Three Card PokerSometimes referred to as tri-card poker, three card poker is pretty straight forward, the name says it all and the player therefore uses three cards to play. Basically the player has to beat the dealer by holding the better poker hand. There are two separate games involved, the pair-plus and the ante. In the ante the game is played strictly against the dealer and the pair-plus will payout for hands containing a pair or better. It is imperative to refine your strategy when playing this game as any game of poker is a game of skill where certain strategies apply to certain types of the game. |
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How to Play
Three card poker is a simple game that entails the use of
a table marked with two circles and a
square. The top circle is used for the
pair-plus bet and the lower circle for
the ante. The square is used for your
cards and your bet. The player has to
decide if they are going to play either
one of these bets or both. Chips are
placed in the appropriately designated
places. The dealer will give you three
cards, but you are not allowed to look
at these until the dealer says so.
If you decide to keep your cards, place
them face down in the square and place
you chips on top of the cards. This
ensures that you will stay in the game,
but your bet must be equal to your ante
bet. If you are only playing the
pair-plus bet just place the cards face
down, there is no need to place a bet on
the cards. If you fold, the dealer will
collect your bet and you will be out of
the game until the next hand.
If you are staying in just put your
cards down, don’t touch them. The dealer
turns his cards over first, then the
cards of the other players. If you
placed an ante bet and have a higher
hand than the dealer, he will pay even
money on the ante. If you placed a bet
on the pair-plus and have a pair or
better, you
will win a multiplier according to the
amount printed on the felt of the table.
In certain three card poker games there
are also multipliers for the ante bet.
The dealer also has to have a queen or
higher to win. If the dealer does not have
a queen or higher, then he will return
your bet to you.
Rules
Both bets on the pair-plus and the ante
must be placed before the deal
commences. You are able to place bets
independently or together on these two
games. Cards are dealt from a fifty two
card deck and rank from high to low. The
highest hand ranking being a straight
flush, then three of a kind, a straight,
a flush, a pair and nothing. The players
and the dealer are all dealt three
cards as the name of the game suggests.
The pair-plus bet is only determined by
the rank of the hand that the player
holds, this part of the wager is
irrelevant to the hand that the dealer
holds. Payouts for the player with a
pair or higher in his hand are typically
40 – 1 for a straight flush, 30 – 1 for
three of a kind, 6 – 1 for a straight, 4
– 1 for a flush and 1 – 1 for a pair.
The ante wager is made before any cards
are dealt, after receiving his/her three
cards, the player may fold, in which
case he loses his ante, or stay in the
game by making a further wager that is
equal to his original ante bet. When the
player makes a play bet the dealer must
show his hand. If the dealer has a queen
or higher his hand qualifies, if not you
win even money on your ante bet. The
same applies if the dealer qualifies and
you have a better hand, if the dealer
and the players hand ties the bet is
said to “push”.
A bonus is paid on the ante bet when the
player has a straight or better, again
this does not depend on the dealers’
hand.
Bonus payouts vary from game to game,
but typically equal 5 – 1 on a straight
flush, 4 – 1 on three of a kind and 1 –
1 on a straight.
Online Three Card Poker
Playing
three card poker online is much
the same as it would be on the casino
floor, it can provide hours of
entertaining fun and like any online
gambling is a moderately easy game to
grasp. Certainly, if anything, it is
easier to play online as all the work is
done for you. The game prompts you to
make your moves when the showdown comes
and playing three card poker online can
be quite lucrative. Players are able to
win a great deal of money with this
game, but the same can be said for
losing, so watch your bankroll and set
limits for online three card poker play.
Three card poker online can also be
called 3 card poker or tri card poker.
Strategy
Once it is ok with the dealer you may
look at your hand. If you have a pair of
better, you should always keep your hand. Fold your hand if
you do not have a queen - 7 or better
hand or a pair. A queen - 7 hand means a
hand with a least a queen as the highest
card and a 7 as the lowest card. Of
course, you will always play any pair as
well as any straight, flush, 3 of a kind
or straight flush. The
dealer also has to have a queen or
higher hand to stay in the game. Some players
enjoy “playing blind”. Although this strategy
will help you win if the dealer does not
qualify, you should avoid this play as
it will lose money in the long run.