Straight or Flush: Which Pays Better In Deuces Wild?
Given a choice between an unsuited straight and a suited flush? Which would you choose? If you prefer the former, you will realize that there are other 12 other worthy cards in the stack. On the other hand, if you choose the latter, there are the same number of good cards in the deck as well. From the look of things, it would result to a stand-off. Correct?
If flushes and straights have equal payouts, as in many variations of Deuces Wild, then a tie is likely. However, in other variations of the game, flushes pay better than straights.
If you add a deuce to the picture, then everything changes drastically. For example, in the Not So Ugly version, the payout for flushes is 50% higher than a straight. However, even though straights are less valuable than flushes, it is sounder to go for the former than the latter. A 4-card open-ended straight with a deuce is one of the few hands where you can look forward to getting back your money. This is applicable to payouts that gives equal money for 3-of-a-kind and twice your bet for a straight.
However, knowing that you will be paid equal money for retaining a 4-card straight is insufficient to determine whether you made the right decision or not. You should also understand the value of keeping one deuce. If the cost is greater than equal money, then keep the deuce. On the other hand, keep the straight if the value is lower.
In addition, when you retain a single deuce, it is important that there are 9 possible cards that will produce 3-of-a-kind, 12 resulting to a flush, and 26 cards that results to zero. A higher payout for a flush is an indication that you can overcome getting nothing for 24 other cards. However, because there are 26 more cards, a 4-card flush with a deuce is more valuable than getting paid equal money.
In general, the absence or presence of a deuce on some hands is immaterial. In other hands, the presence of a deuce on a 4-card flush can yield a 3-of-a-kind but will have no impact on being dealt a flush.
In conclusion, a 4-card straight with a deuce will need 1.58 times as many cards to complete than 4-card flush with a deuce. This is enough to compensate for the fact that flushes payout 1.5 times than straights.
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