As one of the newest and most popular table games, Three Card Poker is rapidly spreading through online casino game offerings. Many gamblers consider Three Card Poker to be not only fun but very simple to play and understand. While it has some basic rules that apply only to this variant, learning how to play it is very similar to that of other varieties of poker including Texas Hold 'Em and 5 card stud.
The game is easy to play, with a moderate house edge so players actually have a shot at earning a win. There are two basic ways to play the game, Ante-Play and Pair Plus. Five Strategies to three-card poker Play like a Pro: 1. Learn the Rules: With online tri-card poker, you have the Ante-Play and Pair Plus options. You can make two types of bets in three card poker: ante and pair plus. You can bet just one or you can bet both of them. The ante bet is a wager against the dealer, while the pair plus bet is independent of the dealer's hand. It's simply a wager on whether your three card hand will include a pair or higher.
The Basics of Online Three Card Poker
Game Play
Each player has three circles in front of them on the table for bets. The top betting circle is designated as the portion where Pair Plus bets can be made. The circles closest to the player are labeled as the Ante and Play circles for the main game wagers. At most online casinos, the game commences when each player has made an initial wager in either (or both) the Pair Plus and Ante circle that at least matches the minimum bet set for the table.
Once all bets are made, the players are dealt three cards each, alternating by their position at the table. The first player to the left of the dealer is always the first to receive their first card and the cards are dealt clockwise around the table after the first player.
Ante Play
Any player that has placed a wager on the Ante must look at their hand and decide whether they wish to fold or continue to play. A fold by any player results in a loss of that their original bet. By continuing to play, the player is obligated to place an additional bet in the Ante betting circle. The game does not continue until every player at the table has viewed his/her hand and made the decision of whether to fold or play.
The dealer reveals his cards and determines if the hand qualifies to continue play. If the hand is not a Queen or higher hand the game is over and all players still in the game receive payouts of even money on both their original Ante bet and the bet they made to remain in the game.
However, if the dealer's hand does contain at least a Queen high, the hand is compared to the player's hands. Any hand that beats the dealer's is paid even money for both the Ante and Play bets (if there are any on the table). Any hand that does not beat the dealer hand is a losing hand and all money is forfeited from their betting circles.
Card Ranks
The sequence of winning card combinations is not the same as many other poker varieties as there are not at least five cards in every hand. Not only are some combinations not possible, there are some adjustments for mathematical probabilities when compared to other poker types. The order of card ranks, from lowest to highest, is listed here:
- Card High: Hand that does not contain at least a pair is ranked by its highest card.
- Pair: Two cards that hold the same value (9 and 9, Queen and Queen, etc.)
- Flush: Hand where all cards are of the same suit (3 hearts)
- Straight: Hand where the cards follow a sequential order but not of the same suit (6 or hearts, 7 of diamonds, 8 of spades)
- Three Of A Kind: All three cards hold the same value (Queen of clubs, Queen of Diamonds, Queen of spades)
- Flush (Straight): Hand where the cards are not only of the same suit but follow a sequential order (7 of spades, 8 of spades, 9 of spades)
Further Reading
- Three Card Poker (Wikipedia)
- How To Play Three Card Poker Prime (About.com)
More resources:
- How to Play
Three Ways to Play—Four Ways to Win
Three Card Poker is one of the most requested games in the Casino today. It is a stud poker game using one deck of 52 cards. The table can accommodate seven players; each position has three spaces marked Ante, Play and Pair Plus directly in front of it. Players can bet the Ante, Pair Plus or both to begin the game. All bets must be in $5 increments, but the Ante and Pair Plus bets do not have to be the same amount. Then, each player—and the dealer—will be dealt three cards face-down.
The Ante and Play Bets
The Ante is a bet against the dealer's hand. After the player views his/her cards, he/she must decide if his/her hand can beat the dealer's. If so, he/she must make an additional wager equal to the Ante bet called the Play. The player's cards are placed face down in the box marked Play with the Play wager on top; this signifies that the player wishes to remain in the hand.
If the player does not believe his hand can beat the dealer's, he/she should push his cards forward alongside his/her bet, signifying he/she does not wish to make the Play. The Ante wager is then taken in forfeit.
Once all Play bets have been made, the dealer turns his cards over and arranges them in the best three-card hand. In order to qualify, the dealer must have a hand of queen-high or better.
If the dealer does not qualify, there is a push on the Play: no one wins, no one loses. The Ante pays even money, or 1 to 1.
If the dealer qualifies and the player beats the dealer, the Play pays 1 to 1, and the Ante pays 1 to 1.
If the dealer qualifies and the dealer beats the player, both the Ante and the Play lose. If the dealer qualifies and the dealer's hand ties the player's hand, there is a push on both the Ante and the Play.
Additionally, the following hands are always paid on the Ante bet, regardless of the dealer's hand. This is called the Ante Bonus:
| Straight (3 in a sequence unsuited) | 1 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 4 to 1 |
| Straight Flush (3 in a sequence suited) | 5 to 1 |
Pair Plus Bet
The Pair Plus is a bet on the hand value and does not play against the dealer. The Pair Plus will not be affected by the win or loss of the Ante and Play wagers. Therefore, the Pair Plus is paid or taken, whether or not the dealer qualifies. If the player is only betting on the Pair Plus, he/she places his/her cards face-down in the Play area if he/she has a winning hand, or simply folds if the hand does not have a pair or higher.
The following hands are paid on Pair Plus bets:
| Pair (2 of the same kind) | 1 to 1 |
| Flush (3 of same suit) | 4 to 1 |
| Straight (3 in a sequence unsuited) | 5 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 30 to 1 |
| Straight Flush (3 in a sequence suited) | 40 to 1 |
On any hand other than those described above, the Pair Plus bet loses.
Six-Card Bonus
Players may compete against the posted payout table by placing this optional bonus wager, then creating the best five-card poker hand using their three cards and the dealer’s three cards.
Payouts
| Hand | Pays |
| Royal Flush | 1,000 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 200 to 1 |
| 4 of a Kind | 50 to 1 |
| Full House | 25 to 1 |
| Flush | 15 to 1 |
| Straight | 10 to 1 |
| 3 of a Kind | 5 to 1 |
Basic Three Card Poker Rules to Remember
- Original bets on the Ante or Pair Plus may not be increased, decreased or withdrawn after the first card has been dealt.
- Players may show their hand to each other and discuss the hand in progress, but the cards must be kept above the table, inside the rail and in their own area at all times.
- Ace is always high—except in the 3-2-Ace sequence; then, it is played as the lowest straight or the lowest straight flush (if suited).
- Each player can play only one table position and cannot bet on or against another player.
The following bets or combination of bets may be made for each hand:
- Bet Ante to play against the dealer
- Bet Pair Plus to play your hand only
- Bet Ante and Pair Plus to play both
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The order of Three Card Poker combinations is different than that of five-card poker games. The ranking of hands is as follows:
- Straight Flush
- Three of a Kind
- Straight
- Flush
- Pair
- High Card
Multi-Link Progressive Wager
Look for this exciting side bet on the Mississippi Stud, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold ’Em and Let it Ride Poker tables, connecting the five game into one combined progressive jackpot. A total of twelve tables will participate.
How it works: Simply place the optional $1 progressive side bet before the deal for the chance to win a portion of—or possibly the entire—jackpot.
The progressive wager pays when a player holds a three-of-a-kind or higher. And if you’re lucky enough to hold a royal flush, you’ll win 100% of the pot! Even the other players at a major jackpot-winning table will walk away with something substantial (if they’ve placed the progressive wager); a Royal Flush or Straight Flush awards an Envy bonus of $1,000 or $300, respectively.
This wager is your chance to play for more money—and to win more often! Ask a table games floor supervisor or dealer for additional information or qualifications.
Payouts
| Hand | Pays | Envy Bonus |
| Royal Flush | 100% | $1,000 |
| Straight Flush | 10% | $300 |
| 4 of a Kind | $300 | |
| Full House | $50 | |
| Flush | $40 | |
| Straight | $30 | |
| 3 of a Kind | $9 |
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Three Card Poker is a trademark and used under license from SHFL entertainment, Inc.