What is Three-Card Poker?
According to Wikipedia, Three-Card Poker was invented by Derek Webb in 1994, and patented in 1997. He wanted to create a game that combined the excitement of poker with the speed of other table games. Today, we can say he succeeded in spades. You need a standard deck of 52 cards to play this game at the casino. The objective is to make the best poker hand possible with three cards. In regular poker, players try to beat each other. But in this version, players only try to beat the dealer or the pay table.
This game is popular among casino players because it is easy to learn, and fast-paced. Additionally, it offers a chance to win big payouts with high-ranking hands. It also has a lower house edge than some other casino games, depending on the pay tables used. Check out this article and by the end, you will know how to play and enjoy this thrilling game!
Basic rules
To play Three-Card Poker, each player must make an ante wager, which is a bet that starts the action. The player can also make an optional pair-plus bet, which pays if the player’s hand has a pair or better. The dealer gives three cards face-down to each player and to themselves. The players can check their cards and choose to fold or keep playing. If the player folds, they lose their ante wager and their pair-plus bet if they made one. If the player continues, they must make a play wager, which is equal to their ante wager.
After all the players have made their decisions, the dealer reveals their cards. The dealer’s hand must qualify with a queen-high or better to play. If the dealer’s hand does not qualify, the players win even money on their ante wager and their play wager is returned. If the dealer’s hand does qualify, the players compare their hands with the dealer’s hand. The highest-ranking hand wins. Both the ante and the play bets pay even money to the player if they have a higher hand than the dealer. If the dealer’s hand is higher than the player’s hand, the player loses both their ante wager and their play wager. If the player’s hand and the dealer’s hand are equal, it is a tie and both wagers are returned.
In addition to the ante wager and the play wager, the player can also win a bonus payout based on their hand. The pair-plus bet pays according to a pay table if the player has a pair or better, regardless of whether they beat the dealer or not. The ante bonus pays according to a pay table if the player has a straight or better.
Hand ranking
The hand ranking is different from the standard five-card poker ranking, as follows:
Mini Royal Flush
This is the highest-ranking hand. It consists of an ace, king, and queen of the same suit, such as A♠K♠Q♠. The probability of getting this hand is 0.02%.
Straight Flush
It consists of three consecutive cards of the same suit, such as 9♥10♥J♥. The probability of getting this hand is 0.22%.
Three of a Kind
This hand consists of three cards of the same rank, such as 7♣7♦7♠. The probability of getting this hand is 0.24%.
Straight
This is the fourth-highest-ranking hand. It consists of three consecutive cards of different suits, such as 6♠7♥8♦. The probability of getting this hand is 3.26%.
Flush
It consists of three cards of the same suit, such as 2♣5♣9♣. The probability of getting this hand is 4.96%.
One Pair
This hand consists of two cards of the same rank and one card of a different rank, such as J♦J♠4♥. The probability of getting this hand is 16.94%.
High Card
Lowest-ranking hand in three-card poker. It consists of three cards of different ranks and suits, such as A♦8♣3♥. The probability of getting this hand is 74.39%.
To determine the winner, the hands are compared according to their ranks. If two or more hands have the same rank, then the highest card in each hand is used to break the tie. If the highest cards are also equal, then the second-highest cards are used, and so on. If the hands are still equal, then the pot is split among the tied players.
Special features
The Pair Plus bet:
This is an optional side bet that pays you according to the rank of your hand, regardless of the dealer's hand. The payout table may vary from casino to casino, but a common one is:
Hand
- Mini Royal
- Straight Flush
- Three of a Kind
- Straight
- Flush
- Pair
Payout
- 50:1
- 40:1
- 30:1
- 6:1
- 4:1
- 1:1
The Ante Bonus:
This is an extra payout that you get if you have a strong hand and beat the dealer's hand. You get this bonus even if the dealer does not qualify (has a hand lower than Queen High). The payout table may vary from casino to casino, but a common one is:
Hand
- Straight Flush
- Three of a Kind
- Straight
Payout
- 5:1
- 4:1
- 1:1
The Six-Card Bonus:
This is another optional side bet that pays you according to the best five-card poker hand that can be made from your three cards and the dealer's three cards. The payout table may vary from casino to casino, but a common one is:
Hand
- Royal Flush
- Straight Flush
- Four of a Kind
- Full House
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a Kind
Payout
- 1000:1
- 200:1
- 50:1
- 25:1
- 15:1
- 10:1
- 5:1
Prime:
This is a side bet that pays you if all your cards are the same color (red or black). The payout is 3:1 if your cards are all the same color and 4:1 if the dealer's cards are also the same color as yours.
These bets can increase your chances of winning and add more excitement to the game. However, not all casinos offer these options, so you need to find the ones that do. To help you with that, we have compiled a list of the recommended betting brokers that provide the best Three-Card Poker experience.
Tips to win at Three-Card Poker
- Always play with a Queen high or better hand, as this is the minimum requirement for the dealer to qualify. If you have less than a Queen high, you should fold your hand and lose your ante bet.
- If you have a strong hand, such as a straight flush, three of a kind, or a straight, you should raise your play bet to match your ante bet, as you have a high chance of beating the dealer and getting a bonus payout.
- If you have a weak hand, such as a flush, a pair, or a high card, you should compare your hand with the dealer's visible card and decide whether to raise or fold. As a general rule, you should raise if your hand is higher than the dealer's card, and fold if it is lower or equal.
Now you have everything you need to master this game. The next step? Find where to play Three-Card poker online and put your new skills to the test!
