DDB vs. Deuces Wild

[FloridaPhil]

Playing on this website every day along with my regular casino trips has given me a opportunity to compare two popular games.  To compete on this website, I play DDB and TDB as someone regularly hits a royal and you need big jackpots to catch them.  I hate quad based games, but I'll do what it takes to compete.The reason I hate quad based games is the often long boring and frustrating seasons between quads.  I have literally gone all day between quads and going through 3,000 points is nothing with TDB.  The pain associated with these games makes me want to jump off a bridge!Deuces Wild is my casino game of choice.  I've thought about why I love the game so much and will share some of my thoughts with you.Everyone knows wild card games are exciting because the wild cards make the bell ring on almost 50% of the hands.  When I'm playing next to other players and the bell keeps ringing, I get a lot of attention from DDB players who most always seem to have sad faces.  The volatility of deuces is much lower, your money lasts longer and you smile a lot more.Deuces Wild tends to be very streaky which helps me with my money management.  When I go to the casino, I usually take around a 1,000 coins.  It seems counter productive to take more than a quad deuce jackpot and it keeps me from racking up a big loss on a bad day.  Lately I have been playing 50 cent max coins $20 a time.  I always cash out anything over $100.  In a day's play I will accumulate a number of $100 white tickets.  My goal is to go home with the same amount in white tickets as I came in the door with.  If I hit a quad deuce or a royal, I always take that money home.Math says a royal happens a little less frequently when playing deuces wild.  I have not found this to be the case.  In fact, keeping three to a royal when one of the cards is a pair gives you more chances even with the deuces in the way.  The math difference is only about 5,000 hands, so I may be luckier than math allows and don't notice it. (45,000 vs. 40,000 hands to a royal)In a day's play adding up all the $100 white tickets, the occasional royal flush and quad deuce gives me with an excellent chance of coming home with money in my pocket.  I don't believe cashing out has any affect on my long term results, but it does help me control my attitude.The strategy for deuces wild can be difficult to master if you wish to play at an expert level.  Fortunately, I'm playing for entertainment so tiny odds differences don't make a big difference to me.   I try to play all the hands as perfectly as I can, but I don't claim to play 100% accurate DW strategy.  This is where deuces wild has a huge advantage.  Because the deuces are in the picture, even a bad play can turn into a winner. All in all, I think a lot of players would like deuces if they gave it  a decent chance. 

[pokerpokerpoker]

If you like to play all day, dueces is a good game.

Me, I like to gamble and I love the thrill of a big hit. A looong session, for me, is 2 hours. Thus DDB is my game of choice because there are many ways to hit a good one. I take 800 credits and if I hit 2-4 w/k or aces I generally leave - guaranteeing at least a break even day. AWAK or a royal will be a great day indeed. Off course many sessions end in a quick bust-out, but I am ok with that. I believe, in the long run, the math will take care of things and the bad days will be balanced out by the good.

Now TDB, is just plain nuts. A while ago, I hit the AWAK and dedicated the next few trips to going after a $9k progressive - the results were not pretty. It seemed like all my good 3 of a kinds had a kicker with them and never did they hit.

[olds442jetaway]

I always go back to Deuces Wild for many of the same reasons Phil has cited. I stray for awhile, then go back. For me though, I like the added excitement of Bonus Deuces Wild or even Double Bonus Deuces Wild on the Multi Strike game. I have done the best by far on the 98.8% return Bonus Deuces Wild game at the dollar level playing 3 line spin poker with the once in a while step up to 5 lines. I am fortunate in that I only have to play 1 coin per line because this particular machine pays 800 for 1 for the Royal with just one coin in. I have yet to hit a Royal on this machine at the dollar level, but have hit several quad deuces with an Ace, many quad deuces, and many many 5 aces. The 5 aces hit at 80 for one keeps you going even if you don't pull the quad deuces that session. I know I am giving up the 2 for 1 for the straights, but the excitement and total return for me on this game has been worth it. Edited to add....playing DDB at the dollar level 3 bucks at a time on spin poker can and has once busted my 500 budget in less than hour. That has never happened to me on Deuces Wild or Bonus Deuces Wild and I can count on one hand the sessions that resulted in a 500 budget bust playing deuces and that is playing 3 sessions a week each and every week. That is a lot of play to only bust out a few times. One final note....I know a lot of players don't have access to DDS machines, but the excitement of deuces wild or bonus deuces wild is great on those machines too. Dealt quad deuces will give you as much as a royal and will come in every 50k hands or so. Hits like a dealt wild royal or low number 5 of a kinds or dealt 5 aces on the bonus version will almost always make you a winner for the session if you quit and don't give it all back. You may even catch a dealt royal on this game a couple of times in you r lifetime of play. I caught 2 in 2001 good for 5k each on a quarter DDS game and a couple since. I was extremely fortunate this summer to catch one dealt royal on DDS good for 18 grand on a pot shot. Anyway, have fun out there and stay well. Heading up myself tonight and enjoying this crisp fall sunny day.

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=pokerpokerpoker] A looong session, for me, is 2 hours. Thus DDB is my game of choice because there are many ways to hit a good one.[/quote]I used to travel a lot for business.  On occasion I would drive by an Indian casino and couldn't resist running in for a quick pot shot.  I always played $1 DDB and would run out if I hit anything good.  I can remember leaving with quite a few $800 quad ace jackpots and even hit one for $2K once.  I also remember it took almost an hour to get paid and they let the hand pay music play the entire time...   

[Vman96]

Math says a royal happens a little less frequently when playing deuces wild. I have not found this to be the case.


Not when you hold all two suited royal cards over nothing like you say you do. The royal chances increase to 1 in 39,423 then.

Deuces is rough when you don't hit quad deuces. Still waiting on a quarter one. I'm at least one "cycle" in lifetime, possibly two. Now nickel and penny dueces...I've hit my fair share...

Of course same idea goes with DDB without hitting Aces or 2-4s on schedule as well.

Another thing frustrating about deuces is the need to throw away your entire hand a lot as well as the times you hit any natural four of a kind other than deuces. I'm thankful it's been years since I've hit four Aces on Deuces.

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=Vman96] I'm thankful it's been years since I've hit four Aces on Deuces.[/quote]Funny thing is I hit 4 aces playing deuces a lot and many seem to have a deuce along with them.  Playing single coin VP for as long as I did conditioned me to accept those disappointments.  I also used to switch between DDB and DW.  If you want to see quad aces playing deuces, try that for a while.  It's almost a guarantee!Yes, It can be a long day without a quad deuce.  Thankfully they seem to average about the one in 5,000 hands as expected.   What frustrates me more than that is playing DDB without a quad or being dripped to death with small quads. All in all I would say my bankroll stays a lot calmer playing deuces than any other game I have played.  I don't count Jacks or Better because I would rather have my fingernails pulled out than sit through that borefest.  Wild royals pay the same as JB quads and you have the quad deuce mini jackpot adding to the fun.  You pays your money and you choose your pain...  

[DAAnMAAn]

I seem to also be switching from DDB back to deuces, and vice versa a lot. I guess these became my main games I play. The difference is, I play the 10/6 version of DDB (100.06%) and fpdw (100.76%) ER...
I agree with you Phil. I get tired of the roller coaster rides sometimes that DDB offers and learned to appreciate what deuces wild has to offer. Yes, it's frustrating to hit awak on deuces, but I too have learned to live with it after a lot of deuces wild play. I mean, that's frustrating but what about running thru $750 dollars in a DDB game 10/6 single line quarters and hitting just one regular quad? Happened to me on various occasions...thankfully not many, but enough to hurt. On fpdw, never had a losing session more than $350, knock on wood. And the thrill of hitting one quad deuce, or two, or three or more beats out boring JOB by a mile. And, not to forget the royals which pays the same on any non-prog game.
Variance is real!
Cheers and hit lots of deuces! Just hit one tonight

[FloridaPhil]

You're really lucky having all those full pay games available to you.  I have always wondered if the 10/6 DDB experience was any different.  We played some full pay deuces at the Red Rock last visit and didn't notice much difference in the short run.  The best DW game we have locally is 98.9%, but we still manage to stay fairly even with the game.   The small cost is usually gained back in free rooms and food.  Keep it up.  I enjoy your posts. 

[FAA]

Lone Luddite desperately clinging to JOB. It's a long day without a quad. Fortunately I hit a max bet today to avoid coming home with a puny single digit win. Mandatory: set phone timer for thirty minutes! After that, the free fall is on for quarter JOB. I won't be a give back victim again. This time lucky. Back on the saddle for a PM session and a quick $24 profit. A net VP loser. $35 in craps wins today.

[Lionqueen]

I love the DW Bonus we have that pays 800 for 4 of a kind with deuce kicker and 10 for a straight. I've never found it in Vegas though. Regular Deuces wild doesn't interest me much except on Multi-line where I've had several natural Royals.