The Ultimate Guide To 3 Card Poker: Rules, Payouts, And Winning Strategies
If you want to master 3 Card Poker, you’ve come to the right place. This article comprehensively overviews the 3 card poker rules, wagers, and payouts. We’ll also touch on the proven Three Card Poker strategy and answer the common questions about this type of Poker.
Poker, 3 Cards: Overview
3 Card Poker is a relatively young game invented in the mid-90s. This game is a great fit for casinos since you compete against a gambling establishment.
3 Card Poker games use a deck of 52 cards. Accordingly, players are dealing with 22,000 possible combinations on three cards. The number of players at a 3 Card Poker table can vary from 1 to 6 people.
The game’s rules are relatively simple, and your winnings depend mainly on luck, so you won’t have to perform complex mathematical calculations.
The Essential Poker Terms
Before we dive into the Three Card Poker rules, let’s start with the poker glossary.
Wagers you can make
Here are the types of bets you can make!
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Ante | A wager placed to play against the dealer; the initial bet required for the game to start. |
| Play | A bet equal to the Ante wager placed when you like your hand and are willing to continue the game. |
| Pair Plus | A wager placed to play against your hand, betting that you will get a pair or some better combination. |
| Both Ante and Pair Plus | Playing both against the dealer and your hand; an opportunity to capitalize on two different Three Card Poker payouts. |
| Six Card Bonus wager | An optional bet to make before the cards are dealt (provided you’ve placed Ante and Pair Plus wagers already); whenever your 3 cards and the dealer’s 3 cards contain a Three-of-a-Kind or a greater combination, you win. |
Poker, 3 Cards: Hand Rankings
Next, you need to get familiar with 3 Card Poker hand rankings. Already know the traditional 5 Card Poker hand rankings? Then you will quickly notice the key distinction of Poker 3 Cards: Straight ranks higher than Flush in 3 Card Poker hands.
Below are Three Card Poker hands ranked from highest to lowest.
| 3 Card Poker Hand | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Straight Flush | Three cards of the same suit in a row | J♣ 10♣ 9♣ |
| Three-of-a-Kind | Three cards of the same rank | 7♦ 7♥ 7♠ |
| Straight | A sequence of three cards, at least one of which is different in suit from the others | 5♣ 4♥ 3♠ |
| Flush | Three cards of the same suit that are not in sequence | A♥ T♥ 5♥ |
| Pair | Two cards of three of the same rank | 2♠ 2♣ Q♦ |
| High Card | Three cards of different ranks and not of the same suit | A♦ 10♥ 8♠ |
Understanding 3 Card Poker Rules
Now that you know the basic terminology, it’s time to practice 3 Card Poker. To help you understand 3 Card Poker rules, we’ll break down the gameplay step by step:
- Players make an Ante bet, an optional Pair Plus bet, and take 3 cards face down from the dealer.
- Players evaluate their hand and fold or place Play wagers equal to their Ante bets.
- Once each player decides about their hands, the dealer collects the forfeited bets and reveals their hand.
- If your hand is higher (better) than the dealer’s, you win; if the dealer’s hand is higher, then your Ante and Play bets are losing.
- If you hold a hand of Straight, Three-of-a-Kind, or Straight Flush and have both Ante and Play wagers placed, you qualify for the Ante Bonus.
- If you’ve placed a Pair Plus wager, you can win a bonus based on the payout table, regardless of the dealer’s hand.
Payouts For 3 Card Poker
Now, it’s time for the sweetest part — 3 Card Poker Payouts. We’ll look through the generally accepted payout schemes. However, payouts for 3 Card Poker may vary across casinos, and some gambling platforms may offer more generous bonuses.
Ante 3 Card Poker Payout
To be eligible for the Ante Bonus payout, ensure you’ve placed both an Ante and a Play bet. Make sure to make a Play bet to avoid losing the Ante wager and the Plus wager (if any). Ante bonus payouts are as follows:
Pair Plus 3 Card Poker Payout
As mentioned, a Pair Plus wager is about betting on your hand’s value. When making a Pair Plus bet, you can count on the following bonus payouts:
3 Card Poker 6 Card Bonus Payout
Playing 3 Card Poker with 6-card bonus wagers can be especially rewarding. Depending on the hand made from cards dealt to you and the dealer, you can expect the following 3 Card Poker 6 Card Bonus payouts:
3 Card Poker Strategies
Now, what’s the best strategy for 3 Card Poker games? Its simplicity will surprise you.
The key is to continue the game with a hand not lower than Queen-Six-Four. Now, what if you hold a hand like Queen-Six-Three or weaker? Following the Three Card Poker betting strategies, folding such hands is safe.
FAQ
You can play 3 Card Poker online and in land-based casinos. There are numerous crypto gambling sites out there that offer online Three Card Poker table games.
3 Card Poker house edge can differ across casinos. On average, a house edge on Ante bets is around 3.37%. With other wagers like Pair Plus, a house edge can be steeper — up to 7.28%.
In addition, a casino charges poker players a rake — a commission that aims to cover operating expenses.
Following the best 3 Card Poker strategy — playing with hands greater than Queen-Six-Four — can increase your chances of winning.
Bottom Line
Playing 3 Card Poker online or at a land-based casino can be a thrilling experience. Before heading down to a gambling establishment, studying the Three Card Poker rules, winning hands, and 3 Card Poker payouts is essential. We hope our guide will help turn the odds in 3 Card Poker in your favor. Have fun playing!