How to play 3 card poker?
Three Card Poker is a fast-paced variant of poker that many casino players enjoy. Since its release, Three Card Poker quickly gained popularity and has become one of the world's most renowned poker games. What makes this 3-card poker table game so special is that it is a lot easier to play than Five Card Draw, and offers some speedy gameplay along with a couple of bonus features. With this article, you will gain a solid understanding of Three Card Poker, how to play and where to find the best poker games. And with that, let’s dive in.
THREE CARD POKER GAMEPLAY
Three Card Poker is pretty easy to learn. The aim of this casino game is simple — earn the best 3-card poker hand possible, beat the dealer and receive a payout. While this table game comes with the classic Ante and Play bets, it also comes with optional side bets including the Pair Plus and the 6 Card Bonus bets.
When taking a seat at this table game, players will find six coloured chips, each holding a specific value. These chips are used to place bets every round. The minimum bet you can place in this table game is €1 (or currency equivalent). Doubling your bet is also an option.
- The round begins with a player placing an Ante bet as the opening bet before cards are dealt to the player and the dealer. Players may also choose to place additional side bets during this time.
- The dealer and the player receive three cards, face down for the dealer and face up for the player.
- Here the player must decide whether to fold or play based on how strong their hand is.
- If the player folds then the Ante bet, side bets remain.
- If the player chooses to play, they must place a second, Play bet equal to the Ante wager, on the hand's outcome.
- At this point, both opponents reveal their 3-card poker hand to determine a winner. The dealer can only qualify if they receive a queen high card or better.
- If the dealer has a jack-high 3-card poker hand or worse and the player wins, the Ante wager is paid out 1:1 (even money), the Play bet is returned.
- If both the dealer and the player have 3-card poker hands of equal rank, Ante and Play bets are returned.
- If the dealer has a queen high card or better and outranks the player’s hand, all bets are lost.
- If the player’s hand outranks the dealer’s qualified hand, all bets are paid out at events.
- The house edge against the Ante alone is 3.37%.
THREE CARD POKER RULES
Bets can be placed at the beginning of each round within a specific time period. Once this time period expires, three cards are dealt to both the player and the dealer — the dealer’s cards are face down.
The card values are ranked in descending order, the king being the highest-valued card and the 2 being the lowest. The ace card can rank both high and low, depending on the type of hand obtained. The poker hands in Three Card Poker differ slightly from Five Card Draw, and include the following: mini royal, straight flush, three of a kind, straight, flush, pair and high card. In this case, the straight poker hand is more valuable than the flush since it is a harder hand to obtain. The winner is determined by the better 3-card poker hand. A Pair Plus wager will payout on a hand that is a pair or better.
The 6 Card Bonus bet also features a number of winning hands. Players receive a payout if their hand plus the dealer’s form any of the following hands: royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight and three of a kind.
Step 1: Placing Bets
There are three betting options available at most online casinos:
- Ante wager: The first bet placed where the player hopes to create the highest-ranking poker hand. The house edge is 3.37% against the Ante alone.
- Pair Plus bet: Paid out if the player creates a pair hand or better. The dealer’s hand is not relevant in this case.
- Bonus bet: Paid out if both the dealer’s and the player’s hand form a 5-card hand of three of a kind or better.
Step 2: Dealing
The dealer and the player receive three cards dealt face down to the dealer and face up to the player. The aim of the player is to beat the 3-card poker hand of the dealer.
Step 3: Play or Fold?
The player must decide how to act once they receive their cards. They may choose to either call or fold.
- If the player folds, the dealer’s hand wins all Ante bets placed, excluding the side bets.
- If the player decides to continue playing, they must place a Play bet equal to the Ante wager.
Step 4: Winning 3-Card Poker Hands
All hands are revealed, and the winner is determined. The dealer can only win the round if they qualify by obtaining a queen high or better. Any hand below this places an automatic win on the player. Otherwise, the player wins if they obtain a better hand than the dealer.
3-CARD POKER HAND RANKINGS
Poker hand rankings are fairly straightforward. The highest 3-card poker hand determines the winner. As mentioned previously, the hands featured in Three Card Poker differ from those in Five Card Draw due to the fact that classic poker is played with five cards, whereas Three Card Poker is played with three. Below is a full list of the hand rankings, in descending order:
- Mini Royal: A hand featuring the ace, king and queen of the same suit.
- Straight Flush: A hand featuring three cards of the same suit holding sequential value. For example, receiving a king, queen and jack of spades.
- Three of a kind: A hand featuring three cards of the same value. For example, receiving three fours.
- Straight: A hand featuring three cards of consecutive value, such as a five, six and seven.
- Flush: A hand featuring three cards of the same suit, such as three cards that are all clubs.
- Pair: A hand featuring two cards of equal value and one extra card. For example, receiving two fours and a five.
- High Card: This is any hand which does not qualify for any other combination. For example, receiving six of clubs, a queen of hearts, and a five of diamonds.
Now that we’ve gone through all the basic rules as well as the 3-card poker hand rankings, let’s take a look at how these hands pay out in the following section.
FAQ
✅What is Three Card Poker?
Three Card Poker is an easy-to-play variant which features fast-paced gameplay and additional side bets. Place Ante, Play or Pair Plus bets for a chance to win by earning a better hand than the dealer. You may enjoy an Ante bonus payout along with additional bonuses if you’re lucky!
✅How to play Three Card Poker?
It is quite easy to learn how to play 3-card poker; all you have to do is place an Ante wager and additional side bets if you are looking to raise the bar, and try to beat the dealer’s hand to earn 3-card poker payouts. The Pair Plus bet pays on a pair or better, and the 6 Card Bonus pays on a 5-card hand of three of a kind or better. Bear in mind that 3-card poker hands are ranked differently and the payouts may vary as well. Check out the 3-card poker rules for more information.
✅Where to play Three Card Poker for real money?
Play 3-card poker games at LV BET! Try your luck at the Ante bonus payout and beat the dealer’s hand while enjoying an incredible casino experience. To enjoy everything that LV BET has to offer, players must register a casino account and verify their identity.
✅Can you play Three Card Poker for free?
Live Casino games do not come with a demo like online casino slots do, so Three Card Poker can only be played by placing real bets. That being said, LV BET hosts loads of RNG games where players can take poker for a spin. Understanding how classic poker works is an excellent way of getting a solid grasp of the 3-card poker rules and how to play 3-card poker.
✅What makes Three Card Poker so special?
This casino game features an added twist on the classic game of poker as it offers speedy gameplay, perfect for players looking to raise the bar. The quick rounds and live gameplay make this game an all-time favourite among poker players.
✅What kind of bets can you place in Three Card Poker?
Besides the Ante bet, players can also set additional side bets to raise the stakes in hopes of earning a greater payout. These additional bonuses include the Pair Plus wager as well as the 6 Card Bonus bet.
