The Game
Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild (NSUDW) represents another good gaming option for beginners, which offers an expected return of 99.73%. Some experts refer to it as a 20/20 game, as a player will earn 20 coins for every 5-coin bet made, if they hold a Full House or Four of a Kind. In addition, the game will pay 16 coins per 1-coin bet for a combination such as Five of a Kind and 10 coins per 1-coin bet for a Straight Flush.
The label ”not so ugly” is credited to video poker writer Skip Hughes.
This game version is offered on machines with larger denominations and is considered as legal in those states, which decree less-than-100-percent returns. These two circumstances explain why the game is easier to find than Full-Pay Deuces Wild.
At times casinos may downgrade Full-Pay Deuces Wild (they may reduce the percentage of return offered by the game). In such cases Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild is the game to replace it.
We should note that Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild requires a very different playing strategy compared to that used for the Full-Pay Deuces Wild game.
There is another variation of the Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild game, called ”pseudo Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild” (pNSUDW). It will usually pay 15 coins per 1-coin bet for a combination such as Five of a Kind and 9 coins per 1-coin bet for a Straight Flush. It is also a casino advantage game, as it offers an expected return of 98.91%.
Last but not least, a similar game to Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild was recently added to IGT’s game compilation. As a variation, it will pay 15 coins per 1-coin bet for a combination such as Five of a Kind and 11 coins per 1-coin bet for a Straight Flush. Its expected return is higher than that offered by the traditional Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild game, or 99.96%.
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Now, let us take a look at the pay table for each of the three games we mentioned above.
| Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild Pay Tables | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| NSUDW | pNSUDW | IGT NSUDW | |
| Royal Flush | 800 | 800 | 800 |
| Four Deuces | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| Royal Flush w/2 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Five of a Kind | 16 | 15 | 15 |
| Straight Flush | 10 | 9 | 11 |
| Four of a Kind | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Full House | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Flush | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Straight | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Three of a Kind | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Expected Return | 99.73% | 98.91% | 99.96% |
The Strategy
We are going to present the play strategy for Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild in a table form, where the possible combinations are shown in order, with the highest-ranking hand being on top. The table should be examined from top to bottom so that one is able to locate the particular hand dealt.
The first column of the table shows the different hands dealt, while the second one points out which cards, if any, one needs to hold. After a player has found the specific combination, they need to conform with the instructions in the second column, unless, of course, their situation matches one of the exceptions in the third column. If the latter is true, the player needs to conform with the instructions in the third column, where exceptions are presented in order of relevance. If number one exception matches one’s situation, they need to follow it. If not, they will need to move further to the number two exception and etc. The fourth column features actions one should never take when dealt that particular hand. It includes useful information, which could prevent costly mistakes.
Jacks or Better
8/5 Bonus Poker
9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe
Full Pay Deuces Wild
Not So Ugly Deuces Wild
| Dealt Hand (What is available) | What needs to be done | Exceptions | Actions one should avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Royal Flush | Hold a Natural Royal Flush | None | 1. One should abstain from selecting the Double Down option, which may be available. |
| Wild Royal Flush | Hold Wild Royal Flush (a combination containing one, two or three Deuces) | 1. When playing a progressive Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild that pays over 5 365 coins, if one has one Deuce, they should discard it and keep four to a Natural Royal Flush. | 1. One should never keep three Deuces over a Wild Royal Flush. They should keep the Wild Royal Flush. 2. Unless playing a progressive Not-So-Ugly Deuces Wild that pays over 5 365 coins, one should never keep four to the Royal Flush over the Wild Royal Flush. They should keep the Wild Royal Flush. |
| Four Deuces | Hold Four Deuces | None | None |
| Five of a Kind | Hold Five of a Kind | None | 1. One should never keep three Deuces over Five of a Kind. They should always keep Five of a Kind. |
| Straight Flush | Hold Straight Flush | 1. One should keep three Deuces. | 1. One should never keep a Straight Flush over three Deuces. They should keep the three Deuces only. |
| Four of a Kind | Hold Four of a Kind | 1. One should keep three Deuces. | 1. One should never keep Four of a Kind over three Deuces. They should keep the three Deuces only. |
| Full House | Hold Full House | None | None |
| Flush | Hold Flush | 1. One should keep four to a Royal Flush or four to a Wild Royal Flush. 2. One should keep four to a Straight Flush, in case they include two Deuces and two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or two Deuces and two cards Five and higher, with one gap. 3. One should keep two Deuces. | 1. One should never keep a Flush over four to a Royal Flush. They should keep the four to a Royal Flush only. 2. One should never keep a Flush over four to a Straight Flush with two Deuces, two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or over four to a Straight Flush with two Deuces, two cards Five and higher, with one gap. They should keep the four cards instead. 3. One should never keep a Flush over Two Deuces. They should keep the Deuces only. |
| Straight | Hold Straight | 1. One should keep four to a Royal Flush. 2. One should keep four to a Straight Flush, in case they include two Deuces and two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or two Deuces and two cards Five and higher, with one gap. 3. One should keep two Deuces. | 1. One should never keep a Straight over four to a Royal Flush. They should keep the four to a Royal Flush only. 2. One should never keep a Straight over four to a Straight Flush with two Deuces, two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or over four to a Straight Flush with two Deuces, two cards Five and higher, with one gap. They should keep the four cards instead. 3. One should never keep a Straight over Two Deuces. Theyshould keep the Deuces only. |
| Three of a Kind | Hold Three of a Kind | 1. One should keep four to a Wild Royal Flush. 2. One should keep four to a Straight Flush, in case they include two Deuces and two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps (Four and Five of Spades); or two Deuces and two cards Five and higher, with one gap (Five and Seven of Spades). 3. One should keep two Deuces. 4. One should keep four to a Straight Flush with one Deuce. | 1. One should never keep Three of a Kind over four to a Wild Royal Flush. They should keep four to a Wild Royal only. 2. One should never keep Three of a Kind over four to a Straight Flush with two Deuces, two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or two Deuces, two cards Five and higher, with one gap. They should keep the four to a Straight Flush. 3. One should never keep Three of a Kind over two Deuces. They should keep the two Deuces only. 4. One should never keep one Deuce over four to a Straight Flush. They should keep the four to a Straight Flush only. |
| Two Pair | Hold Two Pair | 1. One should keep three to a Royal Flush. | 1. One should never keep Two Pair over three to a Royal Flush. They should keep the three to a Royal Flush only. 2. One should never keep a Pair when dealt Two Pair. They should keep both pairs. |
| One Pair (0 Deuces) | Hold the Pair | 1. One should keep three to a Royal Flush. 2. One should keep Four to a Flush. | 1. One should never keep a Pair over three to a Royal Flush. They should keep the three to a Royal Flush. 2. One should never keep a Pair over Four to a Flush. They should keep the Four to a Flush. |
| Four to a Flush | Hold Four to a Flush | 1. One should keep four to a Straight Flush with one Deuce. 2. One should keep three to a Wild Royal Flush or three to a Natural Royal Flush. 3. One should keep three to a Straight Flush, in case they include one Deuce and two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or one Deuce and two cards Five and Higher, with one gap. 4. One should keep one Deuce. | 1. One should never keep a Four to a Flush over three to a Wild Royal Flush or three to a Natural Royal Flush. They should keep the three to a Royal Flush. 2. One should never keep a Four to a Flush over three to a Straight Flush with one Deuce, two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or over three to a Straight Flush with one Deuce, two cards Five and higher, with one gap. They should keep the three to a Straight Flush. 3. One should never keep a Four to a Flush over one Deuce. They should keep the Deuce only. 4. One should never discard a Natural Four to a Flush (Four to a Flush which has no Deuces). They should keep the Natural Four to a Flush. |
| Open-Ended Four-Straight | Hold Open-Ended Four-Straight | 1. One should keep three to a Wild Royal Flush or three to a Natural Royal Flush. 2. One should keep three to a Straight Flush, in case they include one Deuce and two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or one Deuce and two cards Five and higher, with one gap. 3. One should keep one Deuce, unless they have a Deuce and unsuited Six, Seven, Eight; Seven, Eight, Nine; Eight, Nine, Ten; Nine, Ten, Jack. Then, they should keep the four-card combination. | 1. One should never keep four to a Straight over three to a Wild Royal Flush or three to a Natural Royal Flush. They should keep the three to a Royal Flush. 2. One should never keep four to a Straight over three to a Straight Flush with one Deuce, two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or over three to a Straight Flush with one Deuce, two cards Five and higher, with one gap. They should keep the three to a Straight Flush. 3. One should never keep four to a Straight with a Deuce. Instead, they should keep the Deuce only. Exceptions are one Deuce and unsuited Six, Seven, Eight; Seven, Eight, Nine; Eight, Nine, Ten; Nine, Ten, Jack. Then, they should keep the four-card combination. |
| Inside Four-Straight | Hold Inside Four-Straight | 1. One should keep three to a Wild Royal Flush or three to a Natural Royal Flush. 2. One should keep three to a Straight Flush, in case they include one Deuce and two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or one Deuce and two cards Five and higher, with one gap. 3. One should keep three to a Straight Flush with no Deuces. 4. One should keep one Deuce. 5. One should keep suited Jack and Ten, or Jack and Queen, or Queen and Ten. 6. In case the Inside Four-Straight includes an unsuited Ace, Three, Four, Five, then one should keep nothing. | 1. One should never keep a Straight over three to a Wild Royal Flush or three to a Natural Royal Flush. They should keep the three to a Royal Flush. 2. One should never keep four to a Straight over three to a Straight Flush with one Deuce, two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or over three to a Straight Flush with one Deuce, two cards Five and higher, with one gap. They should keep the three to a Straight Flush. 3. One should never keep Inside Four-Straight over three to a Straight Flush with no Deuces. They should keep the three to a Straight Flush. 4. One should never keep Inside Four-Straight over one Deuce. They should keep the Deuce only. 5. One should never keep an Inside Four-Straight over a suited Jack and Ten, or Jack and Queen, or Queen and Ten. Instead, they should keep the suited two cards. 6. One should never keep an unsuited Ace, Three, Four, Five. |
| Three to a Straight Flush (0 Deuces) | Hold three to a Natural Straight Flush (a Straight Flush that has no Deuces) | None | None |
| Three to a Straight Flush (one Deuce) | Hold one Deuce | 1. One should keep three to a Wild Royal Flush with one Deuce. 2. One should keep three to a Straight Flush, in case they include one Deuce and two cards Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or one Deuce and two cards Five and higher, with one gap. | 1. One should never discard three to a Wild Royal Flush with one Deuce. They should keep three to a Wild Royal Flush. 2. One should never discard three to a Straight Flush with one Deuce, Four and higher, with 0 gaps; or three to a Straight Flush with one Deuce, Five and higher, with one gap. They should keep the three to a Straight Flush. |
| High Cards | Hold nothing | 1. One should keep three to a Royal Flush. 2. One should keep two to a Royal Flush, unless one of the cards is an Ace. If that is indeed the case, they should keep nothing. 3. One should keep one Deuce. | 1. One should never keep 2 or 3 unrelated high cards. If there are such, they should keep nothing. 2. One should never discard three to a Royal Flush. 3. One should never keep two to a Royal Flush, in case one of the cards is an Ace. If that is indeed the case, they should keep nothing. 4. One should never discard one Deuce. |
