind lower than queens or kings should usually be thrown away fast if you have not improved them. They may win a dull pot, but almost never are they worth a call.

A few problems arise in drawing. With two aces, a deuce, and two honor cards (ten or higher) of the same suit as one of the aces, such as ♠A Q 10, ♥, A, ♦, A, 2, it is better to draw to the two aces and the deuce than to the royal flush possibility. With a pair lower than kings, a deuce, and a straight flush possibility, such as ♠ A Q 10 ♥ Q ♣ 2 it is better to draw to the straight flush; the three or four of a kind may not win. A deuce plus three cards in sequence or three cards of the same suit are worth a play and are worth standing one raise but not two; if there are two or more raises, you should have a straight flush possibility, or if you have a pair and a deuce you should draw in an effort to make at least four of a kind.

The big question is the number of deuces you hold. A pair of deuces is worth a raise and is worth meeting almost any number of other raises. Figure that any deuce you do not hold is likely to be held or drawn by someone else, and get out fast when you do not hold deuces. When drawing to two deuces, hold an ace or king and draw two; throw away any lower cards and draw three.

Playing against one opponent who opened early and drew three cards, hold the king (or a queen) and draw two. He may have aces also.  

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