Three Card Poker
This page describes each and every way you can place a bet at three card poker, as well as strategy
Introduction
Over the past year Three Card Poker has become increasingly popular. Many players view it as a superior alternative to Caribbean Stud Poker because you get paid on strong hands even if the dealer doesn't qualify. We thoroughly enjoy Caribbean Stud Poker, but it's sure frustrating when you get a Full House or 4-of-a-Kind and the Dealer has nothing -- you don't get the big payout it feels like you deserve.
The Basics
Three-Card Poker uses a standard 52-card deck. There are three ways to play. The game allows the player to wager against the dealer, to wager only on the value of his own hand, or to wager both against the dealer and on the value of his/her own hand.
Ranking of Hands
The ranking of the hands in Three-Card Poker differs from traditional poker hands. In Three-Card Poker, a STRAIGHT beats a FLUSH. Cards are ranked from highest to lowest as follows.
STRAIGHT FLUSH
THREE OF A KIND
STRAIGHT
FLUSH
PAIR
If a hand does not contain a pair or better, the hand that contains the highest-ranking card(s) wins. Ace is high except in 3-2-Ace sequence.
Three Ways to Play
1) Playing against the Dealer- ANTE WAGER
The object when playing against the dealer is to get a three-card poker hand with a value higher than the dealer's qualifying of a Queen or better. Players place an ANTE wager. After looking at their three-card poker hand, players may fold or, if they believe their hand is high enough to beat the dealer's hand, they will place an amount EQUAL to the ANTE on the PLAY spot.
Playing Against the Dealer
Player folds
LOSE
When dealer does not play
PLAY is a PUSH
ANTE wins 1 to 1
When dealer plays and player's hand beats dealer's hand
PLAY wins 1 to 1
ANTE wins 1 to 1
When dealer plays and dealer's hand beats player's hand
PLAY is a loss
ANTE is a loss
The ANTE BONUS is paid when a player is dealt one of the three highest ranking hands in the game. THE ANTE BONUS is paid regardless of the dealer's hand. The ANTE BONUS payouts are attached.
2) Playing the Hand Value - PAIR PLUS
The object of betting the PAIR PLUS wager is to receive a pair or better. If the player's hand contains a pair or better, the player wins the PAIR PLUS wager. Players receive PAIR PLUS payouts regardless of the dealer's hand. PAIR PLUS payouts are attached.
3) Playing Both - PAIR PLUS and ANTE
When a player bets both the PAIR PLUS and the ANTE (including PLAY), he/she is playing against two separate pay tables with two different criteria for payouts. In playing the ANTE wager, the object is to get a three-card poker hand that beats the dealer's qualifying hand of Queen or better. In playing the PAIR PLUS wager, the object is to receive a pair or better. The ANTE and PAIR PLUS wagers do not have to be the same amount but must be at least table minimum. Players receive the PAIR PLUS payouts regardless of the dealer's hand. Players can wager anywhere from the table minimum to the maximum allowed bet on either spot. However, the PLAY wager must always equal the ANTE wager.
If the player has made ANTE wager and the PAIR PLUS wager, and he/she must make the PLAY wager or will forfeit both the ANTE and PAIR PLUS wagers.
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