3 Card Poker Odds
Even though 3 Card Poker tends to be a simpler version of traditional poker, the game still poses its challenges. Mastering the odds and making the right call still requires skill and understanding just like it would in any regular game of poker. In our 3 Card Poker strategy, we will tell you more about the frequency of winning hands, help you come up with a working ante-play combination strategy and generally assist you with pay tables and odds.
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- The Pair Plus wager is what draws most players to 3 Card Poker, because it pays regularly and has payoffs as high as 40-1 (higher on some games, usually with worse odds for the player). As with most bonus-style bets, the house has a much higher edge than on the regular Ante wager.
The Pair Plus Odds and Payouts – Tell the Difference
Like with any strategy for poker variants, it is crucial to understand the math behind the game. The first step to devising any successful 3 Card Poker strategy is to familiarize yourself with the Pair Plus odds. There are 22,100 winning hands, or around 25.6% of the total possible combinations. In 3 Card Poker you win if you successfully produce a pair, flush, straight, three of a kind or straight flush. And of course, the payout will depend on the strength of your hand.
The Numbers Players enjoy 3 Card Poker because it has favorable odds. In 3 Card Poker, the player has a probability of 44.91% to win, while the dealer has a probability of 55.04% to.
Some casinos get tempted to introduce another, conciliatory reward, which is actually pretty decent. Known as mini-royals, this hand consists of Queen, King and Ace of the same suit, but are only added to the gameplay at the discretion of the casino.
Now, you may be wondering. Why would you play any game that only pays one in four times when there are others that arguably pay better? The key lies in the payout ratio. While most other games have a 1:1 payout for most bets, 3 Card Poker doesn’t mind offering you a bit more if you happen to be just a bit lucky.
A straight flush will usually grant you 40:1 and mini-royals, if applicable, could distribute a 50:1, 100:1 or even a whopping 200:1 payout. Now, the chances of turning a mini-royal are 1 in 5,252 according to the hand frequency. Most pairs will start at a 1:1 payout, and then a flush will usually offer 4:1, and a straight 5:1.
If we had to sum up this chapter, we would mention that games that pay 5:4 on straights and 4:1 on flushes usually have a smaller house edge than games that offer 6:1 on straights and 3:1 on flushes. It’s a mild difference, but still one to help you make the correct choice for yourself. Naturally you want the more frequent payers and lower house edges as no matter how lucky or psychic you’re feeling on the night, house edges are real and built into every game.
The house edge will vary between 4.49% and 7.28% for most versions of 3 Card Poker, which definitely gives the house a pretty big advantage.
Ante Play – Do or Do Not
Another 3 Card Poker strategy to look into is how you read and play the Ante Play odds and payouts. Each game begins with the ante, which you either bet to match up or fold if you don’t feel too sure. Now, remember that the dealer will only play if they are holding a Queen or better. If they don’t, they will fold, which will secure you a quick 1:1 payout on both your ante and bet pushes.
The payout doesn’t depend on the strength of your hand, so long as the dealer has decided to fold. Now, if the dealer decides to play, you will have to beat him or her with a stronger hand, naturally. Remember that any ties are broken by the second highest card you both have. If all three cards are the same, all bets are off and you start from the beginning.
So, what 3 Card Poker strategy is there for ante-play? A popular community wisdom is to only bet when you have Queen-6-4 or better. Now, you will probably argue, that you sometimes get a Queen, but then again, your second and third cards aren’t really as good.
Well, while this can be a reason for hesitation at first, most experienced players will know when to play and when to fold. Generally, Queen is a good start, but if your second card is 5, you should fold. The same goes if your second card is 6 but the third one is 2 or 3.
The Ante Play Bonus – Way to Top Your Bankroll Up
Now, one thing that everyone factors in their 3 Card Poker strategy for ante play is the ante bonus, which will be paid to you every time you get three of a kind, a straight or a straight flush. The ante bonus will be paid out to you directly, no matter whether you end up beating the dealer or otherwise.
3 Card Poker Payout Table
Owing to the ante bonus the house edge will usually fall a little. It’s almost as thinking about the game as French Roulette. Thanks to the ante bonus, you can slash the house edge to 2.01% from 3.37% previously.
Before we move on to the final notes, if you already feel armed with the information and odds you need to practice a few hands of real money poker, we’ve recently come across MoneyPokerSites.com which actually have fairly good selection of poker sites to play on and they’re separated into poker for US players, Canadian, New Zealand, etc. so just make sure not to jump into a poker room that isn’t available in your country.
Is Ante Play and 3 Card Poker Really Worth It?
Now, looking at the odds and payouts, one thing that stands out is that 3 Card Poker is definitely a bit more challenging than any of the other table games out there. Players who opt for popular gems as roulette or blackjack often have to deal with pretty small house edges, and a payout frequency that can be controlled with the help of a strategy, such as Martingale, Fibonacci or any of their variants.
However, in 3 Card Poker, the house edge is usually a bit steeper than, say, blackjack, and winning combinations happen 1 in 4 times. Yet, the game has its appeal and it’s definitely a worthwhile choice owing specifically to the big payouts you can turn off a single bet. The ante-play bonus makes it possible to hedge your bets a bit and offset any potential loss whereas a payout on anything bigger than a pair already offers a pretty good return.
If you are one of the lucky players to hit a mini-royal, assuming this type of bet is available, you will make up for your last 100 hands, especially if they turned out somewhat unsuccessful. It’s easy to stay on top of the game so long as you design and stick to the best 3 Card Poker strategy based on the odds and payout values.
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When you combine the game of poker with the ability to finish a hand with the speed of other casino games, you get a scaled down poker game that uses only three cards, which is also known as Three Card Poker. The resultant popular table game, 3 Card Poker, has rapidly gained traction as a crowd pleaser because it is both fun and easy to learn. Additionally, not only can you play against the dealer as you would a game of Blackjack, but you can also win based on how good your cards are. In short, the object of the game is to make the best poker hand possible with only three cards.
Play 3 Card Poker Free
How to Play 3 Card Poker
When playing free 3 Card Poker, there are two betting modes to consider that include an Ante and Play phase where players compete against fellow players as well as the dealer. Additionally, The Pair Plus wager is paid when the player’s hand garners a pair or better by the end of the hand. The Ante and the Pair Plus wagers are optional, but some casinos mandate that an Ante be ponied up prior to game play.
Once all Ante and Pair Plus wagers are placed, each player and the dealer is dealt three cards. Players who ponied up the aforementioned Ante, can choose to either fold their hand, or continue in the game by placing a Play wager equal to the Ante. Each hand is examined and wagers resolved.
3 Card Poker Odds Of Winning
The dealer’s hand must show a Queen high or better for the dealer hand to play. If the dealer does not meet this benchmark, and the dealer does not play, then there is no further action on Play wagers and Ante wagers are paid on a one to one basis.
Should the dealer garner a Queen or better, the dealer and player hands are compared to see who wins. If the player hand loses, both the Ante and Play wagers lose. If the player hand wins both the Ante and Play wagers are paid 1 to 1. If the hands are tied, known as a push, then there is no action on the Ante and Play wagers.
Depending on your hand, an additional feature is the Ante Bonus. This is awarded to the Ante wager for when players manage to land a straight or better hand. The Ante Bonus is paid on a pay scale and is paid regardless of whether the dealer plays and regardless of whether the dealer or the player has the best hand. The typical Ante Bonus pay table pays 5-to-1 for a straight flush, 4-to-1 for a three of a kind, and 1-to-1 for a straight.
In terms of the Pair Plus wager, which is predicated on the hope that the player will garner a pair, loses if the player has less than a pair and wins with a pair or better. This payoff applies regardless of what hand the dealer ends up with because the Pair Plus wager is not in competition against the dealer’s hand.
Winning Odds When Playing Three Card Poker
Playing Three Card Poker is fast paced and lucrative, which has some excellent odds designed to lure players to the table and keep them there playing. Specifically, players can expect the following odds and payouts in the following circumstances:
- Pair Plus Payouts
- Straight Flush 40-to-1
- Three of a Kind 30-to-1
- Straight 6-to-1
- Flush 3-to-1
- Pair 1-to-1
- Ante Bonus Payouts
- Straight Flush 5-to-1
- Three of a Kind 4-to-1
- Straight 1-to1
Three Card Poker is the most fun you can have playing poker and still hold all of your cards. For fast game play that can yield substantial winnings, Three Card Poker is worth a look next time you are in your favorite land based casino or online platform