Want to know how to play 3 Card Poker?
We’ve outlined this intriguing game’s rules and payouts, not to mention strategy advice and its historical origins.
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 shares roots with traditional poker games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha Poker, it’s played against the dealer, not other players.
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3 Card Poker History
Compared to games like blackjack and baccarat, 3 Card Poker is a mere baby. It was invented by Derek Webb, a British businessman and poker player, as recently as 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.
We’d say that Webb successfully achieved his targets. 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.
We’ll talk in detail about 3 Card Poker strategy later in this guide.
How to Play 3 Card Poker Online
So, how do you play 3 Card Poker? One of the best features of this game is how easy the rules are to pick up.
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’s hand fails to qualify, you’ll receive a refund on the latter, winning on 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 how to play 3 Card Poker.
- Place an ante. This is the first bet required to start the game.
- 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. Should the dealer qualify, hands are compared. Beat the dealer and win on both the ante and play bets. Losing players surrender both.
- Side bets paid. Pair Plus side bets and any other side bet wagers are now settled according to hand strength.
Now that you’re familiar with the 3 Card Poker rules, you’ll need to find somewhere to actually play.
Although it’s not available everywhere, you can find 3 Card Poker at many offshore poker sites with casinos attached.
3 Card Poker Hand Rankings
Because 3 Card Poker hands use fewer cards than traditional games, the probability of making certain combinations is quite different.
As a result, the 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, 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 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 longer-term bankroll implications, 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
The poker variant is an underrated table game that’s just as fun to play as any other. 3 Card Poker is a fast-paced game that’s easy to learn and offers exciting gameplay.
With a low house edge of 3.37% on the ante bet and strategies like folding hands below Q-6-4, players can improve their odds while enjoying the thrill of the game.
Whether online or in-person, learning how to play 3 Card Poker is fun and will result in exciting gameplay.