Poker
May 12, 2023
WHAT IS THREE-CARD POKER?
Three-Card Poker is played with a standard deck of 52 cards and is actually two games in one:
First of all, there is the Ante/Play version where players compete against a dealer for the best hand.
Second, there is the Pair Plus aspect in which players place a side bet on whether or not they will be dealt a pair or better. In most casinos, however, in order to bet the Pair Plus portion, players must also make an Ante bet.
The Three Card Poker game is not to be confused with traditional poker, which pits players against other players. Three Card Poker is a casino game that puts the player against the house.
THE AIM OF THE GAME
The aim of the game is for your Poker hand to beat the Dealer’s hand. If you draw one of the top three hands you will also be eligible for an additional ante bonus payout. You can also place a pairs plus wager which wins if you have any pair or higher.
TABLE LAYOUT
BONUSES IN THREE-CARD POKER
If a player has a straight, three-of-a-kind, or straight flush, then s/he will be paid an Ante bonus based on the player’s ante and the table’s posted pay table. Generally, a straight bonus is 1:1, a three-of-a-kind bonus is 4:1, and a straight flush bonus is 5:1. Even if a player has a losing hand compared to the dealer, s/he will still receive his/her Ante bonus, if applicable. The house edge for this bonus is generally around 3.37%.
Some casinos have a mini Royal hand—A, K, Q of the same suit—and the Pair Plus bet bonus for this hand is typically 80:1. For the Pair Plus bonus, the house’s edge is around 2.32% unless the casino lowers its flush bonus to 3:1. This increases the house’s edge to 7.28%.
The biggest possible payouts in Three Card Poker come from the 6-Card Bonus paytable. These payouts come from combining your hand with the dealer’s hand.
The highest payout, the Royal Flush, happens when the two combined hands form a Royal Flush.
Some casinos pay the Royal Flush bonus if any five of the six cards form a royal flush (ten through ace of all the same suit). Other casinos require that all six cards play, and the cards must combine for nine through ace of all the same suit.
HOW TO PLAY
On a standard Three-Card Poker table, there are three betting circles in front of each player. The top circle is labeled Pair Plus and beneath this circle are two others labeled “Ante” and “Play.”
Play begins with the player making an Ante wager, along with an optional Pair Plus wager, both of which must be equivalent to the table minimum. The dealer then distributes three cards face down to each player.
If a player has a bet in the Ante circle, s/he must choose to play or fold. Should the player decide to fold, then his/her ante is forfeited. If, however, the player wishes to continue, then s/he must place an additional bet in the Play circle that is equal to his/her Ante.
Once betting is finished, the dealer displays his/her three-card hand. The dealer must have a “qualifying” hand of queen-high or better, otherwise all of the players will be paid for their Ante and their Play bets will be returned to them.
If, however, the dealer’s hand does qualify, it is compared to the player’s hands to determine a winner. Obviously, if the player’s hand is better, then s/he will be paid for both his/her Ante and Play bets. If the dealer’s hand is better, the player will lose both bets. Any ties go to the player.
RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING
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