HOW TO PLAY: Three Card Poker

Three card poker is a popular casino game that combines the excitement of poker with the speed of a table game. It is played with a standard 52-card deck and can be found in both online and land-based casinos. In this article, we will explain the basic rules and strategies of three card poker, as well as some tips on how to win more often.

Three Card Poker Rules

The game starts with each player placing two bets: an ante bet and a pair plus bet. The ante bet is a wager that the player’s hand will be better than the dealer’s hand, while the pair plus bet is a wager that the player’s hand will have at least a pair or better. The pair plus bet is optional, but it offers higher payouts for strong hands.

After the bets are placed, the dealer deals three cards face down to each player and himself. The players can look at their own cards, but not at the dealer’s cards. Then, each player has to decide whether to fold or play.

• If the player folds, he loses both his ante and pair plus bets.
• If the player plays, he has to place another bet equal to his ante bet, called the play bet.

The dealer then reveals his cards and compares them with each player’s hand. The dealer needs at least a queen high to qualify. If the dealer does not qualify, the player wins even money on his ante bet and pushes on his play bet. If the dealer qualifies, the player’s hand is compared with the dealer’s hand according to the following ranking:

• Straight flush: Three consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., 5-6-7 of hearts). Aces can be high or low.
• Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank (e.g., 8-8-8).
• Straight: Three consecutive cards of different suits (e.g., 9-10-J of mixed suits). Aces can be high or low.
• Flush: Three cards of the same suit (e.g., 2-4-9 of spades).
• Pair: Two cards of the same rank (e.g., Q-Q-5).
• High card: The highest card in the hand (e.g., A-7-3).

If the player has a higher-ranked hand than the dealer, he wins even money on both his ante and play bets. If the player has a lower-ranked hand than the dealer, he loses both his ante and play bets. If the player and the dealer have the same-ranked hand, it is a tie and both bets push.

In addition to the regular payouts, the player can also win bonus payouts for certain hands:

• Ante bonus: The player wins an extra payout on his ante bet if he has a straight or better, regardless of whether he beats the dealer or not. The payout is 1 to 1 for a straight, 4 to 1 for a three of a kind, and 5 to 1 for a straight flush.
• Pair plus bonus: The player wins an extra payout on his pair plus bet if he has a pair or better, regardless of whether he beats the dealer or not. The payout is 1 to 1 for a pair, 3 to 1 for a flush, 6 to 1 for a straight, 30 to 1 for a three of a kind, and 40 to 1 for a straight flush.

Three Card Poker Strategy

Since there are no community cards or shared cards of any kind in three card poker, the strategy is somewhat straightforward. The complete average hand in three card poker is queen-6-4. Therefore, the optimal strategy would be to play all hands greater than or equal to queen-6-4, and fold all hands worse.

This means that you should play any hand that has:

• A queen or higher
• A king or ace with any other two cards
• A queen with a 7 or higher
• A queen with a 6 and a 4 or higher

By following this simple rule, you can reduce the house edge to about 3.37% on your ante bet and play bet combined.

As for the pair plus bet, it has a higher house edge of about 7.28%, but it also offers higher payouts for strong hands. Therefore, it depends on your personal preference and risk tolerance whether you want to place this bet or not. However, most experts agree that it is more fun and profitable to play this bet than to skip it.

Conclusion

Three card poker is an easy and enjoyable casino game that can offer you some big wins if you get lucky. By learning the basic rules and strategies, you can improve your chances of beating the dealer and having fun at the same time. Remember to always play responsibly and within your budget, and have a good time!

FAQ

• Q: What is the best hand in three card poker?
• A: The best hand in three card poker is a straight flush, which consists of three consecutive cards of the same suit. For example, 5-6-7 of hearts. The odds of getting a straight flush are about 1 in 460.

• Q: What is the worst hand in three card poker?
• A: The worst hand in three card poker is a high card with no pair, flush, or straight. For example, 2-5-9 of mixed suits. The odds of getting a high card are about 1 in 4.

• Q: How do you win at three card poker?
• A: To win at three card poker, you need to have a better hand than the dealer, or hope that the dealer does not qualify. You can also win bonus payouts for having certain hands, such as a pair or better on your pair plus bet, or a straight or better on your ante bet.

• Q: How do you cheat at three card poker?
• A: Cheating at three card poker is not recommended, as it can get you banned from the casino or worse. However, some possible ways to cheat are:
  • • Marking the cards with invisible ink or other methods
    • Colluding with the dealer or other players to see their cards
    • Using a device to count cards or analyze probabilities
    • Switching cards with other players or from previous hands