Three card poker is one of the most well-known games that can be played at a casino table. In fact, the popularity of the game is exceeding expectations, as it is the third most popular casino game in North America, leaving behind well-known games like roulette. If you haven’t played this exciting game and want to know the basics, you’re in the right place. In this beginner’s guide, you’ll find all the information you need to get started playing Three card poker, courtesy of the experts at NetBet Casino.
3 Card Poker: How to Play
Three Card Poker is a fairly easy game, with few but very important rules. So, before you start playing, it’s a good idea to make sure you know how the game works. The action takes place on a casino table, similar to the classic blackjack table.
It is very important to know that, unlike other poker card games, in Three Card Poker the hand ranking is different. In practice, you will understand that the straight payouts are better than those given by the suit. Below, you will see the scale by which the hand ranking is done:
- Straight Flush
- Trinity
- Kenta
- Colour
- Couple
- Higher Paper
Betting
The game offers two betting options, Ante-play and Pair Plus. Below, we describe both options in more detail.
Ante-Play
You can make this bet when you think your hand will beat the dealer’s hand. When all players have bet, the dealer opens the deck and deals 3 cards face down to each player. When you see your cards, you have to make a decision. You can either choose to fold, or you can proceed with a bet equal to your initial bet. In the case of a fold, the dealer takes your cards and you lose your initial bet. But if you continue, the dealer and the players will show their cards.
Keep in mind that the dealer can only play if his hand is good enough. In this case, the second bet you have made will be activated. To win, you must win the dealer’s cards. The payout in this case is 1:1. In the event that your cards are the same as the dealer’s, then you will get your bet back. We should note that if you follow this bet, you can always go ahead with an Ante-Play bonus bet if you think your cards are too good. But in order not to complicate things, in this beginner’s guide we will only mention the basics of the game.
Pair Plus
The second type of bet is called Pair Plus. As the name suggests, to win this bet you need to make a pair based on your hand. But in practice, you can also win this bet with combinations that are better than a simple pair.
3 Card Poker: Strategy
As with most card games, in Three Card Poker, making decisive decisions is very important. In order to play the game and move forward with your own strategy, you must first understand the rules. If you feel ready to play, then the first decision you need to make is whether to fold or go ahead with a bet.
The best known strategy is the one that has to do with the hand. Many players prefer to play only if their hand consists of queen-6-4, at least. Simply put, if you have anything below that, you should fold. In the game, you should aim to form at least one pair to be able to win. Of course, you can always make the decision to go ahead with the game if you have one of the higher cards, i.e. King or Ace.
3 Card Poker: Payments
In Three Card Poker, the casino’s advantage is somewhat low, if we compare it to other well-known games. This is one of the reasons that make Three Card Poker a fairly popular choice. Practically, the casino’s advantage is calculated based on the ante bonus bets, which are made given that the player has a pretty good hand. As it is a pretty good bet, this option also offers quite large payouts. With this option, the risk is 2.01%, while the casino’s advantage over the player is set at 3.37%.
In Conclusion
Although the way of playing this kind of poker seems a bit strange, since the player only has three cards at his disposal, the game definitely pays off in the end. Based on the classic way of playing, Three Card Poker presents some important differences. For starters, it should be mentioned that in Three Card Poker you play against the dealer, rather than against other players at the table. There is also another difference, which is considered to be very important. The ranking of the hands is different, so if you decide to play the game, you should not forget that the hands follow a different ranking.
In general, it could be argued that this game is a favourite choice of players. The reasons are many and include, among others, the simple way of playing, the few rules, and the risk options that offer great payouts. Now, the game that many players prefer in physical casinos has also been brought to online casinos, making your experience easy and comfortable.
Three Card Poker is definitely one of the most enjoyable games you’ll find in a casino. But the best way to practice before you join other players at the table is to play the game online. Register at NetBet today via your mobile, tablet or computer and enjoy the unique action that the game gives.
Remember to always gamble safely. For more information on responsible gambling and to learn more about tools available for our players visit our Responsible Gambling page in our Help Centre.
