Discover the thrill of 3 Card Poker with our expert guide! Our page will show you how to play Three Card Poker so you can hit the tables in no time. We’ll also share some beginner’s Three Card Poker tips.
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Three Card Poker is played with a single 52-card deck and is actually two games in one. First, the Pair Plus game allows players to wager on whether they will be dealt a Pair or better, or not. Secondly, the Play/Ante game allows players to wager against the house (dealer) to see who has the highest hand. Some casinos will allow you to bet on either game, while others require that you place an ante bet before you place a bet on the Pair Plus portion of the game.
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown on how to play 3 Card Poker online. Follow our easy steps and you’ll get to grips with the game in no time:
There are three circles on the table per each participating player. The Pair Plus is the circle where you can place bets for the Pair Plus game. Next to it are two more circles for the base game, one labeled "Ante" and another labeled "Play." The game begins when you place a wager on the Ante and/or the Pair Plus circle equal to the table minimum.
The dealer will give each participating player a three-card hand after all players have placed their wagers. Play will start with the player seated at the left most corner of the dealer and will continue clockwise around the table. Both the dealer and the players are dealt three cards each.
After viewing your hand, you can decide to fold or play on. If you’re not happy your hand, you can fold and lose your Ante wager. However, if you choose to continue, you must call and place an additional bet, equivalent to the Ante wager, on the Play circle.
The dealer will then reveal his three cards after you have made your decision on your own 3 Card Poker hand. If the dealer has a high card queen or better, he automatically "qualifies" his hand. You win even money on your Play and Ante bets if you beat the dealer’s hand.
However, if the dealer's hand does not contain a queen or better, then all players who are still active in play will have their Play bet returned to them, plus even money for their Ante wager.
In 3 Card Poker online, you will get a bonus payout for holding certain hands when playing the Ante bet. You do not have to place an additional bet to participate. You’ll receive a bonus when you win with a straight, straight flush, or three of a kind. The bonus amount will depend on the paytable values for your specific table.
Your Pair Plus bet is based on whether you have a pair or better in your hand, regardless of whether you beat the dealer, or he beats you in the Ante game. If you have a Pair or better, you win; if not, you lose-it's that simple.
You win the Six Card side bet depending on the six-card hand formed of your hand’s and the dealer’s. Payouts are made for a three of a kind up to a mini Royal Flush.
You can view all 3 Card Poker payouts in our table further down this page.
The hand rankings in Three Card Poker are a little different than normal since players are only dealt three cards, rather than the traditional five cards. Due to mathematical probabilities of making certain hands, the hands in a Three Card Poker game are ranked as follows:
| Hand Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mini Royal Flush |  Q-K-A spades | Queen, king, and ace of the same suit. |
| Straight Flush |  7-8-9 clubs | Three cards of the same suit appearing in sequence. |
| Three of a Kind |  3-3-3 | Three cards of identical ranks. |
| Straight |  3-4-5 | Three cards in sequence of mixed suits. |
| Flush |  5-K-2 spades | Three non-sequential cards of the same suit. |
| Pair |  7-6-6 | Two cards of the same rank. |
| High Card |  10-3-7 | The highest card in your hand. |
You may be wondering what’s the difference between our free 3 Card Poker game and a real money one. Both versions are virtually the same in terms of gameplay, but they come with a few differences. Free 3 Card Poker allows you to understand the rules and bets risk-free, while Three Card Poker for real money lets you win cash prizes.
Knowing the pros and cons between the two is key to identifying which game type suits you best. Let’s compare free Three Card Poker to real money games to find out:
Now that you know how to play Three Card Poker, it’s time to learn a few basic tips to get the most out of your gameplay. Our 3 Card Poker strategy will help you make the right decisions at the table. Follow our expert tips below to improve your odds of winning:
If you’re new to the game, free 3 Card Poker is ideal. Try out freeplay game on this page and learn the ropes before you risk your bankroll. You can practice for as long as you want to perfect your skills.
Let’s continue with the most basic Three Card Poker strategy tip. Whenever you have a hand that is lower than Q-6-4, you should fold. Why? The dealer’s hand only qualifies with a queen, and you’ll usually be behind if you try to play with a poor hand.
The house edge for Ante & Play in Three Card Poker is 3.37%. However, this jumps to 4.49% when you consider the Pair Plus side bet. The takeaway is that the 3 Card Poker payouts for a pair or better don’t make the side bet worth the risk.
Not every version of Three Card Poker online is the same. Some versions offer different payouts for the Pair Plus bet. In our example, a mini Royal Flush pays 100/1. The house edge of this variant is 4.49%. But in other online 3 Card Poker free games, the payout for a mini-Royal can be as low as 50/1. This increases the edge to 5.39%.
Good bankroll management is an excellent 3 Card Poker strategy. Settle on your wagers as a percentage of your overall bankroll. Start at 1-2% of your roll on every wager, for example $1 a hand from a $100 bankroll. This way, you can handle the downswings and still have cash left.
When you play online 3 Card Poker for real money, you can work off a special casino bonus. Oftentimes, Three Card Poker is eligible toward a casino bonus, and even some no deposit bonuses. Choose the right place to play and unlock real cash straight from the casino.
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You know how to play 3 Card Poker, and you’ve learned 3 Card Poker odds and strategy. All you need to do now is to join one of our top-rated casinos. Choose from our reviewers’ list or sign up to our #1 casino below and start playing today.
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When compared to casino staples such as blackjack and roulette, 3 card poker is a relative newcomer to the world of gambling games. However, in spite of this, it has quickly become one of the most played table games in both land-based and online casinos around the world. It's easy to play, has a relatively low house edge and most importantly, allows for big wins and fast action. Some of the payouts in online Three Card Poker are higher than blackjack, but the house edge is also higher.
Yes. Basic 3 Card Poker strategy requires you to fold whenever you have a hand that is a lower than Q-6-4. If you have a higher hand, continue and place a Play bet. The simplest way to determine if you have a higher hand is to compare your highest card with the Queen; if it is higher, continue play and ignore the other two cards. If your highest card is a Queen and your second is higher than 6, continue to play and bet. However, if your second card is lower than a 6, you should fold.
The best hand in 3 Card Poker online is a mini-Royal, consisting of Q-K-A of the same suit.
Odds in Three Card Poker range from 5/1 for a Straight Flush or higher, down to 1/1 for a straight.
The house edge in 3 Card Poker is 3.37% for the Ante bet, 4.49% for Pair Plus, and 8.56% for the Six Cards bet.
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