This poker game is played with three cards per hand, but unlike regular
poker where players compete against each other, all players at this game
compete either against the dealer or against a posted payout schedule
for specific hands. It's easy to play and the house only has an average
of 3% advantage depending on their payout.
History of Three Card Poker
Three Card Poker uses a 52-card deck. It was invented in 1994 by Derek
Webb, the proprietor of Prime Table Games, and a successful poker player
based in Great Britain. It is played on a table similar to that of blackjack.
It is actually two games in one. The player may bet on Pair
Plus, and/or Ante
with different amounts.
How to Play 3 Card Poker There
are three betting marks in front of each player. Closest to the player
is the betting mark labeled 'play', above it one label 'ante' and above
the 'ante' one label 'pair plus'. These are the only bets allowed in three
card poker. To start, all the players make their bets. Players can either
wager that their hand will be higher in rank than the dealer's hand ('ante'
and 'play' wagers) or they can wager that their hand will have at least
a pair or higher ('pair plus' wager). Each player and the dealer are then
dealt three cards, giving each player in turn one card face down until
all the players and the dealer have three face down cards.
3 Card Poker Pair Plus
The simplest bet to make is on the 'pair plus' (pictured right as the
top circle). It does not matter whether the player's hand is better than
the dealer when it comes to the payouts of the 'pair plus' wager. It is
a completely independent bet and the payout is based only on the rank
of the 3 card hand. If you have less than a pair, you lose the 'pair plus'
wager. If you have a pair or higher, you win. The higher the rank, the
greater the payout.
Three Card Poker Pair Plus Payout
A pair (Example A, K,
A ): pays 1 to 1
A flush (Example A, 9,
6 ): pays 4 to 1
A Straight (Example 7,
5, 6 )
: pays 6 to 1
Three of a kind(Example K,
K , K):
pays 30 to 1
A Straight flush (Example 4,
5, 6 ):
pays 40 to 1
The above are the valid ranking hands in Three Card Poker in ascending
order starting from the lowest. The listed payout is the most common payout
found in casino. However some casinos might have different payouts, which
might increase their house advantage.
Three Card Poker Ante
The second bet available to the player is a bet on the 'ante'(pictured
above as the diamond below the pair plus circle), like in the Caribbean
Stud poker. Here the player competes against the dealer's hand. The
player places a bet, and after examining the cards, the player must decide
on one of two options:
Either place a bet on the 'play' mark (pictured above: You'll see the
word play in a diamond) equal to the 'ante' amount and continue the game,
or Fold and withdraw from that round and forfeit the 'ante' wager. If
the player played two bets and placed one also on the 'pair plus', that
too is forfeited.
To play your cards, you simply place the cards in the rectangular box
with the play diamond. Then just put the amount equal to your ante on
top of your cards.
Once all the players has made their decisions, the dealer will open his
or her cards. The dealer's hand must contain a Queen or better to qualify
and challenge the players hands, otherwise the dealer folds and only the
'ante' wagers are paid, at 1:1 irrespective of ranking. The 'play' bet
is returned to the player.
If the dealer's hand qualifies with a Queen or better, then the players
cards are opened and compared against the dealer's. If the dealer's hand
is better than the player's hand, then the player loses both, the 'ante'
and 'play' wager. If the player's hand is better than the dealer, then
the dealer pays the player at 1 to 1 for both, the 'ante' and the 'play'
wager. Additionally, on a good hand, the player may also win a bonus payment
on the 'ante' wager.
Three Card Poker Ante Bonus Payout
- Straight's bonus pays 1 to 1
- Three of a kind's bonus pays 4 to 1
- Straight flush bonus pays 5 to 1
If the dealer's hand is better than the player's hand, then the player
loses both, the 'ante' and 'play' wager. The listed payout is the most
common payout found in casino. However some casinos might have different
payouts, which might increase their house advantage.
As an example, if a player places two bets of, say $10 each, one on the
'ante' and one on the 'pair plus'. Then the player, having good cards,
follows up the 'ante' with a $10 on 'play'. The dealer opens his or her
cards and just about qualifies with a Queen. The player has three of a
kind. In this case the player is paid a total of $360. $10 each for the
'ante' and 'play' wager, $40 bonus on the 'ante' for the three-of-a-kind
hand, and $300 at 30:1 for the 'pair plus' wager.
You should have a good understanding of how to play three card poker by
now. To help you win even more, please check out our three
card poker strategy article.
Be sure to check out our other poker
articles. Talk about this poker article at our friendly poker
discussion forum. Write a poker related article, and get it read by
thousands of poker players. Get credit for it. Click
here for more details on submitting an article to us.
Pro
Poker Guide's Three Card Poker Rules
There
are three betting marks in front of each player. Closest to the player
is the betting mark labeled 'play', above it one label 'ante' and above
the 'ante' one label 'pair plus'. These are the only bets allowed in three
card poker. To start, all the players make their bets. Players can either
wager that their hand will be higher in rank than the dealer's hand ('ante'
and 'play' wagers) or they can wager that their hand will have at least
a pair or higher ('pair plus' wager). Each player and the dealer are then
dealt three cards, giving each player in turn one card face down until
all the players and the dealer have three face down cards. 
, K
): pays 1 to 1 
):
pays 30 to 1 
