3 Card Poker
The origins of 3-Card Poker, the poker variant that uses 3 cards, are unknown; but a sixteenth-century game called Brag bears a striking similarity to 3 Card Poker. The rules of 3 Card Poker are also found in the revised second edition of Hoyle’s Rules of Games, which also includes rules for a hi-lo variant of the same game.
When it comes to playing 3 Card Poker, the game requires a standard deck of 52 playing cards. Three Card Poker is a combination of 2 games rolled into one—the Pair Plus and the Ante/Play. The game begins when the player makes a Pair Plus and/or Ante bet according to the betting limits at the table. The dealer will then deal each player a hand of 3 cards after shuffling the deck thoroughly.
Players can now either continue to play or fold and forfeit their Ante bet. If players decide to continue, they need to make an additional Play bet equal to the size of their Ante bets. Once all the players at the table have made their decisions, the dealer will turn his cards face up. The game can continue only if the dealer has a Queen or higher and “qualifies.” If the dealer’s hand does not qualify, all the active players at the table will receive even money for their Ante bets and will get back their Play bets.
If the dealer’s hand qualifies and if the player’s hand turns out to be stronger than the dealer’s hand, the player will receive even money for his/her Ante as well as Play bets. If the dealer’s hand turns out to be stronger, players will lose both bets. In case of a tie, the player’s hand is considered to be the winner.
Three Card Poker hands, from the highest to the lowest, are as follows. A Straight Flush comprises 3 cards belonging to the same suit in order; for example, a five, a six, and a seven of diamonds is a Straight Flush. Three of a Kind comprises 3 equal cards, a Straight comprises 3 cards from different suits in order, a Flush comprises 3 cards belonging to the same suit, a Pair comprises 2 equal cards, and the High Card is the card of highest value in the players’ hands.
Players who are lucky enough to get a Straight, a Straight Flush, or Three of a Kind will get a bonus on their Ante bets, irrespective of the strength of their hands in relation to the dealer’s hand. The bonus paid depends on the casino’s payout structure, but players need not place any additional bets to claim the Ante bonus.
Players will win their Pair Plus bet only if their hand contains a Pair or better, irrespective of whether the dealer qualifies or has a stronger hand. Players will win their Pair Plus wager if they have a pair, and they will lose their Pair Plus wager if they don’t get a pair or better.
Three Card Poker is a very popular game, available at most online casinos, land casinos, and online poker rooms with side games.
