3 Card Poker
How to play 3 card Poker in a casino or online
Three Card Poker is a form of stud poker presenting 3 ways to bet, and 4 ways to win on your hand. You may play against the dealer, or bet on your hand’s value alone, or both. When you sit down at a table for 3 card poker, the one you want to beat is the dealer, not the other players, but the hands the other players are holding impacts your game by lessening the probability that the dealer has the cards he’ll need to beat you - if you decide to play against his hand.
Ante and Play Bets: To play against the dealer, place a bet in the Ante spot. Then 3 cards are dealt to everyone, including the dealer. Once you’ve seen your hand you may continue in the game by placing a bet in the Play spot, equal to your Ante bet. The dealer must have at least a Queen high to “qualify.” (You need a similar hand to avoid losing, at least Q-6-4 or better. See the 3 card poker Strategy at the end of the page.) You may decide to fold after seeing your hand, and thus forfeit your Ante bet. Otherwise, the possible scenarios are as follows:
1. Dealer DOES NOT qualify: Your Ante bet wins even money, 1 to 1. Your Play bet is considered a push (returned to you).
2. Dealer DOES qualify, but your hand beats his: Both your Ante and Play bets win 1 to 1.
3. Dealer DOES qualify, and the dealer’s hand beats yours. Then both your Ante and Play bets lose.
4. Dealer DOES qualify, and dealer’s hand ties yours. Your Ante and Play bets are returned.
The value of the hands is as follows, from highest to lowest: Straight Flush, Three of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Pair. If neither dealer nor player has a pair, then the hand with the highest card wins. Aces are highest unless in a straight with 3,2,A.
PairPlus Bets: To bet on your hand’s value alone, place a bet in the Pair Plus spot. Then 3 cards are dealt to each player (and the poker dealer). If you have a pair or better, it wins according to these payouts, usually:
A Straight Flush wins 40 to 1.
Three of a Kind wins 30 to 1.
A Straight wins 6 to 1.
A Flush wins 4 to 1.
A Pair wins 1 to 1.
Now, we did say there were 4 ways to win in 3 card poker. The last way is a Bonus on your Ante Bet when you happen to have an excellent hand. This is based on your hand alone, and it doesn’t matter what the dealer has. …If you had a Straight Flush, you win 5 to 1. Had Three of a Kind, you win 4 to 1. And a Straight wins 1 to 1.