How To Play 3 Card Poker At A Casino

Learn how to play Three Card Poker and game rules written by John Grochowski - 3 Card Poker was invented by Derek Webb of the United Kingdom in 1994, Three Card Poker has become the most successful of relatively new, trademarked table games. How to play 3 Card Poker. Unlike other poker games, learning to get to grips with 3 Card Poker is a doddle. Remember, it was designed that way on purpose. Betting: First, you need to place a bet in the Ante Bet. Most tables will feature table limits of $5 up to $100 a hand, although this may vary from game to game. When compared to casino staples such as blackjack and roulette, 3 card poker is a relative newcomer to the world of gambling games. However, in spite of this, it has quickly become one of the most played table games in both land-based and online casinos around the world.

PokerNews Staff

Three Card Poker is a simple and fun Casino game based on Poker
3-Card Poker requires a strategy but a very straightforward one
How to play Three Card Poker is explained in this article

Three Card Poker game has been around since the very beginning of the card game that is Poker.

Since its invention, it has grown in popularity and is fair to say Three Card Poker is among the most well-known Casino games in the world.

A few facts have helped the game grow in stature over the years:

Three Card Poker is easy to learn and easy to play
Unlike some Casino games, Three Card Poker is not just based on luck because there's an element of skill involved in your hand selection
You can play Three Card Poker online for free and for real money right on this page

Three Card Poker is a fair slow-paced table game that is very simple to learn.

How to Play Three Card Poker

Three Card Poker, invented by Derek Webb in 1994, is the Poker version most people play when they head to their Casino.

Three Card Poker isn't played against other players. Instead, you play against the dealer.

You only have to be concerned with what your cards are and what the house's cards are. Making a mistake only punishes you and not your fellow players like at some other card game tables.

OK – so you want to try Three Card Poker? Good choice!

Here are the basics.

Three Card Poker Bets

In Three Card Poker game, the player makes an ante bet.

The dealer gives each player and themselves three cards. The dealer's cards are face down and you can only examine your own cards.

Best Way To Play 3 Card Poker At Casino

If you’ve made the ante bet then you must either fold or call.

Folding forfeits your ante wager, calling (raising) means you must make an additional play bet that is equal to your ante.

The dealer then turns over their cards.

Three Card Poker Outcomes

The dealer needs a queen-high or better to qualify:

if the dealer doesn't qualify, you win even money on the ante bet and play bet is a push
if the dealer qualifies, your hand is compared to the dealer's hand and the best hand wins

Whose hand is better?

If it is yours, congrats! You win even money on the ante and play bets.
If the dealer has a better hand, both your ante and play bets lose.
If it is a tie, then both the ante and play bets are a push.

But that’s not all.

If you have a straight or better, you receive an ante bonus regardless of the value of the dealer's hand.

If you have placed a pair plus bet, it is paid based on the value of your hand. This pays out differently depending on where you play.

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Practice Three Card Poker online before you play for real money. Or claim a bonus (or two) and dive into the real money games.

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How to Win at Three Card Poker: The Strategy

Three Card Poker has a relatively small house edge, usually around 3.3 percent. If you play optimally, that is.

This edge can increase significantly with side bets or incorrect strategy.

To avoid this, follow a couple of simple Three Card Poker strategy tips:

1. Don’t Make The Pair Plus Bets

Betting on the pair plus increases the house edge by more than 2.3 percent.

It is tempting with big payouts (e.g. straight flush pays 40 to 1) but you’re bound to lose more making this bet even if you have a rare bigger payout from it.

So, forget about the times you could have won a big payout when you've not placed a pair plus bet. Simply try to play in a way that minimizes the house edge.

How Do You Play 3 Card Poker

2. Remember One Strategic Combination of Cards

It’s not only the Three Card Poker rules that are easy to learn. So is the Three Card Poker strategy.

You only need to remember one combination of cards and base your decision to call or fold on it:

Call with or higher hand
Fold everything else

See, I’ve told you it was simple.

Because of it, you will find this game in a more relaxed setting as it’s pretty easy to avoid mistakes and nobody is worried about making mistakes that affect other players.

Where to Play 3-Card Poker Online

There are many options to play 3-Card Poker on the Internet, but some sites offer better bonuses and value than others.