Three Card Poker
Rules and Strategy
Three Card Poker gives you one decision against the Dealer: match your Ante with a Play wager or fold. Pair Plus is a separate optional wager based only on your three-card hand.
Rules
How a Round Works
An Ante is required. Pair Plus is optional and can be any available chip amount.
You see your three cards while the Dealer hand remains face down.
Play adds a wager equal to your Ante. Fold forfeits the Ante; Pair Plus still resolves independently.
The Dealer reveals. A Dealer hand needs queen-high or better to qualify.
Three-Card Hand Rankings
With only three cards, a straight is less common than a flush, so it ranks higher. A-2-3 is the lowest straight; Q-K-A is the highest.
| Rank | Hand | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Straight Flush | 7-6-5, same suit |
| 2 | Three of a Kind | 8-8-8 |
| 3 | Straight | 7-6-5, mixed suits |
| 4 | Flush | A-9-4, same suit |
| 5 | Pair | 8-8-A |
| 6 | High Card | A-J-8 |
Dealer Qualification and Ante/Play
Your Ante pays 1 to 1 and the Play wager pushes.
Ante and Play each pay 1 to 1.
Ante and Play both push.
Ante and Play both lose. Ante Bonus can still pay when you chose Play.
Bonus Paytables
| Hand | Ante Bonus | Pair Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Pair | - | 1 to 1 |
| Flush | - | 3 to 1 |
| Straight | 1 to 1 | 6 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 4 to 1 | 30 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 5 to 1 | 40 to 1 |
Strategy
The Q-6-4 Decision
Play Q-6-4 or better
- Always Play a pair or better.
- Play every king-high or ace-high hand.
- With queen-high, Play Q-7-x or better.
- With exactly Q-6, Play when the third card is 4 or higher; otherwise Fold.
- Fold all jack-high or lower hands that do not contain a pair.
The table shows this recommendation after each deal. Pair Plus does not change the optimal Ante/Play decision because it resolves separately.
Glossary
Three Card Poker Terms
Ante
The required opening wager against the Dealer.
Play
A second wager equal to the Ante, placed when you continue the hand.
Pair Plus
An optional wager that pays on a pair or better without comparing against the Dealer.
Qualify
The Dealer has queen-high or better, allowing Ante and Play to be compared normally.
Ante Bonus
An additional payment for a straight, three of a kind, or straight flush after you Play.
Push
A tied or non-competing wager returned without a win or loss.