WILD CARD POKER GUIDE
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WILD CARD POKER GUIDE
Playing wild card poker games is not the same as playing standard poker games. To be successful in wild card poker games you must make adjustments. The adjustments required are largely determined by the number and nature of the wild cards and the realization that holding a wild card is much better than holding any other card. The average winning hands in wild card poker games are always higher than in non-wild card games. To help explain concepts or ideas we use examples of wild card poker games that are featured on our Wild Card Games page. Refer to those for specific game details. |
WILD CARDS in HIGH-LOW POKER There is no reason that high-low split poker can not be played with wild cards. However, as expected, wild cards make it considerably easier to draw an excellent low hand. You need to develop and adhere to very strict standards regarding the rank of a low hand you are willing to play. Often, playing with anything less than the best possible low is a risky proposition. |
WILD CARDS ARE MUCH BETTER
That wild cards are much better is by no means a revelation of a hidden truth. Intuitively, anyone who has played wild card poker knows that holding a wild card is a lot better than holding any other card. While later we will temper that a bit, here we will demonstrate how important wild cards can be. In our example we will say you are playing a wild card version of 7 card stud in which there are 4 wild cards (eg. Deuces Wild).
Imagine that in two consecutive hands you are dealt the same starting hand: trip aces.
In the first hand you have a pair of aces and one wild card. What are your chances of improvement to 4 of a kind?
On fourth street 5 cards will make you 4 of a kind: 3 wild cards and 2 aces.
Likewise, on fifth, sixth and the river you have these same 5 cards to make your hand. Of course, if you pair one of your other cards you will immediately improve to a full house as well as add 2 more outs for getting 4 of a kind. But, that might just be a problem. Aces full may seem to be too good to throw away but might still be vulnerable, especially with lots of players in the hand. Likewise, if your second pair is small, turning it into a small 4 of a kind may not necessarily make it a winner. These become the kind of hands where you may win a small pot, but lose a big one.
In the very next hand you have the same trip aces, but this time made from a pair of wild cards and a single ace. What are your chances of improving to 4 of a kind? Again, on fourth street there are 5 cards: 3 aces and 2 wild cards. But this is where the similarity to the first example ends. Because you have 2 wild cards all you need to do to make 4 of a kind is to pair any of your other cards. Thus, on fifth street you now have 8 outs, on sixth street you have 11 and on the river it’s 14. Now, should you pair little cards they are more likely to stand up since you have 2 of the 4 wild cards.
Granted, your chances of improvement in either example is reduced whenever one of the cards you need is dealt to another player.
That wild cards are much better is by no means a revelation of a hidden truth. Intuitively, anyone who has played wild card poker knows that holding a wild card is a lot better than holding any other card. While later we will temper that a bit, here we will demonstrate how important wild cards can be. In our example we will say you are playing a wild card version of 7 card stud in which there are 4 wild cards (eg. Deuces Wild).
Imagine that in two consecutive hands you are dealt the same starting hand: trip aces.
In the first hand you have a pair of aces and one wild card. What are your chances of improvement to 4 of a kind?
On fourth street 5 cards will make you 4 of a kind: 3 wild cards and 2 aces.
Likewise, on fifth, sixth and the river you have these same 5 cards to make your hand. Of course, if you pair one of your other cards you will immediately improve to a full house as well as add 2 more outs for getting 4 of a kind. But, that might just be a problem. Aces full may seem to be too good to throw away but might still be vulnerable, especially with lots of players in the hand. Likewise, if your second pair is small, turning it into a small 4 of a kind may not necessarily make it a winner. These become the kind of hands where you may win a small pot, but lose a big one.
In the very next hand you have the same trip aces, but this time made from a pair of wild cards and a single ace. What are your chances of improving to 4 of a kind? Again, on fourth street there are 5 cards: 3 aces and 2 wild cards. But this is where the similarity to the first example ends. Because you have 2 wild cards all you need to do to make 4 of a kind is to pair any of your other cards. Thus, on fifth street you now have 8 outs, on sixth street you have 11 and on the river it’s 14. Now, should you pair little cards they are more likely to stand up since you have 2 of the 4 wild cards.
Granted, your chances of improvement in either example is reduced whenever one of the cards you need is dealt to another player.