When you break out the 52-card deck and deal a hand of 3-card poker, the first strategy you need is a firm understanding of the rules. It is fairly similar to a popular UK homegame, 3 card brag, although instead of competing against other players, you are competing against the dealer. You need a better hand than the dealer (and at least a pair) to win. Each of you is dealt three cards, and the cards are shuffled after each hand. Because there are fewer ways to make a straight with 3 cards than a flush, straights rank higher. Aces are high or low.



Three card poker is two games in one. The player may bet on either one, both, and in different amounts. Both games are based on hands consisting of three cards. The game is split into two - the Ante and the Pair Plus.

The Ante is the fee charged to you for playing the hand. The Pair Plus is your bet that you will get a hand with a pair or higher. You don't have to make both bets, but you do at least have to bet the Ante to stay in the game.









You ante when you put your bet on the game table's Ante spot. Both you and the dealer are dealt three cards face down. Your next decision? Are these cards good enough for you to bet or should you fold?



Fold and the ante is lost.



Bet and you place your bet that equals the ante in the game table's Play spot. Win and you get the Ante and the Pair Plus payouts. The dealer has to have a Queen or better to stay in the game. If not, you get payment on their ante only if it pays even money (1 to 1) - and as long as you didn't fold. Ante Payout



- A straight gets a 1 to 1 payout.

- A three of a kind gets a 4 to 1 payout.

- A straight flush gets a 5 to 1 payout.



Pair Plus Payout



- A pair gets a 1 to 1 payout.

- A flush gets a 4 to 1 payout.

- A straight gets a 6 to 1 payout.

- A three of a kind gets a 30 to 1 payout.

- A straight flush gets a 40 to 1 payout.



Remember these tips to help your strategy:



- If you have a Queen or better, bet the Pair Plus. If not, fold.

- A dealer will get a Queen about two thirds of the time.

- The house has a 3.4% advantage.



Probabilities in Three Card Poker



Hand Combinations Probability

Straight flush 48 0.0021719

Three of a kind 52 0.0023529

Straight 720 0.0325792

Flush 1096 0.0495928

Pair 3744 0.1694118

Queen to ace high 9720 0.4398190

Jack high or less 6720 0.3040724



So thats the basics. There is not much more to learn about the game other than "keep your head".

By: Anna Pollyander

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NoNam is a professional online poker player. Nonam often plays at FT & AP Review and Full tilt Poker Download Review. Article : 3 CARD POKER
Article taken from Nonam's personal website Online Poker Bonus Reviews & Fun Animations