| When you break out the 52-card deck and deal a | | | | Queen or better to stay in the game. If not, you get |
| hand of 3-card poker, the first strategy you need is a | | | | payment on their ante only if it pays even money (1 to |
| firm understanding of the rules. It is fairly similar to a | | | | 1) - and as long as you didn't fold. Ante Payout |
| popular UK homegame, 3 card brag, although instead | | | | - A straight gets a 1 to 1 payout. |
| of competing against other players, you are competing | | | | - A three of a kind gets a 4 to 1 payout. |
| against the dealer. You need a better hand than the | | | | - A straight flush gets a 5 to 1 payout. |
| dealer (and at least a pair) to win. Each of you is dealt | | | | Pair Plus Payout |
| three cards, and the cards are shuffled after each | | | | - A pair gets a 1 to 1 payout. |
| hand. Because there are fewer ways to make a | | | | - A flush gets a 4 to 1 payout. |
| straight with 3 cards than a flush, straights rank higher. | | | | - A straight gets a 6 to 1 payout. |
| Aces are high or low. | | | | - A three of a kind gets a 30 to 1 payout. |
| Three card poker is two games in one. The player | | | | - A straight flush gets a 40 to 1 payout. |
| may bet on either one, both, and in different amounts. | | | | Remember these tips to help your strategy: |
| Both games are based on hands consisting of three | | | | - If you have a Queen or better, bet the Pair Plus. If |
| cards. The game is split into two - the Ante and the | | | | not, fold. |
| Pair Plus. | | | | - A dealer will get a Queen about two thirds of the |
| The Ante is the fee charged to you for playing the | | | | time. |
| hand. The Pair Plus is your bet that you will get a hand | | | | - The house has a 3.4% advantage. |
| with a pair or higher. You don't have to make both | | | | Probabilities in Three Card Poker |
| bets, but you do at least have to bet the Ante to stay | | | | Hand Combinations Probability |
| in the game. | | | | Straight flush 48 0.0021719 |
| You ante when you put your bet on the game table's | | | | Three of a kind 52 0.0023529 |
| Ante spot. Both you and the dealer are dealt three | | | | Straight 720 0.0325792 |
| cards face down. Your next decision? Are these | | | | Flush 1096 0.0495928 |
| cards good enough for you to bet or should you fold? | | | | Pair 3744 0.1694118 |
| Fold and the ante is lost. | | | | Queen to ace high 9720 0.4398190 |
| Bet and you place your bet that equals the ante in the | | | | Jack high or less 6720 0.3040724 |
| game table's Play spot. Win and you get the Ante and | | | | So thats the basics. There is not much more to learn |
| the Pair Plus payouts. The dealer has to have a | | | | about the game other than "keep your head". |