Three-Card Poker

How to Play Three Card Poker

Players learning how to play Three Card Poker might be interested to know that the game was invented in the late 20th century.  The game itself was inspired by 3-Card Brag, and it was originally known as Casino Brag for this reason.  Also known as Tri Poker, the name was changed to Three Card Poker when it was introduced to players in the United States.

People learning how to play Three Card Poker should not confuse it with an older game of the same name.  This game used the same rules as draw poker, but three cards were used instead of five.

Rules for Three Card Poker

Rules for Three Card Poker state that the game is played with a standard 52-card deck.  The joker cards are not used in Three Card Poker.

Before he or she receives their cards, a player can elect to make one of the following bets.  The player can also choose to make both bets.

Ante and Play – The player is betting that his hand will beat the dealer’s hand, as per the rules for Three Card Poker.

Pair Plus – This bet has nothing to do with the dealer’s hand.  It is based on the quality of the player’s hand.

Ante and Play

To try and beat the dealer, the player first makes an “ante” bet.  He then receives three cards.  The dealer also receives three cards.

The player must then look at his cards and decide whether or not to continue.  If he thinks his cards can beat the dealer, he next makes a “play” bet (equal to the ante bet).  He can also choose to fold, but he’ll lose any wagers already made (including his Pair Plus wager).  This is an important fact to consider when you’re first learning how to play Three Card Poker.

If the player has decided to continue, both he and the dealer reveal their hands.  Winners and losers are determined by the following:

- If the dealer does not have at least a Queen high, the play bet is returned to the player and the ante bet is paid out at even money.

- If the dealer doesn’t have a Queen high and the player’s hand is better, then both the ante and play bets are paid at even money.

- If the dealer has at least a Queen high and the player ties his hand, then the player gets his wager back.  It’s considered a push.

- If the dealer has a Queen high and a better hand than the player, then the player loses all bets.  An additional bonus is paid to players with certain hands.  This payout has nothing to do with the outcome of the hand.  The player automatically receives it.

- For a straight, the player receives even money.

- For three of a kind, the player gets paid at 4 to 1.

- The player is paid 5 to 1 for a straight flush.

Pair Plus

The Pair Plus bet in Three Card Poker only involves the cards dealt to the player.  Basically, it’s a bonus paid out to the player with a pair or better.  If the player doesn’t have at least a pair, then he loses the Pair Plus bet.

- If the player has a pair, he gets paid even money.

- If he has a flush, he’s paid 4 to 1.

- If he has a straight, he’s paid 6 to 1.

- Three of a kind pays at 30 to 1.

- A straight flush pays at 40 to 1.

Card Rankings in Three Card Poker

The following list details card rankings in Three Card Poker (from lowest to highest value).  If you’re just starting to learn how to play Three Card Poker, this information is especially important.

High Card – The lowest value in Three Card Poker.  To determine a winner, compare the highest cards in the hand.  If they are the same, then compare the next highest card and so on.

Pair – Two cards of equal rank.  If pairs are the same, then the winner can be determined by comparing the third card (known as a “kicker”).

Flush – Three cards of the same suit (clubs, diamonds, etc.)

Straight – Three cards in consecutive order.  2-3-4 or 10-J-Q would be examples of a straight.  When determining a straight, aces can count as high or low (A-2-3 or Q-K-A).

Three of a Kind – Three cards of the same rank (three jacks, three 5s, etc.)

Straight Flush - The highest of the card rankings in Three Card Poker, a straight flush consists of three consecutive cards of the same suit.