The big question is the number of deuces you hold. A pair of deuces is worth a raise and is worth meeting almost any number of other raises.Figure that any deuce you do not hold is likely to be held or drawn by someone else, and get out fast when you do not hold deuces. When drawing to two deuces, hold an ace or a king and draw two; throw away any lower cards and draw three.

Draw poker with the bug. Introduction of the bug (joker) as a fifth ace and as a wild card in straights and flushes increases the number of good hands. Consequently, it requires slightly more to bet, raise or call.Unless you have the bug, it is seldom wise to stay in (when someone else has opened) with less than aces, or to raise, when next to the opener, with less than queens-up.

With a low straight, it is usually as good or better to raise immediately and take a chance on driving other players out, as to try to suck them in by just playing. Nevertheless, three aces will usually win a pot, and consequently a straight, a better hand, is dependable enough to permit a sandbagging policy if you prefer it.A straight or flush including the bug is far more desirable than a natural straight or flush, because it reduces the danger of having a pat hand against you.

The bug has a damaging psychological effect on many players: when dealt it, they hate to throw the hand in. Almost never is it advisable to draw four cards to the bug; there is only one chance in seven of getting aces or better. A two-card draw to the bug and two cards in suit and sequence, such as B-09-08, offers no greater chance of improvement than a one-card draw to a four-flush or bobtail straight, and should be played just as rarely. (There is about one chance in five of improvement, the same as with a four-flush, and the average improvement does not give you as good a hand as a flush.)