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What is Three Card Poker?
As its name tells you, Three Card Poker is played with only three cards. It is actually two games in one: "Pair Plus" and "Ante and Play". The player can choose to play either one or both games in each round.
The attraction for beginners in this game is that there is no continuous betting as in most poker games. The player or players bet against the dealer and the better hand wins.
Pair Plus in Three Card Poker
In "Pair Plus" the players place their initial bets in the center of the table, three cards are dealt to each one including the dealer. A pair or better wins. Anything less than a pair loses.
Ante and Play in Three Card Poker
In "Ante and Play", the player places an ante bet in, addition to the initial bet, before he receives his cards. If the player feels or thinks that his hand is better than the dealer's, he raises by placing an additional bet, equivalent to the ante. To meet the raise, the dealer must have a "qualifying" hand, which means he must have a queen high combination or better to "see" the player's hand. If the dealer's hand does not qualify, the player wins. If it does qualify, the hand with the highest value wins.
Three Card Poker Odds
Payouts in Three Card Poker usually go according to the following schedule:
- Straight Flush pays 40:1
- 3 of a Kind pays 30:1
- Straight pays 6:1
- Flush pays 4:1
- Pair pays 1:1
In the Ante and Play option there is also an Ante Bonus payout which is given for particularly good hand combinations. The Ante Bonus is not dependent on the value of the dealer's hand. The winning hands for the Ante Bonus payouts are as follows:
- Straight Flush pays 5:1
- Three of a Kind pays 4:1
- Straight pays 1:1
Losing a Bet in Three Card Poker
Of course if a player Folds (throws in his cards) in either of the 3 Card Poker options, he loses his play bet, his Ante bet and any chance for an Ante Bonus.
Since you are only playing with three cards, the hand rankings for 3 Card Poker are a bit different than in other poker variations. The hand rankings are as follow:
- Straight Flush – Three cards of the same suit in sequence (very hard to achieve in Three Card Poker and, therefore, the highest hand)
- Three of a Kind – Three cards of the same denomination
- Straight – Three cards from any suit in numerical sequence
- Flush – Any three cards of the same suit
- Ace High – A combination of an Ace and any other two cards
- King High – A King and any two cards with a lower value
- Queen High – A Queen and any two cards with a lower value
Three Card Poker is Best with Combined Play
It is quite obvious from the above explanation that it is always advantageous to play both the Pair Plus and the Ante and Play games together. This combined method of three card poker play qualifies the player for the Ante Bonus payout which, if applicable, greatly increases his winnings.
Online Three Card Poker
Three Card Poker can also be played at online casinos. It follows the same rules as the regular casino table game except that your computer is the dealer. Whichever way it is played – online or on land – it is a fast and highly entertaining kind of poker.
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