How to Play and Win at Online Three Card Poker

Origins of Three Card Poker

You may be interested in learning that the game of Three Card Poker is not actually based on poker at all. In fact, the game was invented in the early 1990s by former Birmingham poker professional Derek Webb. He adapted the popular pub card game of 3 Card Brag for casinos. 

Initially finding it difficult to establish the game in Europe, he took Three Card Poker to the USA. There, too, he encountered some hostility from Las Vegas and Atlantic City operators until the Grand Casino Gulfport, Mississippi, decided to give it a try. The game was a tremendous success, and other US casinos quickly picked it up. The rest, as they say, is history.

Step-by-step guide to Three Card Poker

Although not a difficult game to learn, Three Card Poker does have some idiosyncrasies that set it aside from other card games of its type. You still need to follow the general gambling guide tips and tricks when playing, but this guide will help you further your knowledge of Three Card Poker.

The first thing you need to note is the ranking of the hands. Unlike regular poker, where a flush beats a straight, in Three Card Poker, the reverse is true. Similarly, three-of-a-kind beats a straight. I have set out the ranking of the hands below for your convenience, and if you follow the key steps, you'll be as right as rain.

Three Card Poker hands

If you are familiar with Texas Hold’em or Omaha poker, then the ranking of Three Card Poker hands may take a bit of getting used to. They do make sense once you understand that you’re only ever going to get three cards, and no flop will be dealt. 

Straight Flush

The best hand in Three Card Poker is a straight flush, which pays 40:1 and is made up of 3 consecutive cards of the same suit. Example: 7,8,9 clubs or J,Q,K hearts, etc.

Three-of-a-Kind 

The next highest hand is three of a kind (sometimes referred to as trips or a prial), which pays 30:1 and is made from 3 cards of the same denomination. Example: three 7s, or three aces etc.

Straight 

Next comes a straight, which pays 6:1 and is three consecutive cards of any suit. Example: 4h,5c,6d or 9s,10c,Jh etc.

Flush 

After a straight comes a flush, which pays 3:1 and is made from any three cards of the same suit. Example: 5,9,K of clubs or A,4,7 diamonds etc.

Pair

Near the bottom of the ranking hands is a pair that pays even money, and it is a three-card hand containing any two cards of the same denomination. Example: 8h,8c,Jd or 5s,5d,6c etc.

High Card 

The lowest-ranking hand is a high card, which will net you a big fat zero. It is essentially three random cards with only the highest-value card scores. Example: Ad,10c,4h or 9s,6c,2h etc.

How to place a bet at Three Card Poker

Despite not being based on poker or other variations like video poker, there are some similarities. As in poker, 3 card players need to place an initial bet, known as the ante, before being dealt any cards. This bet signifies that you, the player, wish to take part in the hand.

Once you receive your cards, you have an additional betting option known as the play bet. This signifies that you are happy with your cards and are prepared to play against the dealer. The play bet must be the same amount as your ante.

Dealer qualifying hand

For your play bet to have any significance, the dealer first needs to show a qualifying hand. Once the dealer qualifies, all play bets and antes are either paid or taken. The qualifying hand for the dealer is Queen high or better. Should the dealer fail to qualify, then they will pay your ante at even money (unless the *ante bonus comes into play), and your play bet is a push.

Here is how a Three Card Poker hand plays out

There are two ways that you can play Three Card Poker online. Either at a live dealer casino or by using an RNG (random number generator). The scenario below assumes that you are playing with a live casino dealer, however, the play is exactly the same.

• Prior to any cards being dealt, the player must place an ante bet that falls within that table’s declared limits.

• Once the players have been determined for the round, the dealer deals the cards. Unlike in classic poker, where cards are dealt one at a time, Three Card Poker hands are dealt altogether. The player hand (your hand) is dealt with the cards face-up, while the dealer cards are dealt face-down.

• Based on the cards you have been dealt, you now have a decision to make. If you are happy with your cards and wish to play against the dealer, you make your play bet which is equivalent to your original ante. If, on the other hand, your cards aren’t exciting, then you have the option to fold and lose your ante.

• When all players have made their decisions (play or fold) and the bets are in, the dealer exposes his hand and declares “dealer qualifies” or “dealer doesn’t qualify”, depending on whether he shows a Queen high hand or not.

• At this stage, all bets (ante, play and bonus bets) are either paid or taken according to how they rank against the dealer's hand. Winning bonus bets will be paid according to the paytable.

That’s all there is to it. Three Card Poker is that simple. There is only one more thing that you need to know, and that is…

The ante bonus

The ante bonus is an additional payout made for specific qualifying hands. The best thing about this bonus is that you will get paid whether you win or not. Should you have one of the three qualifying hands, you will get paid at the following odds:

1. Straight Flush: 5 to 1

2. Three of a Kind: 4 to 1

3. Straight: even money

This bonus payment is a nice little reward for the player as it requires no side bet. And, speaking of side bets…

Three Card Poker side bets

It seems as though the classic casino table games we all knew and loved have changed beyond recognition. In the casino’s quest for greater profits, a range of side bets with an unhealthy edge have been introduced. Three Card Poker is also a victim of this trend, so now we have multiple variations on a theme. 

Six card bonus (3+3)

The six card bonus was introduced to add an extra layer of strategy (some might say luck) into the basic game. Effectively, this bonus combines two different (but similar) games, poker and Three Card Poker, to make one curiously unnecessary bonus.

To play the six card bonus, you, the player, must first place an additional bet in the bonus box provided. You win by making a five card poker hand using your three dealt cards combined with the dealer's cards. The object is to make the best 5 card hand from the six available cards. 

The minimum qualifying hand to claim the bonus is three of a kind (trips) and above, which are paid out according to the following paytable:

• Royal Flush: 1000 to 1

• Straight Flush: 200 to 1

• Four of a Kind: 100 to 1

• Full House Flush: 20 to 1

• Flush: 15 to 1

• Straight: 10 to 1

• Three of a Kind: 7 to 1

Anything less than three of a kind, and you lose your bonus bet. You may find that some of the best casinos (online and land-based) use a variation of the table above with slightly altered odds. However, the basic structure will always remain the same. 

However, even with a maximum payout of 1000x your bet (royal flush), the house edge for this particular bonus is huge. Depending on which paytable is in play, it could be as high as 14.36%.

Pair Plus

This side bet pays out (assuming you made your bonus bet) should you be dealt a pair or higher. You will be paid regardless of whether or not your hand beats the dealer’s. The paytable for this side bet is as follows:

• Straight Flush: 40 to 1

• Three of a Kind: 30 to 1

• Straight: 6 to 1

• Flush: 4 to 1

• Pair: even money

Again, you may come across variations in this paytable from time to time. The house edge for this particular side bet is a much more manageable 2.32%, but I wouldn’t recommend playing this every hand.

5 proven strategies to improve your game

Over the years, I have spoken to many people, including players and industry professionals, with way more knowledge than me, not just on titles like Three Card Poker but also on other top casino games. As a result, I have come up with 5 wonderful Three Card Poker strategies that will take your game (and hopefully your win ratio) to another level.

1. Don't play poor hands in the hope that the dealer will not open. This is a dreadful strategy and will not end well for you, leaving you in a sticky situation. The recommended minimum hand to bet with is Q,6,4 off suit. This is because this hand is one of the lowest hands that would allow you to win both the ante and the bet. If you have less than this, then fold!

2. Manage your money wisely. Bankroll management is as important in Three Card Poker as it is in blackjack. This is mostly because there are several betting options available at Three Card Poker, including the ante, the bet and pair plus. You will also be surrendering your hand far more often than you ever will at blackjack. You can always play Three Card Poker for free first before playing with real money.

3. Avoid the 6 card bonus. Some online casinos may offer you the chance to play for the 6 card bonus. This is a side bet where your cards and the dealers are combined to make a 5 card classic poker hand. The house edge for this side bet is extremely high and should only be met with a string of garlic and a cross.

4. Attractive as it may seem, I would also avoid the Pair Plus side bet if I were you. The house edge for this bet is 2.32%, which is rather high. I’d stick to the ante and the play bet for a greater long-term return.

5. Personally, I like to take a break from playing every now and then and go back to the drawing board. I will get up, walk around, and go make myself a coffee and a ham sandwich. I find that taking regular breaks helps to focus the mind. I recommend that you do the same.