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Want to know how to play 3 Card Poker? This fast-paced poker variant pits you against the dealer using just three cards per hand.
In this guide, we’ll break down the origins, the basic 3 card poker rules, betting options, hand rankings, and simple strategies to start playing with confidence.
What is 3 Card Poker Online
3 Card Poker is a casino table game. So if you know how to play Caribbean Stud Poker, you’re going to love 3 Card Poker. It’s not as well-known as others and is still relatively young. Nevertheless, it’s fun to play and has a cult following.
Although it has roots in traditional poker games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha Poker, this game is played against the dealer, rather than against other players. This means it is a variation of Stud Poker, allowing you to compete against the dealer for added excitement.
3 Card Poker is a relatively new game compared to blackjack and baccarat. It was created by Derek Webb, a British businessman and poker player, in 1994.
Webb was looking to create a single-player poker game that replicated the speed of other table games. His three key goals were to make it simple, give it a reasonable house edge, and provide generous payouts.
He successfully achieved these goals, as evidenced by the 3 Card Poker house edge, for instance, is just 3.37% on the standard ante bet. However, this can be reduced to almost 2% with the right tactics.
How to Play 3 Card Poker Online
All you need to play 3 card poker is a 52-card deck with no Jokers. The game is usually played between two or more people and can include poker chips. So, how do you play 3 Card Poker? One of the best aspects of this game is how simple the 3 card poker rules are to understand.
The aim is to make the strongest possible hand and beat the dealer, using only three cards. An initial ante is placed, followed by a second wager if you wish to play.
If the dealer doesn’t qualify, you win the ante. However, the best possible outcome is to take on the dealer and win, earning you a 1-to-1 payout on both bets.
Step-by-Step Guide to 3 Card Poker
Let’s walk through a hand example and discover exactly what the best way to play 3 card poker is.
- Place an ante. Before the game starts, this is the first bet required.
- Consider side bets. If you wish to play Pair Plus or other side bets, now’s the time.
- Cards are dealt. The dealer distributes three face-up cards to all players, plus three face-down cards for themselves.
- Play or pass? If you like your hand, place a “play” bet equal to the ante. Otherwise, fold and lose the initial ante.
- Dealer assessment. The dealer reveals their hand, which must be queen-high or above to qualify. If it doesn’t, all players win, and the hand ends.
- Hands are compared. If qualified, the dealer’s hand is compared to each player’s.
- Side bets paid. Any Pair Plus or bonus bets are settled based on your hand.
While it’s not available everywhere, many offshore poker sites feature 3 Card Poker at their attached casinos.
3 Card Poker Rules
Now that you’re familiar with the 3 Card Poker rules, you’ll need to find somewhere to actually play.
- The game uses a standard 52-card deck (no Jokers).
- Each round starts with an Ante bet; a Pair Plus side bet is optional.
- Players are dealt three cards and may fold or place a Play bet equal to their Ante.
- The dealer must have at least Queen-high to qualify.
- If the dealer doesn’t qualify, the Ante pays 1:1, and the Play bet is returned.
- If the dealer qualifies and beats the player, both bets are lost.
- If the player beats a qualified dealer, both Ante and Play bets pay 1:1.
- If there’s a tie, both bets push (are returned).
3 Card Poker Hands
Because 3 Card Poker hands use fewer cards than traditional games, the probability of making certain combinations is quite different.
As a result, the hand rankings are somewhat unorthodox.
| Hand Ranking | Example |
|---|---|
| Straight Flush | A♠K♠Q♠ |
| Three of a Kind | 9♦9♣9♥ |
| Straight | J♣10♥9♠ |
| Flush | K♣J♣8♣ |
| Pair | Q♥Q♦K♣ |
| High Card | A♣J♦9♣ |
3 Card Poker Strategy and Tips (Cheat Sheet)
Wondering how to win at 3 Card Poker? Well, like any table game, there’s no guaranteed method to succeed.
However, you can certainly employ a few tips and tricks to improve your chances.
Starting Hand Selection
The most important consideration is your hand selection. You can play any hand, but sticking to certain holdings reduces the house edge to just 2.37%.
There’s no 3 Card Poker “cheat sheet” like you’d see for blackjack. However, the optimal strategy suggests folding anything lower than Q♣6♥4♠.
Bet Sizing
Remember that there’s more than just the initial ante involved. If the minimum bet at your table is $2, you’re actually going to pay $4 if you want to play.
What’s more, the optional Pair Plus wager – which is where the biggest payouts can be found – will cost you an additional bet. As such, you need to budget for spending 3x the ante, so manage your bankroll accordingly.
Reduce the House Edge
Play an optional strategy and the house edge will be reduced to 2.37%. However, the voluntary Pair Plus bet offers the casino a much greater advantage of 7.28%.
If you want to land the biggest rewards, like the 40 to 1 payout offered for straight flushes, place this wager. However, if you’re thinking about the implications of longer-term bankrolls, it’s sensible to swerve Pair Plus entirely.
Payout Consideration
In the next section of our guide to 3 Card Poker, we’ve discussed the standard pay table used by most casinos. However, not everywhere has the same system.
It’s important to look around and make sure you’re playing a version of the game that offers the biggest available payouts.
3 Card Poker Payouts
Looking for the 3 Card Poker odds? We’ve got you covered in the next section of our guide.
Ante and Play
If the dealer doesn’t qualify, your play bet is returned, and you’ll be paid 1 to 1 on the ante.
Should you manage to win, both the ante and play bets are paid at the same odds.
| Result | Payout |
|---|---|
| Player win | 1:1 on both bets |
| Dealer fails to qualify | 1:1 on ante; play bet refunded |
Pair Plus
If you place the voluntary Pair Plus bet, you can win bigger rewards.
The table below outlines the standard payouts, but some casinos might use a different pay table.
| Hand | Payout | True % Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Straight Flush | 40:1 | 0.22% |
| Three of a Kind | 30:1 | 0.24% |
| Straight | 6:1 | 3.26% |
| Flush | 3:1 | 4.95% |
| Pair | 1:1 | 16.94% |
6 Card Bonus
Some casinos offer a second side bet called 3+3, otherwise known as the 6 Card Bonus.
This combines your hand with the dealer’s to make the best possible five-card poker hand. You’ll receive a payout based on its strength, but you need at least three-of-a-kind to qualify.
Several different pay tables exist, as illustrated below.
| Hand | Pay Table 1 | Pay Table 2 | Pay Table 3 | Pay Table 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 1,000:1 | 1,000:1 | 2,000:1 | 1,000:1 |
| Straight Flush | 200:1 | 200:1 | 200:1 | 200:1 |
| Four of a Kind | 100:1 | 50:1 | 50:1 | 50:1 |
| Full House | 20:1 | 25:1 | 25:1 | 25:1 |
| Flush | 15:1 | 20:1 | 15:1 | 15:1 |
| Straight | 10:1 | 10:1 | 10:1 | 10:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 7:1 | 5:1 | 5:1 | 5:1 |
| House Edge | 8.56% | 10.22% | 14.36% | 15.28% |
How to Play 3 Card Poker: Conclusion
3 Card Pokes is an underrated table game that’s just as fun to play as any other casino favorite. It’s fast-paced, easy to learn, and offers exciting gameplay with a low house edge of 3.37% on the ante bet.
By learning how to play 3 Card Poker and applying the simple strategies covered in this guide, you can improve your odds while enjoying every hand.
