Video Poker Forum

Would you please explain why optimal Deuces Wild strategy dictates that any suited pair towards a Royal Flush should be discarded if an Ace represents part of that suited pair, but held if the suited pair is comprised of any other high-card combo (T, J, Q, K). Why is the Ace unattractive? Thank you.

The general answer is that suited AT, AJ, AQ, or AK has a lower value because you can make fewer straights by holding these cards.  You can make only one type of straight that being AKQJT.With JT, you can make 4 types of straights: JT987, QJT98, KQJT9, AKQJT.  So JT has the highest value of any 2-card Royal Flush holds.QT,QJ has next highest value because they can make the latter 3 types of straights. KT, KJ, KQ has the 3rd highest because they can only make 2 types of straights.  And the A-hi 2-card RFs bring up the rear.  

You will also note that you don't hold inside straights that include the deuce position for pretty much the same reason.  There are 8 cards that make your 3567 inside straight, 4 fours and 4 deuces.  There are only 4 cards that make your A345 straight - 4 deuces.  This also makes 3456 an inside straight, not an outside straight, since there are only 8 cards that make it.  There are 12 available for, say, 5678.There are no high pairs in Deuces Wild so 5678 has the same value as KQJT.  If you've played other games that pay high pairs (Jacks or Better and variants), this takes some getting used to.Same applies to holding 567 suited but not 456.Also, there is no such thing as a "suited pair."  A pair is two cards of the same rank, like 4h4d.  They can't be suited.