The Basics of Wildcards
by Gary Carson
|
Playing with a bug, dueces wild, Dr. Pepper, Baseball, one-eyed Jacks, follow the Queen, low hole card -- there are many variations of wild card games. But, within this wide range of ways to define wild cards, there is a strong distinction to be made between a wild card and a bug.
When using a single joker, it is sometimes declared as a 'bug' rather than as 'wild'. A bug is used as an extra ace, as a wild card in a flush, or a wild card in a straight. Two kings, two fours, and a joker is not a full house when a joker is used as a bug. When a joker is used as a wild card, it is a full house, the wild card working as a third king. Wild cards are always wild, bugs are not. When wild they are simply used as the card that gives you the best hand possible. Of course which cards are wild (or the use of a bug) must be declared before the deal. It's traditional to not have more than a single bug in play, although you can have many, many wild cards.
|