Basic Guide to 3 Card Poker
3 card poker is a popular casino table game both live and online. Played with a single deck of cards the objective is to beat the dealer’s hand – with payouts relative to the strength of your own 3 card poker hand. The game of three card poker is attractive due to the relatively simple decision making involved and low house edge compared to other casino games.
The play of a hand begins with each player placing an ante. Three cards are then dealt to each player who must make a decision on whether to fold or play. Folding ends the hand for the individual player – forfeiting the ante. In order to play the hand a 2nd bet (the ‘play bet’) equal in size to the ante must be placed. The dealer then reveals their cards – if the dealer ‘qualifies’ by showing Queen high or better then hands are compared to the dealers holding to see who wins and how much is paid to each player. If the dealer does not qualify then players get even money on their ante bet and their ‘play bet’ is returned.
Should the dealer win the hand both the ante and play bets are lost. Players are paid according to their hand strength when they win, the following ‘ante bonus’ payouts are in addition to the even money won on the play bet. A straight flush pays 5/1 on the ante bet, 3 of a kind pays 4/1 and a straight 1/1.
Basic strategy for 3 card poker has been mathematically established. You should play Q-6-4 or better and fold any hand below this. While playing Q-6-4 will actually lose money, the loss is less than the ante you would forfeit by folding – meaning that you have a bigger winning percentage over time with this strategy.
In addition to the play / fold aspect of 3 card poker, many casinos also feature the ‘pair plus’ bet at the same time. This game is independent of the dealers hand and is placed before the cards are dealt. If you are then dealt a pair or better you will be paid according to the following schedule. Pairs 1/1, Flush 4/1, Straight 6/1, Trips 30/1 and Straight Flush 40/1. Note that a straight pays more than a flush in this form of poker – due to the lower frequency of being dealt a 3-card straight than 3 suited cards.
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