Three Card Poker has become one of the most popular casino games worldwide, in bricks and mortar as well as online. Many jurisdictions offer tournament play or large prizes. This game is very easy to learn and simple to play.

Poker hand rankings for Three Card Poker are somewhat different from the standard 5 card poker hand which is Three of a kind that beats Straight. In 5 card poker, the opposite is true.

How to play

Before playing begins you must first make an Ante bet. The dealer will then give each player and himself 3 down cards from a standard 52 card deck. If you have a strong hand, make a Spin bet equal to your Ante . Otherwise, you may fold and lose the bet. After the dealer reveals the player’s status card will be determined. Dealer must have at least Queen or higher to qualify. If you win and the dealer qualifies you collect even money for the second bet. If the dealer does not qualify, you will be paid even money for your Ante bet and Play bet push. If the dealer’s hand beats yours, the house collects both bets.

bonus Payout

There is also an Ante payout bonus if you are dealt a Straight or higher. It’s paid or not you lose Spin your bet:

Lurus – Pays 1 to 1
Three of a kind – 4-1
Straight Flush – 5-1
The house edge counts around 3.37%.

Couple option Plus

The Pair Plus bet is an optional bet you can make that is independent of your Ante and play bet. You will be paid the following if you own at least a pair:

Each Pair – Pays 1 to 1
Flush – 4-1 (3-1 in some jurisdictions)
Straight – 6-1
Tiga of a Kind 30-1
Straight Flush – 40-1
Mini-Royal – 200-1 (QKA not offered everywhere)
The odds being dealt at least a pair are about one in four. You should expect some kind of win payout about 25% of the time. Salary tables vary between jurisdictions. For example, the top Pair Plus table has a house edge of around 2.3% while the edge jumps to 7.3% when the 3-1 paid the Flush.