Recreational Strategy Changes for Deuces Wild

[Mr.Dawes]

FloridaPhil I know that you do not play DDB but I thought I would share one of my strategy changes that has paid off for me in that game. I hope your changes work as well for you.In DDB if you are dealt unsuited jack, queen, ace and two low cards in most situations you hold jack queen and discard the ace. I hold only the Ace. Although it has caused me to miss many pairs of jacks and queens and a few straights, I have two wins that more than made up for those missed hands.#1

[Mr.Dawes]

And #2 The first Royal I ever hit!

[FloridaPhil]

Holding a single ace when playing DDB is the correct play.  I never understood the rational for hold JQ....  Don't you love it when that happens!  Nice...

[case]

Holding a single ace when playing DDB is the correct play.  I never understood the rational for hold JQ....  Don't you love it when that happens!  Nice...



Holding the ace is NOT the right play.

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=case]Holding the ace is NOT the right play[/quote]Your point is well taken. I should have said "When I play DDB".  I realize the mathematically correct DDB play is to hold the J-Q and draw three more cards.  This the Recreational Play forum, so we're hopefully not professional players risking thousands of dollars on a single hand.  In the recreational video poker world computer perfect play is not always the right choice for everyone. When I play DDB, I want my four of a kinds to be 4 aces, not jacks or queens.   No one is going to beat you up if you get 4 aces doing that.  Math is not everything in recreational video poker.  Know the math, but think outside the box once in a while and you may find yourself pleasantly surprised. 

[Vman96]

[quote=case]Holding the ace is NOT the right playYour point is well taken. I should have said "When I play DDB".  I realize the mathematically correct DDB play is to hold the J-Q and draw three more cards.  This the Recreational Play forum, so we're hopefully not professional players risking thousands of dollars on a single hand.  In the recreational video poker world computer perfect play is not always the right choice for everyone. When I play DDB, I want my four of a kinds to be 4 aces, not jacks or queens.   No one is going to beat you up if you get 4 aces doing that.  Math is not everything in recreational video poker.  Know the math, but think outside the box once in a while and you may find yourself pleasantly surprised. 
[/QUOTE]   

I'd rather make more straights...

But holding an Ace vs. QJ costs less than any of these deuces changes. About 0.0025% at 9/6 and 0.0036% at 8/5. Definitely nothing that will bleed money.

Edit: 1500th post...yay!

[Mr.Dawes]

Just to tell the full story on Ace vs. Jack Queen unsuited, there are occasions where Ace is the mathematically correct play. If the two low cards are not penalty cards for the flush with the Ace or low straight, but they are penalty cards for the Jack Queen straight then you hold the Ace.example:  Ad, Js, Qh, 7c, 9he.v. per credit for the Ace is .454932e.v. per credit for the J,Q is  .4505709/6 DDB paytable.Sorry, I know this is the recreational play forum but I wanted to speak up for the Ace. Sometimes the right mathematical play, always the right "love to play the game" play.Vman96 thanks for the math on the Ace strategy change.

[Vman96]

Just to tell the full story on Ace vs. Jack Queen unsuited, there are occasions where Ace is the mathematically correct play. If the two low cards are not penalty cards for the flush with the Ace or low straight, but they are penalty cards for the Jack Queen straight then you hold the Ace.example:  Ad, Js, Qh, 7c, 9he.v. per credit for the Ace is .454932e.v. per credit for the J,Q is  .4505709/6 DDB paytable.Sorry, I know this is the recreational play forum but I wanted to speak up for the Ace. Sometimes the right mathematical play, always the right "love to play the game" play.Vman96 thanks for the math on the Ace strategy change.




Haha...I was going to say shhhhhh here myself given the forum.   But a hand like this shows you that going for the Ace isn't that bad of a thing! To be honest, I didn't know there was a straight penalty exception for DDB in this scenario. Bob Dancer would be proud of you! Lol   

[alpax]

The Ace vs Suited Jack+Ten is the toughest penalty situation to master in full pay DDB, but for Ace vs QJ (unsuited), there is a simple way to remember it for 10/6 or 9/6 DDB.

Ace over Queen-Jack Unsuited when

1. The Ace has no flush penalty from the other 2 cards that is not Queen-Jack
2. The other 2 cards are 8 with a 6 or 7
3. The other 2 cards are 9 with 2 thru 7