Deuce

A two, the lowest card in most poker games; in deuces wild, every two stands for any card you like.

Last updated October 22, 2026

What it means: Deuce is the old name for a two. There are four in a deck, one of each suit. A two is the lowest rank in standard poker, although an ace can play below it in the five-high straight, A-2-3-4-5.
How it is calculated: In a deuces wild home game, a two counts as whatever card makes your hand best, so five of a kind becomes possible and every hand gets stronger. Agree the order of hands before the first deal.
Worked example: Seven-deuce offsuit, 7-2, is often called the worst Hold'em hand: the cards are too far apart to make a straight together and are not suited. By equity against a random hand, 3-2 offsuit is a little lower still.
Why it matters: Deuces turn up in table talk, in hand histories and in side bets such as the seven-deuce game, so it helps to know the word.