3 Card Poker: Rules & Strategy for Beginner

Three cards poker is an exciting variation of poker and is enjoyed by many players when gambling at both land-based and online casinos. This game is suitable for beginners in poker because its rules are straightforward and easy to learn. Besides, many people love it because it is a rare casino game played against the dealer instead of your opponents.

Today's article will provide everything you need to know about this exciting poker variation, including its basic rules, payouts, and some of the game's live play etiquette. Because the rules are super simple, you will quickly get used to how it works. Then, with a bit of luck, you should be able to win at three-card poker tables more often.

How To Play 3 Card Poker And Win More Often?

Before learning about hand ratings in this poker variation, learn how a three-card poker game is played and the potential payouts you can get for beating the dealer.

Three-Card Poker Gameplay

The play of three cards poker is as follows:

1. Place your initial wager by filling the Ante bet box with chips.
2. Receive three cards, along with other players at the table.
3. Choose to keep your cards and place a Play bet or fold and discard them.
4. If you place a Play bet, match your Ante bet to double your stake.
5. Proceed to showdown once all bets are placed and non-advancing players discard their cards.
6. Dealer reveals all players' cards, including their own.

The outcome of the game will be the following cases:

• If the dealer's hand is Jack-high or worse, players win the Ante bet but push with the Play bet.
• If the dealer's hand is Queen-high or better, compare hands to determine the winner.
• Player wins if their hand is better, collecting the sum of their Ante and Play bets.
• Dealer wins if their hand is better, collecting the player's betting actions.

Three Card Poker Rules 

The rules of 3 Card Poker are as straightforward as they come. After being given cards, you have just two options: Play or Fold.

• If you fold, you will lose your cards as well as your Ante bet. Even if the dealer has an inferior hand, you will not be able to win the hand.
• If you choose to Play, you will remain in hand until the end, when your cards will be compared against the dealer's holdings.
• Remember that there is no drawing or discarding in 3 Card Poker, and you will only have the three cards dealt to you, so base your judgments on them to make your decisions.

Three Card Poker Payouts

Simply defeating the dealer's hand results in the most basic winnings in 3 Card Poker. This is accomplished by possessing a better poker hand at showdown than the dealer, in which case you will always win a 1:1 payment on the Ante bet.

The Play bet is only active if the dealer holds at least a Queen high hand. If this occurs and you have a winning hand, you will be rewarded at 1:1 on the Play bet as well. Otherwise, the Play bet will be forfeited.

In addition to these rewards, if you win the hand with at least three of a kind, you will receive an extra payout from the Ante Bonus. The following are the Ante Bonus payouts:

• Straight: 1:1
• Three of a Kind: 4:1
• Straight Flush: 5:1

It's worth noting that hand rankings in 3 Card Poker differ significantly from other types of poker because acquiring three cards of the same suit or three consecutive cards is more straightforward than having three of a kind.

As a result, there is no payoff for a flush on the Ante Bonus, and the payout for a straight is much smaller than the payout for three of a kind.

Another item to watch in 3 Card Poker is the Pair Plus bet, an optional wager that may be made on any hand. The Pair Plus wager is put concurrently with the Ante bet, and you can stake whatever amount you wish. If you activate the Pair Plus bet, you don't have to beat the dealer's hand to win the game, and you will earn the following rewards on your hand if you have one pair or better:

• One Pair: 1:1
• Flush: 4:1
• Straight: 6:1
• Three of a Kind: 30:1
• Straight Flush: 40:1

Remember that if you don't make at least one pair, you'll forfeit whatever money you put in the Pair Plus box, even if you win the hand against the dealer with your high card.

What Beats What In Three Card Poker? 

When comparing hands in 3 Card Poker, it is evident that several hands, such as full houses and four of a kind, do not exist in this game version. So, the following are the hand rankings in 3 Card Poker:

• Royal Flush
• Straight Flush
• Three of a Kind
• Straight
• Flush
• One Pair
• High Card

Of course, you won't be able to construct valid straights or flushes with only three cards, but three cards in a row count as a straight, three cards of the same suit count as a flush, and so on. That's how the game adapts to the general rules of poker.

This simple hand rating should be simple enough for anyone who has played poker before, and at the end of the day, the dealer will tell you if you won or lost anyhow.

Three Card Poker Live Play Etiquette

Three card poker games are now available at numerous online casinos, but when playing live, you must follow specific restrictions. These are called live play etiquette, the unwritten rules in place to guarantee that the game works well and that everyone is satisfied.

Various approaches to properly folding your hand to live play etiquette.

• You can just state your goal and notify the merchant.
• Alternatively, you can bring your cards to the front and position them beneath your ante chip.

These actions will notify the dealer that you are no longer in the game.

Do not, under any circumstances, begin throwing your cards at the dealer or across the table. This may be legal in a Texas Hold'em game, but it will certainly not in a house-banked game, where you are playing against the dealer.

To decrease the possibility of cheating and guarantee a good atmosphere for all players, the casino must avoid chaos and try to play politely.

If you have a good run, tip the dealer as a way to say thank you. This may not appear to be the most cost-effective option, but it is worth it, especially at a casino you frequent. If you treat the casino employees well, you can typically expect the same civility in return, and the few dollars you give up in tips might be pretty valuable.

Finally, if you're informed something isn't permitted, simply accept it and don't attempt it again. For example, if you cannot glance at other players' cards and the dealer cautions you several times, simply cease doing so.

Keep in mind that every casino has the authority to create its own house rules, and if you don't obey them, you'll be asked to leave.

Read more: What Is Fish in Poker? How to Identify Fish Players

Why Should Players Consider Three Card Poker? 

Now that you know how to play 3 card poker and grasp the fundamental strategy, the issue is, is this game any good? Is this the game you should play at a casino, or are there other options?

The answer is simply dependent on your particular preferences. Three-card poker rules are simple to understand, and 3 card poker winning odds aren't inferior to other options, so the game has that going for it.

There is no compelling reason to avoid three-card poker. It's at least as excellent as any other table game, and it has better odds than most of them.

So, give it a shot and see how it goes. You'll be OK if you love the game and understand its straightforward rules.

Conclusion

Three-card poker is one of the most famous variations of poker. The game comes with basic rules and fast progression. Therefore, it is suitable for all types of players. We hope this article has provided helpful information about this exciting poker variation. Also, if you want to learn about other poker versions, our site has articles from experts to cater to your needs.