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Dead Deuce is Seven Card Stud in which deuces are wild only when they are face up. Each player is dealt three cards face down and chooses one to turn up, then play continues as normal stud. A deuce kept face down, or dealt as the last card, is an ordinary two.
Dead Deuce was contributed to pagat.com by Harry Carter. It is a variant of Seven Card Stud played with a standard 52-card deck, for up to seven players.
A deuce is wild only if it is face up. A deuce that is face down is a natural two.
Five of a kind is possible and ranks above a straight flush. See hand rankings.
Each player makes the best five-card hand from their seven cards. The highest hand wins the pot.
Each player is dealt three cards face down.
Each player looks at their three cards and turns exactly one of them face up. This is the only time in the hand when a player chooses which card to expose.
The fourth, fifth and sixth cards are dealt face up, and the seventh card face down. There is a betting round after the roll and after each later card.
Each betting round is begun by the player with the highest hand showing, as in Seven Card Stud.
| Stage | Cards | Betting |
|---|---|---|
| Deal and roll | Three down; each player turns one up | 1st round |
| Fourth street | One up | 2nd round |
| Fifth street | One up | 3rd round |
| Sixth street | One up | 4th round |
| Seventh street | One down | 5th round, then showdown |
Deuces dealt face up on fourth, fifth or sixth street are wild.
A player dealt two or three deuces among the first three cards can turn only one of them face up. Only that one is wild. The others stay face down and count as twos.
A deuce dealt as the seventh card is face down and counts as a two.
At the showdown, face-up deuces may stand for any card. All other cards count at their natural rank.
Two wild deuces, two natural ones
Player A is dealt 2♣2♦K♥ and rolls the 2♣ face up, so it is wild. The 2♦ stays down and is a natural two.
A is then dealt K♠2♥8♦ face up. The 2♥ is face up, so it is wild. The seventh card, dealt down, is the 2♠, a natural two.
A has two wild deuces, two kings, an eight and two natural twos. The best hand is four kings with an eight kicker: the two kings plus the two wild deuces, with the eight.
No. Only deuces that are face up are wild. A deuce you keep face down, or receive as your seventh card, is an ordinary two.
No. You turn up exactly one of your first three cards, so only one deuce from the first three cards can be wild.
Yes. With several deuces face up, five of a kind is possible. It beats a straight flush.
Where any doubt remains in the application of this document, Rob is right.
Hand rankings, high to low: royal flush · straight flush · four of a kind · full house · flush · straight · three of a kind · two pair · one pair · high card. Suits never break ties.
Dead Deuce Rules · OPR-667 · officialpokerrules.com/dead-deuce/