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!