i. Wild cards and freak hands

Wild cards can increase the betting pace and loosen up certain games. As players become accustomed to wild cards, their fear of very strong hands usually dissipates. But if so many wild cards are used that hands such as five-of-a-kind and straight flushes become common and any betting strength suggests those maximum-value hands, the betting will dry up.

The bug card (the joker—used in low hands as a wild card, and in high hands as an ace or as a wild card for completing straights and flushes) can increase the betting pace without causing fear of maximum-value hands.

The good player rarely encourages the use of freak hands such as blazes, tigers, dogs, kilters, and skeets. While such hands could temporarily increase his edge odds by adding confusion, the use of freak hands may deter players from accepting other more profitable modifications such as twists and split pots.