The typical Three Card Poker table looks quite similar to a Blackjack table, with a green or blue felt surface showing positions for six or seven players on one side and a dealer on the other. Like all casino table games, the layout has been designed for ease of play and maximum security.

The perimeter of the table often features a wood or leather-covered rail with built-in cup holders and ashtrays. In some cases, chip racks may be present, although most players will stack their chips directly in front of them on the felt against the rail.

The Dealer’s Side

The dealer’s side of the table is restricted. No one other than pit supervisors and the dealer is allowed to stand there. Any spectators must position themselves at the ends of the table or behind the players, in order to reduce the possibility of cheating and avoid disturbing casino employees as they perform their jobs.

Directly in front of the dealer is a grooved rack that contains the casino chips used in play. Lower denomination chips are placed in the outer grooves, while the ones inside contain the higher valued chips. This helps guard against passersby trying to grab a handful.

There are often two slots in the table surface to the dealer’s right. Cash exchanged for chips goes in the longer one, and tips are inserted in the shorter one. Cash boxes are locked and located under the table directly beneath them. When there is no tip slot, dealers may place tips in a breast pocket. The Table Limits sign should also be seen near the dealer, showing the minimum and maximum bets allowed, along with a description of any House Rules related to betting and payouts.

One other important item that is always seen on the dealer’s side of the table is the Shuffle Master machine that constantly mixes four or more decks of cards. The reason this piece of equipment is so prominently featured is because the company that makes it owns the intellectual property rights to Three Card Poker played in casinos worldwide. Continuously shuffling means the dealer never has to interrupt play for this tedious task.

The Player’s Side

Groups of three geometric shapes are printed on the player’s side of the table layout to indicate the betting areas, one group in front of each seated participant. Most tables have room for seven players, although some may accommodate only six.

The order of the betting areas can vary from casino to casino. Typically, the three spots for each player form a column pointed toward the dealer’s side of the table. One spot is for the Ante wager, one is for the Play bet, and the third is for the Pair Plus side bet. They will be clearly marked so there should be no confusion. Many Three Card Poker table layouts use circles for the Pair Plus betting areas and rectangles or diamonds for the Ante and Play bets.

Antes and Pair Plus wagers must be made before any cards are dealt. Chips should be positioned completely within their respective spots. Once the dealing has begun, cards may be picked up by the player and checked for rank and value before betting on the Play area or folding the hand. Touching of wagered chips is prohibited until after all bets have been settled at the very end of the hand.

Act – In poker, “act” means to take any of five courses of action on a hand: check, call, fold, open betting, or raise; in three card poker, only two courses are available: play or fold.

Action – Any kind of wager or bet.

Ante – The minimum bet required of a player to be dealt three cards; also, the diamond or circle on the three card poker table where the initial bet is placed.

Bank – The financial backer of the game, in most cases the casino or House; also, all of the chips available to the House for paying off winning wagers.

Banker – The hand held by the Bank or dealer.

Bankroll – The total amount of money a player has available for a session of play.

Betting Order – The order in which players make their bets, starting with the Banker and proceeding counter-clockwise.

Bluff – Playing on hands that should be folded.

Bragg – See Three-Card Brag below.

Brit Brag – See Casino Brag below.

Brush – Slang term for an employee in a card room.

Bullets – Slang term for a pair of Aces.

Burn – A card or cards discarded from the top of the deck before dealing; several cards are commonly “burned” after the shuffle.

Buy-in – The chips which a player purchases for the purpose of gambling.

Card Room – A specially designated area or separate room within a casino where poker is played; also known as a Poker Room.

Card Sharp – An expert at playing cards.

Cards Speak – The rank of the hand does not have to be declared by the Player; the cards themselves determine the winners and losers.

Case Money – A Player’s emergency fund, normally the end of his bankroll.

Casino Brag – A variation of Three Card Poker that requires the dealer to have hand with an Ace-Queen or better to qualify.

Catching Cards – Receiving favorable cards.

Checks – A slang term for the casino chips used in play.

Color Up – To exchange lower-denominated chips for ones of higher value, typically done just before leaving the game.

Court Cards – The Jack, Queen, and King of any suit; also known as Picture Cards or Face Cards.

Cowboys – A slang term for Kings.

Cut – The act of dividing the deck of cards into two separate groups after the shuffle and prior to dealing.

Cut Card – A solid-colored, faceless plastic card that used to for cutting the cards.

Deal – The act of distributing the cards to each player.

Dealer – The casino employee responsible for dealing the cards and managing the game.

Deuce – Slang term for the card with a value of two.

Discard Tray – A receptacle to the dealer’s right that holds cards that have been burned or played.

Down to the Felt – Slang term for out of money or totally broke.

Drop – Another term for Fold.

Face Cards – The Jack, Queen, and King of any suit; also known as Picture Cards or Court Cards.

Fish – Slang term for a novice or poor player.

Fishhooks – Slang term for Jacks.

Flush – Three cards of the same suit, not in sequential order; Aces count as high. (Also, the name of a complicated variant of Three-Card Brag played in some casinos.)

Fold – To drop out of play, abandon a hand, and surrender the Ante.

George – Another slang term for a novice or poor player.

Glimmer – A slang term for money.

Grinder – Slang term for a player whose goal is to win a little money each session.

Hand – The cards held by each player; also, everything that happens between deals.

High Card – Three cards of different value and suit, not all in sequence; Aces count as high.

Hole – Refers to all cards dealt face down.

House Edge – The statistical advantage that the casino has over the player, most commonly expressed as a percentage.

House Rules – The specific way in which the game is played at a particular casino, including betting limits, payout amounts, how a Push is treated, etc.

Kicker – The third unpaired card in a hand.

Ladies – A slang term for Queens.

Mechanic – Slang term for cheater, especially a dealer who manipulates the cards to the House’s benefit.

Nothing – See High Card above.

Odds – The probabilities involved in poker play; also the payouts made for various combinations of cards.

Off-suit – Refers to a card or cards not of the same suit.

On the Finger – Slang term for money given on credit.

Paint – Slang term for any Face Card—the Jack, King or Queen.

Pair – Two cards of the same value plus a third card of different value.

Pair Plus – One of the two wagers available in Three Card Poker; also, a circle on the table layout where such bets are made.

Picture Cards – The Jack, Queen, and King of any suit; also known as Face Cards or Court Cards.

Pit – The area within the casino where the table games are located.

Play – To bet or raise; also, a rectangle or circle on the table layout where a wager equal to the Ante bet is made.

Poker Room – See Card Room above.

Post – Refers to the act of betting, especially making an Ante.

Prial – In Three-Card Brag, three cards of the same value; Three of a Kind.

Push – To tie or draw; in most casinos, when the Player and Banker have identical hands, the Player hand wins, but in some there is no winner declared, so be sure to consult the House Rules.

Qualify – Referring to the Banker, to have a hand of the minimum rank or better in order to have a showdown with the Player; typically in Three Card Poker, this means a hand with at least a Queen high or better.

Rabbits – Slang term for weak players.

Rack – The plastic, wooden or metal tray used to hold casino chips.

Railbirds – A slang term for spectators.

Rainbow – Three cards of different suits.

Raise – In Three Card Poker, to bet or play the hand after it has been seen.

Rank – The relative value of a hand.

Run – In Three-Card Brag, three cards in sequence, not all of the same suit; a Straight.

Running Flush – In Three-Card Brag, three cards in sequence, all of the same suit; a Straight Flush.

Session – The time period in which the game is played.

Set – See Three of a Kind below.

Showdown – When the Banker’s hand is compared to those of the Players; this occurs only if the Banker hand qualifies.

Shuffle – Mixing up the order of the cards between deals.

Singleton – In poker, refers to any card in a hand that is the only one of its value.

Skin or Skoon – Slang terms for a dollar.

Spikes – Slang term for a pair of Aces.

Stack – The total amount of a Player’s chips.

Straight – Any three cards in sequence, not all of the same suit; Aces count either high or low.

Straight Flush – Three cards in sequence, all of the same suit; Aces count either high or low.

Streak – Any run of winning or losing hands.

Suicide King – Slang term for the King of Hearts, who holds sword pointed at his head.

Suit – One of the four groups of cards in a deck: Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts or Spades.

Table Limits – The minimum and maximum wagers allowed at the table.

Three-Card Brag – A version of Three Card Poker invented in Britain, where players hold the Bank and bluffing and blind betting are common.

Three Card Poker or 3-Card Poker – Casino card game based upon the British game of Brag, in which players try to beat the dealer’s Banker hand by forming a better three card poker hand.

Three of a Kind – Three cards of the same value.

Tierce – Slang term for a three-card straight flush.

Trey – Slang term for the card with a value of three.

Tri-Card Poker – Common alternative name for Three Card Poker.

Trio, Triplets, or Trips – See Three of a Kind above.

Valet – Slang term for a Jack.

Vig or Vigorish – The percentage the House earns on all wagers.

With a relatively low advantage for the House compared to other table games found in the casino pit area, Three Card Poker has grown in popularity quite rapidly. Just a decade ago, it was virtually unknown outside a few casinos on the Las Vegas Strip and its original home in London. Now, more than 1,200 tables have been installed worldwide, thanks largely to the marketing efforts of Shuffle Master, the company that bought the intellectual property rights to this game from its inventor, British professional poker player Derek J. Webb, back in 1999.

Winning at Three Card Poker requires a little luck, a little skill, and a lot of patience. Most of the payouts are at 1-to-1 odds, even money. Premium hands bigger than a pair pay well, but they come up with a frequency of just 8.67%, or about one out of every dozen hands. To maximize the possibility of winning, here is some of the best advice garnered from regular players, gambling professionals, dealers, and researchers of the game.

Choose the Best Table – All Three Card Poker tables are not alike. Because the casinos often modify the basic rules and payout schedules, some offer better odds than others. Spending a bit of tie looking for higher rates of pay and a lower House edge can pay off huge for those willing to make the effort.

Get an Ante Bonus – Some casinos have changed the payout rates for Ante Bonuses or eliminated them altogether. Don’t play at these establishments. Make sure the bonuses paid are at least the industry standard: 5-to-1 for a Straight Flush, 4-to-1 for Three of a Kind, and even money for a Straight. If a Mini-Royal bonus is available, so much the better, as long as it does not reduce the standard rates for the other bonuses.

Win on Ties – The original version of Three Card Poker gave the advantage to the player on ties. Every push paid even money on the initial Ante wager. Unfortunately, new House Rules have been established to turn ties into a no-win situation. Instead of a House edge of 3.24%, this raises the advantage to 3.37%. Ask what the House rule is on ties before sitting down.

Get Full Pay for Pair Plus Bets – The standard Pair Plus payout rate is 5-to-1 for a Straight Flush, 4-to-1 for Three of a Kind, and even money for a Straight. Anything less than that only adds to the House advantage, even if a Mini Royal bonus is offered.

Don’t Combine Bets – At some casinos, such as the Hard Rock, a Play Both option is available that allows a single wager to be made, which combines the Ante bet with the Pair Plus wager. This is not a good option for the player. In exchange for the “convenience” of a single wager, the player is forced to make a Play bet or else forfeit both the Ante and Pair Plus wagers.

Favor the Pair Plus – The House edge on Pair Plus wagers is lower than it is on the Ante and Play bets by about 31% on average. So even though it is said to be a “side bet,” players are better off thinking of it as the main bet. Some casinos allow betting Pair Plus without wagering on the Ante. When this is the case, risk can be minimized by laying off the Ante when increasing the size of Pair Plus wagers, such as during a progression.

Don’t Be Afraid to Abandon Hands – Because the Banker hand must qualify with a Queen or better in order to beat the player’s hand, there can be a great temptation to stay in on worthless hands, hoping for a lucky win. But the odds are strongly against winning on a hand valued at less than a Queen, so get in the habit of folding them. The few opportunities lost will be well compensated for by the Play bets saved.

The decisions one has to make when playing Three Card Poker are quite limited in number. Before the deal, there are options to bet on the Ante, the Pair Plus, or both. After the deal, the only choice is whether to Play or fold the Ante wager. Without any drawing, checking, raising, bluffing, or additional betting intervals, most of the decisions that make traditional Poker games so skill-dependent are eliminated.

That said, there are still opportunities for players to improve their likelihood of winning by applying two types of strategies. One revolves around the Play bet decision, while the other centers on how much is wagered and on what.

To Play or Not to Play

As noted in the sections on How to Play and Three Card Poker Rules, the Banker hand automatically loses if it fails to “qualify” by containing at least a Queen. This aspect of the game has led many players to follow a strategy of always making the Play wager (raising) in the hopes that they will be able to pick up wins on some unqualified hands.

In fact, however, this is a poor tactic, tantamount to playing the game blindly or bluffing in a game that calls all bluffs. Staying in on every hand actually increases the House edge all the way up to 7.65%. A better strategy is to mimic the dealer, by making the Play wager only if the player’s hand “qualifies” by containing at least a Queen. The House edge will then be just 3.45%.

Numerous experts have studied Three Card Poker from a statistical point of view. Based upon their research, the optimum strategy for the Play wager is to make the bet and stay in only when holding a hand equivalent to Q-6-4 or better. This would include any hand with a King or higher, any hand with a Queen and a 7 or higher, and any hand with a Queen, a 6, and either a 4 or 5.

Computer analysis has shown that a hand consisting of Q-6-3 or worse will lose slightly more than one unit per wager on average, while hands of Q-6-4 will win slightly more than a unit per wager. Specifically, a hand of Q-6-4 or better will lose 8.66% of the Ante bets made, but should compensate for that by winning 5.29% on the Play wagers. The House edge using this strategy is 3.37%.

Wagering Strategies

Three Card Poker’s use of a Shuffle Master machine at the table for continuous mixing of the cards makes any attempt at card counting futile. Similarly, the Play requirement to win Antes makes any form of progressive betting problematic. Flat betting is therefore quite common, and the best opportunity for applying a wagering strategy exists on the Pair Plus side bet.

Statistically, the Pair Plus wager is less risky than betting on Ante and Play. It carries a House edge of 2.32% on average, although it can be as low as 2.12% if the payout schedule includes a 50-to-1 award for a Mini-Royal and all other rates remain the same as standard. Either way, Pair Plus compares favorably to betting on Red or Black at the Roulette table because it sometimes pays more than even money. In effect, the Pair Plus wager is “an even money bet with benefits.”

For this reason, “slow” progressions such as Labouchere, Fibonacci, or d’Alembert can be employed as a Pair Plus wagering strategy, looking to yield big payouts on premium hands. However, “fast” progressions like Martingale, which seek to win back all losses in a single wager, should be avoided. The reason is because Pair Plus is not a true even-money bet. High Card hands are predominant, showing up on 74.39% of all deals.

When playing Three Card Poker, there are only a few decisions to make. There are no cards to draw or bluffs to make, so play of the hand is largely matter of choosing to Play or fold. That means winning or losing comes down to decisions made regarding wagers—how much to bet, on what, and when. Bankroll/chip management thus becomes the true key to success at Three Card Poker.

Bankroll Basics

In the simplest terms, a Three Card Poker “bankroll” is the total amount of money a player is willing to risk on wagering during a single session of play, whether it is an hour or two, a full day, an entire vacation, or any other period of time period. No matter whether the size of the bankroll is large or small, it must never be more than the player can afford to lose in that session.

The size of required bets made Three Card Poker will determine how large a bankroll is needed to play at any given table. In most cases, an amount between 50 and 100 times the minimum wager is appropriate. In other words, playing at a $25 table requires a bankroll of $1,250 to $2,500. With a bankroll of $500, a player can comfortably use $5 or $10 for each bet. Don’t make the mistake of sitting down at a table where the betting requirements are too high.

Managing a Three Card Poker bankroll is also about having realistic goals. For example, it is almost impossible to $500 into $2,000 at a $5 table. In much the same way, expecting to win a certain amount per hour is a sure way to become disappointed. When an achievable objective is set, such as doubling the bankroll, a positive outcome becomes possible. Having a slightly lower but more easily reached goal, such as leaving with 50% profit, will lead to even more satisfying sessions.

Once the goal has been reached, it is a good practice to put the original bankroll away. Don’t touch it again until the next session begins. The current session can be extended by using “House money” to play with, as long as it is treated as if it were a completely new bankroll.

Perhaps the most important aspect of money management for Three Card Poker players is to never continue wagering after the bankroll has been exhausted. In other words, no trips to the nearest ATM or taking advances on credit cards in order to play a little longer. The purpose of having limits is to protect one’s self against overplaying and to avoid any activity that might result in a financial dilemma. If the bankroll has been lost, the playing is finished. Do not return to the table until a new bankroll has been established.

Managing Chips

It is easy to forget that casino chips are not just “tokens”; they have a very real cash value. That makes it especially important to manage them just as one would manage hard cash, not taking unnecessary risks or wagering foolishly.

Chip management starts before making the very first bet, by exchanging only a portion of the bankroll for chips, not the entire amount. Having a big supply of chips at the table can invite overly aggressive play. It may also induce a player to continue playing longer than warranted. A good rule of thumb is to exchange no more than 40% of the bankroll for chips; keep the rest in reserve so that more chips can be purchased if the need arises.

The amount that should be bet in the beginning of play is about 1% or 2% of the full bankroll. For example, with $1,000 to play with, of which $400 has been exchanged for chips, no more than $10 each should be bet on the Ante and Pair Plus options. As the game progresses and winnings begin to accrue, one or both bets can be increased. But if the table is streaking losers, it may be best to find a table with lower minimum betting requirements, such as a $5 or $2 game.

Players who use progressive betting systems must be prepared to sustain a certain number of consecutive losses. That number will be a function of the bankroll. For example, if playing Martingale and doubling up on a loss on the Pair Plus wager, six losses in a row at $5 per unit bet would mean risking 63 units or $315. Unless the bankroll is at least double that amount, the player would be wise to plan to stop the progression after four or five losses or whatever number represents half of the bankroll.

It has been said that success has many fathers, and that is certainly true of any popular game in the Poker family—even its illegitimate children. The history of Poker leads down several paths, and the game can be traced back to a number of European card games, including one played in France some 400 years ago.

The most widely accepted theory of Poker’s evolution is that French soldiers learned a five-card game called “As Nas” from their Persian allies during the 17th century. They modified its rules to include some bluffing and called the new version “Poque.” French settlers then reportedly brought this game to the Louisiana Territory, where it developed into what is today recognized as “Poker” in all of its many variations, including (mistakenly) Three Card Poker, often referred to as “Tri-Card Poker.”

Then again, some credibility can be given to Germany as the ancestral home of Poker, too. “Pochspiel”—also known as “Pochen,” meaning to “brag in a bluffing way” or “to knock”—was one of Europe’s very earliest games to incorporate betting, hand rankings, and bluffing. It was popular as long ago as the 15th century. Did Pochen become Poque and then lead to Poker? Historians do not all agree.

This lack of a clear pedigree has given rise to some theories that Poker is actually the legacy of an Irish game, “Poca,” which means “pocket.” It may have been the origin of the name of Poque; no one is quite sure.

But here’s the shocker—the Three Card Poker games played in today’s casinos were not derived from Poker at all, neither Five-Card Draw nor Five-Card Stud. In fact, Three Card Poker has a very different lineage altogether.

Three Precedes Five

During the Renaissance Era, long before the first five-card Poker hand was ever dealt, gamblers in Spain and Italy enjoyed a four-card game called Primero. By the 16th century, players in Elizabethan Great Britain modified it into a three-card game they dubbed “Bragg.” This new invention incorporated some aspects of a French cousin called “Brelan” in betting style and the use of bluffing, as well as its hand rankings.

In Three-Card Brag (now spelled with one “g”), all players ante and are dealt three cards each, face down. A single round of betting occurs, with players given only the option to bet or fold. If a bet is made, subsequent players must add at least that much more to the pot or else fold. Betting continues in this manner until only two players remain, whereupon either of them may double the last bet to “see” the opponent’s hand. Then, both hands are revealed and the better of the two claims the entire pot. In case of a tie, the “seeing” player loses.

This form of card play turned out to be all the rage in British-ruled India and later in Nepal, where it became known by the names “Flush” and “Teen Patti” (meaning “three cards” in Hindi). It also remained popular in England into the 20th century, particularly at fairgrounds, where crowds would gather to play for significantly high stakes. It was this game, Three-Card Brag and not Five-Card Poker, that gave British professional poker player Derek J. Webb the idea of creating a new casino table game in the 1990s—one that would eventually become heralded as “Three Card Poker.”

From Brag to Poker

Initially, Webb did not call his game Three Card Poker or Tri Card Poker. Instead, he named it Casino Brag, and many took to calling it “Brit Brag.” One big difference between this version and the one so popular on the subcontinent was the ability to play directly against the House instead of other players.

The betting rules were modified, too, to include a simple Ante followed by a single bet or “Play,” along with the option to wager on a “Pair Plus” side bet. A full win on the main bet required beating the Banker (dealer’s hand), while the side bet could be claimed by any hand with a pair or better, with rising odds for higher ranking hands.

Apart from being played with only three cards, the dissimilarities to “regular” Poker are many. There is no checking, calling, or raising. The bluffing element is non-existent. And three-of-a-kind beats a straight, just as straights beat flushes, owing to the different probabilities for three cards versus five.

How, then, did Casino Brag become “Three Card Poker” and forevermore linked to the Pochen-Poca-Poque family? The answer is a Las Vegas-based company called Shuffle Master. The American supplier of gaming equipment acquired all rights to the game from Webb in 1999. Realizing that “Brit Brag” was unlikely to score a huge marketing success on the Las Vegas Strip, the new owners changed the name to be more familiar and inviting.

Never mind, of course, that a legitimate party-poker game called “Three Card Poker” had existed in America at least since Hoyle’s “Rules of Games” described it in the 1940s. The new Three Card Poker is now available at more than 1,200 tables installed by Shuffle Master over the past decade, still growing in popularity worldwide and proving that a game of Brag by another name is even sweeter.

With only three cards in play and no cards to draw, calculating the Three Card Poker odds for various hands should be rather straightforward. Unfortunately, it is complicated somewhat by the varying payout rates used by casinos for Ante Bonuses and Pair Plus wins, but the House edge tends to be around 3.37% for the Ante and Play bets. As with most games of chance, the higher payouts for side bets come at a cost, and the advantage for the House on Pair Plus wagers ranges from 2.32% to 7.28%, depending on the payout schedule offered.

Odds on Various Three Card Poker Hands

In total, there are 22,100 possible hand combinations when three cards are dealt at random from a 52-card deck. Of these, just 48 result in a Straight Flush and exactly 52 are Three of a Kind combinations, resulting in probabilities of just 0.22% and 0.24% for these premium hands, respectively. The only other hand eligible for an Ante Bonus is a Straight, with 720 ways to be made and a likelihood of just 3.36%.

Of the two additional hands that can win a Pair Plus payout, a Flush can be expected to turn up 1,096 times out of 22,100 deals, or 4.96% of the time. Any Pair will occur with a frequency of 16.94%, there being 3,744 such hands possible. That means High Card hands dominate all deals, so players can look for an Ace high or less nearly three-quarters of the time, or 74.39% to be precise.

With even money paid for a pair on the Pair Plus wager, clearly the payouts for the other top hands must be significant to overcome the poor odds associated with such occurrences. Players should look for Pair Plus options that pay at least 4-to-1 for a Flush, 6-to-1 for a Straight, 30-to-1 for Three of a Kind, and 40-to-1 for a Straight Flush. At those rates, the House edge is 2.32%.

When playing both the Ante/Play and Pair Plus bets in combination, the House advantage is actually somewhat greater. Players can expect to win 32.06% of the time, push on 13.23% of all occasions, and lose on the other 54.71% of all deals.

Additional Odds Available

Apart from looking for the best payout schedule players should also be aware of other ways casinos have modified the game. For example, some casinos offer a “Mini Royal” payout of 50-to-1 on the Pair Plus wager for a suited A-K-Q hand. That decreases the House edge to 2.12% if the other payout rates are unchanged. However, many casinos compensate by decreasing the Flush payout to 3-to-1, which greatly reduces the chances of winning for the player by giving the House a 7.1% advantage.

The existence of the Ante Bonus helps the player, too, but only as much as the payout rates are favorable. The standard is 5-to-1 for a Straight Flush, 4-to-1 for Three of a Kind, and even money for a Straight. It was at these rates that the overall 3.37% House edge was calculated for Ante and Play betting. If the payouts are reduced even slightly, the advantage tips even further in the House’s direction, reaching 4.28% when the rates are decreased to 3-to-1, 2-to-1, and even money, respectively.

Similarly, if Mini Royals are added to the Ante Bonus list, as they often are, look for shifts in the payouts for the other premium hands. On Las Vegas casino was offering 10-to-1 for a Mini Royal and 50-to-1 if it was in spades. As an offset, the payout for Straight was eliminated, Straight Flushes paid only 4-to-1, and Three of a Kind was demoted to 3-to-1. The Result: A whopping 6/79% House edge overall. The Moral: Beware of any supposed “improvements” to the basic game.

Each player seated at the Three Card Poker table should know the rules that govern the game. These range from the procedures of how to play the game and the ranking of hands to the various formalities of handling cards and chips. Three Card Poker etiquette follows standard casino protocols. Following are some of the most important aspects of the game to keep in mind when playing.

Limits – There is a placard on each table indicating the minimum wager for that particular table as well as the size of the maximum bets allowed. Some start at $5, some at $10, and others $25. If in doubt, ask the dealer or card room supervisor before sitting down. One should not play at a table unless at least ten times the minimum can be purchased in chips.

Seating – Because a Shuffle Master machine is used to mix the cards at most casinos, seating is possible at any time between deals. There is no prohibition on “mid-deck” entry. An open seat usually means it is available for a new player, but not always. Some Three Card Poker tables allow players to wager on more than one position. If in doubt, simply ask the dealer if the seat is taken before sitting down.

Buy-In – Chips may be bought from the cage cashier or brought to the Three Card Poker table from a different game. Otherwise, they may be purchased from the dealer. The proper time to exchange cash for chips is between hands. Place the currency directly on the table; never try to hand it to the dealer. The dealer will count out the bills in plain sight for recording by security cameras. The dealer will then count out the chips, stack them neatly, and push them across the table to the player. Always confirm that the total is correct before placing them in the rail rack, if available, or stacking them on the felt next to the rail.

Betting– Place bets only after they are called for. Be sure the chips are stacked neatly, completely within the assigned betting area, with any higher denomination chips on the bottom and lower valued ones on the top. Once the dealing begins, chips may not be touched until the hand is over and all wagers are settled.

Cards– In most versions of Three Card Poker, players are allowed to handle the cards. They are dealt face down and need to be picked up and examined before deciding whether to make the Play wager and turn them over on the table face up. If a decision is made to fold and abandon the hand, the cards should be put back on the table face down. Players should take care not to bend, fold, or crease the cards during this process. Once placed back on the table, win or lose, the cards should not be touched again.

Winnings – Whenever a hand is won, the dealer makes the payout by stacking chips next to the original bet. Wait until all wagers have been settled before pulling in any winnings. It is poor manners to grab the chips as soon as they are stacked up. Be careful not to leave any chips in the betting circles at the beginning of the next hand, or else they will be treated as a bet.

Breaks – Players do not have to participate in every hand. They may sit out a deal by not making an Ante or Pair Plus bet. Leaving the table temporarily is also permitted, as long as the dealer is informed that the player intends to return; chips should be stacked up neatly in front of one’s seat before going away for a brief interval.

Cash-Out – At the conclusion of a session of play, chips should be “colored up” by exchanging numerous smaller denomination chips for larger ones. This is accomplished by push the stacks of chips toward the dealer between deals and saying “color up” or “color out.” Take care not to push the chips onto the betting areas, lest they be mistaken for a wager.

Tipping – Casino dealers work in the “Service Industry” and, just like waiters and waitresses, they are dependent on gratuities for a portion of their income. Tips can be made by pushing a chip toward the center of the table, pointing to the dealer, and saying, “For the dealer.” Never attempt to hand a tip directly to a dealer. Every action at the Three Card Poker table must be done in full view of security cameras.

With only three cards to think about, Three Card Poker is a relatively simple game to learn and play. It is somewhat similar to Blackjack in that everyone at the table is dealt a hand and competes directly against the dealer, who holds the Banker hand. Although it is thought to be a form of Poker, it is unlike traditional games of Draw or Stud because there are no draws, no bluffing, and only one round of betting after the ante.

The object of Three Card Poker is to show a hand of a higher rank than that held by the dealer; the better the hand the bigger the payout. The game also includes a side bet, which allows the player to win, even if the Banker hand turns out to be stronger.

Three Card Poker Betting

Each hand of Three Card Poker begins with the player making an Ante bet on the indicated spot in front of his/her betting position. This can be considered as the cost of playing the hand. The minimum amount of the Ante wager will be displayed on a Table Limits or House Rules placard on the table. The player has the option to wager more than the minimum Ante, of course, up to the maximum allowed, as shown on the placard.

Before the deal of the cards, the player also has the option to wager on “Pair Plus.” This is a side bet on the hand the player will be dealt. The bonus that is paid out depends on the rank of player’s three cards. A pair will pay even money (1-to-1 odds), a flush returns 3-to-1, a straight pays 6-to-1, three of a kind will yield 30-to-1, and a straight flush is worth 40-to-1.

Regular players of Poker will note that the order of the hand rankings for payouts is a bit different from “normal.” In Three Card Poker, straights beat flushes. That’s because the odds of a straight being dealt are actually lower than those of a flush when only three cards are in play.

Like the Ante, the amount wagered on the Pair Plus bet can be any amount within the table’s stated limits. The wager is made directly on the spot provided, which is typically located at the top of the betting column nearest the dealer.

Three Card Poker Basic Play

After all bets have been placed, three cards are dealt to each player as well as to the “Bank,” face down. The players will then look at their hands and decide whether they wish to compete against the Banker hand or fold. Those who wish to challenge the Bank must indicate this by making a second wager equal to the Ante in the “Play” spot on the table layout, usually between the Ante and Pair Plus betting positions.

As soon as all Play bets have been made, the dealer will turn over the three cards in the Banker hand. In order for there to be a “showdown” against the players, the Banker hand must “qualify” by containing a Queen or better. If the Bank fails to qualify, all active players (those who did not fold) are paid even money for their Ante wagers and their bets on the Play are returned. Those who have folded lose their Ante bets. Note that in a few casinos, players receive even money for all of their active bets, including the Play wager, when the Bank doesn’t qualify.

Assuming, however, that the Banker hand shows at least a Queen, the players then reveal their hands, one by one, comparing them against the Bank. Hands that beat the Banker hand receive even money for both the Ante and Play bets. Those that do not will lose both bets. Should a tie occur, the player’s cards win the hand in most casinos, although some declare a “push” with no winner.

Three Card Poker Bonuses

The Pairs Plus side bets are paid off as the hands are compared, according to the progressive schedule of awards for premium hands as indicated above—even money for a pair, etc. The player does not have to beat the Bank to collect on this wager. It is strictly a bet on whether the three cards dealt will be a pair or better. Hands that do not have at least a pair will lose.

In addition to the even money and Pair Plus payouts, bonuses are also awarded for premium hands, and they do not require any additional wagers. The Ante Bonus, as it is known in most casinos, rewards any player holding a straight, three-of-a-kind or straight flush, regardless of whether the hand beats the Bank or not.

A pay schedule posted at the table will show how much these hands are worth. The odds are often 5-to-1 or 4-to-1 for a straight flush, 4-to-1 or 3-to-1 for three of a kind, and an additional even money payment for a straight. On average a pair or better is dealt to about a quarter of all hands.

Although the basics of Three Card Poker were established in the 1990s, when the game was first introduced to casinos, there have been many modifications made since then. Each casino interprets the rules differently, as reflected in the payout schedules, betting limits, and other aspects of the game detailed in their House Rules. The information given below will pertain to the vast majority of Three Card Poker tables, but players are always advised to consult the House Rules for specifics before wagering.

As noted in other sections here, Three Card Poker is unlike traditional Poker in several ways, one of the most important being the way in which hands are ranked. Following is the order of hands from the highest to the lowest, along with how ties are treated and what bonuses or Pair Plus payouts, if any, are awarded:

Straight Flush – The very highest ranking hand is three cards in sequence, all of the same suit, such as the 9-8-7 of spades or J-10-9 of diamonds. Aces count as either high or low, such as A-2-3 of hearts or A-K-Q of clubs. Ties are broken by the highest valued card in the hand, with the exception of the 3 used instead of the Ace in a Straight Flush made up of A-2-3. The Ante Bonus for this hand is typically 5-to-1, but it may be 4-to-1 or even as low as 3-to-1; the Pair Plus bet will pay out 40-to-1.

Three of a Kind – The second highest hand is three cards of equal value, such as 7-7-7 or 3-3-3. It is sometimes referred to as a Set, Trips, Trio, or Triplets. Ties are settled by the rank of the three cards. The usual Ante Bonus for this hand is 4-to-1, although it can be 3-to-1 or even as low as 2-to-1; Pair Plus will return 30-to-1.

Straight – Any three cards in sequence, not all of the same suit; is called a Straight or “Run,” such as 10-9-8 of different suits. Aces count as either high or low, just as for a Straight Flush. Ties are broken by the highest valued card in the hand, but the 3 is used for an A-2-3 Straight. The Ante Bonus for this hand is always even money, 1-to-1; the Pair Plus payout is 6-to-1.

Flush – This hand contains three cards of the same suit, not in sequential order, such as the Q-10-3 of hearts or the K-J-7 of spades. Aces always count as high. Ties are broken by the highest valued card in the hand; if they are of equal value, then the second highest card decides the winner or the third card if both the top cards are the same. There is no Ante Bonus paid for a Flush, but a Pair Plus wager will usually pay 3-to-1.

Pair – This refers to two cards of the same value plus a third card of a different value, the so-called “Kicker,” such as K-K-6 or 8-8-2. Ties are settled by the value of the paired cards; if they are equal, then the tie is broken by the value of the unpaired Kicker. No Ante Bonus is paid for a Pair, but the Pair Plus wager will pay even money.

High Card – When a hand contains three cards of different values and suits, not all in sequence, it is referred to as a High Card hand or Nothing, such as 10-3-2 or 7-6-4 of different suits. Aces always count as high. Just like Straights, ties are broken by the highest valued card in the hand; if they are of equal value, then the second highest card decides the winner or the third card if both the top cards are the same. A High Card hand receives no Ante Bonus and loses if a Pair Plus bet has been made.

Again, House Rules will always dictate how the game is played, casino by casino. Following are some of the most common other rules that will be encountered at Three Card Poker tables:

Ante Bonus Eligibility – Only hands on which both the Ante and Play bets have been made are eligible for the Ante Bonus.

Ante Wager Forfeit – If the Player does not make the Play bet, the Ante is lost no matter what cards the Banker hand shows.

Play Bet Limit – The wager made on the Play bet must be equal to the Ante, not more or less.

Qualifying – The Banker Hand must contain a Queen or better in order for the showdown to occur. If the dealer fails to qualify, the Ante bet pays even money and the Play bet is returned, but only for active players who have not folded.

Payouts – All Ante and Play bets are paid at even money; all bonuses and Pair Plus bets are paid according to the House Rules, as stated on the payout schedule.

Pair Plus Bets – These are treated separately from the Ante and Play bets; the Player need not beat the Banker hand in order to be paid for a pair or better on the Pair Plus wager.

Play Both Bets – In casinos that offer this option, which is the same as a single bet on both Ante and Pair Plus, the player must make the Play wager to win on either the Ante or Pair Plus bets; otherwise, all wagers are forfeited