Wild Cards: Cards Taking Another Value

A big part in playing poker is agreeing on wild cards. Before the start of play by mutual agreement certain cards can assume another value or will have added value. A wild card can be representative of any card or any suit and denomination. It can even be a duplicate of a card already present in a player's hand.

Whether a wild card is to be played or not is acknowledged at the start of the game before the cards are dealt. It must be specific such that all those considered agree what is wild. In any way, the wild cards should be known before dealing.

Wild cards can either be a bug or fully wild cards. In casinos bug can only assume an ace and nothing else. In cases to complete a straight or flush, then a bug can be other can an ace. It is the fully wild card that can make up for any other card without limitations: it can be a face card, an ace or a number card.

Joker or jokers are at times added to the standard deck to act as wild cards. In low poker the joker takes on the lowest value card. Twos or deuces are the next preferred wild card after the joker. It is also possible by arrangement that four deuces be declared wild. Threes can also pose as wild cards if players so decide.

The rank of cards in a poker hand with at least one wild card is as follows: five of a kind as the highest followed by a royal flash. Then straight flush, quad, full house, double-ace flush, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pairs, one pair and lastly the high card.

When a royal flush with no wild cars is pitted against a five of a kind (this is with wild card), the one with no wild card wins. A hand that does not employ wild cards is otherwise called natural. When wild cards are into play and there is a tie, which hand with the lesser wild card is victorious.

For some poker players, that are concerned over wild cards may be an indication that they feel the use of wild cards is a skill they do not have. Since wild cards provides the ability to change hands often it can make a hand quite challenging for many. Many feel it is amature way of playing poker and not the real game. But, others would contest that wild cards conjure more challenge and fun. The chances of winning are elevated in decks with wild cards.

Wild cards are usually common in draw poker. When its is straight poker, wild cards are seldom used.