Three Card Poker

Three Card Poker is a poker variation using 3-card hands.

Introduction

As the name implies, Three Card Poker is a poker variation using 3-card hands. Three Card Poker is available with all of the larger casino softwares except for Grand Virtual. The game can a useful alternative for bonus play when lower house edge games such as blackjack, video poker, Texas hold'em bonus, and casino hold'em are not available.

Rules and Play

Three Card Poker has two betting options -- a Pair Plus bet and a Ante & Play bet. With the standard paytable, the Pair Plus bet has the lower house edge per initial bet, and the Ante & Play bet has the lower house edge per unit wagered (and smaller expected loss over a wagering requirement).

The play for Pair Plus is straight forward. After placing a bet, you are dealt a 3-card hand. If the hand contains a pair or better, you are paid winnings. There are no card selections, betting raises, or other strategy decisions. Most casinos use the standard pay table listed below for Pair Plus. This includes Microgaming, Playtech, Cryptologic, Chartwell, Boss Media, Odds On, Rival, World Gaming, and Orbis. The bonus casino at 5Dimes offers a choice of 7 games with improved paytables. The two 5Dimes paytables with lowest house edge are listed below. Some Wagerworks and RealTime Gaming casinos use the standard pay table, and some use a less desirable pay table. Note that a good portion of the overall payout for this game is in rare straight flush and 3 of a kind hands.

The Ante & Play bet is not as straight forward as the Pair Plus bet. After placing an Ante bet, the player is dealt three cards. The player then must choose to either fold and forfeit his bet, or raise and double his bet. If the player raises, then there are several possible payouts.

If the dealer has a queen or better, the dealer "qualifies." If the player wins the hand and the dealer qualifies, then both the ante & raise bets pay 1:1. If the dealer does not qualify (regardless of whether the player wins or loses the hand), then the ante bet pays 1:1, and the raise bet is returned. If the player loses the hand and the dealer qualifies, then both bets lose.

If the player gets a straight flush, 3 of a kind, or straight; then the player receives additional winnings as listed in the table below. This bonus is not dependent on dealer "qualification."* Most casinos use the standard bonus paytable listed below for Ante & Play. This includes Microgaming, Playtech, Cryptologic, Chartwell, Wagerworks, Net Ent, Boss Media, Random Logic, Odds On, Rival, World Gaming, DGS, and Orbis.The bonus casino at 5Dimes offers a choice of 7 games with improved paytables. The two 5Dimes paytables with lowest house edge are listed below. Some RealTime Gaming casinos use the standard pay table, and some use the less desirable paytables. In 2012, Microgaming introduced 3 card poker game called "High Speed Poker", which has an improved ante & play paytable and does not offer a pair plus bet option.

Strategy

With standard paytables and rules, the ante & play bet has the lower house edge per unit wagered. So when completing a wagering requirement, the ante & play bet is usually the better choice. To minimize expected loss per hand on the ante & play bet, raise when your 3-card hand is an unsuited queen, 6, 4 or better. For example, you would raise on a Q/7/2, but not a Q/6/3.

To minimize expected loss per unit wagered (minimum loss over a wagering requirement), raise when your hand is a Q/6/2 or better with the standard paytable; and raise when your hand is Q/5/4 or better with the RTG reduced paytables.

Three Card Poker is a popular casino card game that combines elements of poker and traditional card games like Three-Card Brag. It's played against the dealer, and the objective is to create the best three-card hand possible using the cards dealt to you.

Gameplay:

* The game begins with each player placing an ante bet.

* The dealer then deals three cards to each player and three cards to themselves, one of which is dealt face down.

* Players can choose to fold, which forfeits their ante bet, or play, which requires them to match the ante bet.

* After players have made their decision, the dealer reveals their face-down card.

* The player with the highest-ranking three-card hand wins.

Hand Rankings:

Hand rankings in Three Card Poker are as follows, from highest to lowest:

* Straight Flush: Three cards of the same suit in numerical order.

* Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank.

* Straight: Three cards in numerical order, but not all of the same suit.

* Flush: Three cards of the same suit.

* Pair: Two cards of the same rank.

* High Card: The highest-ranking single card.

Ante Bet and Play Bet:

* The ante bet is the initial bet placed before cards are dealt.

* The play bet is the bet placed after the player has seen their cards and decided to play.

* The play bet must match the ante bet.

Payouts:

Payouts in Three Card Poker vary depending on the hand you make and the dealer's hand. The most common payouts are:

* Ante Bet: Even money (1:1) if the player's hand beats the dealer's hand.

* Play Bet: 1:1 if the player's hand beats the dealer's hand, or 3:1 if the player's hand is a straight or better.

Strategy:

Optimal strategy in Three Card Poker involves a combination of hand analysis and probability. Generally, it's recommended to:

* Play with hands that have a good chance of beating the dealer, such as a pair or higher.

* Fold hands that have a low probability of winning, such as high card.

* Consider the dealer's upcard when making your decision. A high dealer upcard increases the likelihood of the dealer having a strong hand.

Variations:

There are several variations of Three Card Poker, including:

* Pair Plus: A side bet that pays out if the player's hand contains a pair or better.

* Ante Bonus: A side bet that pays out if the player's ante bet is a specific hand, such as a straight or flush.

* Progressive Jackpot: A progressive jackpot that is awarded to players who make a specific hand, such as a straight flush.

Conclusion:

Three Card Poker is an exciting and accessible casino game that offers players a chance to win significant payouts. By understanding the rules, hand rankings, and basic strategy, players can improve their chances of success and have a more enjoyable gaming experience.