In-depth guide on how to play 3-Card Poker

3-Card Poker is one of the most popular variations of poker in the world. The game strips away the complexity of other poker variations, with players simply being dealt cards and needing a better hand to than the dealer. In this part of our how to play poker, we explore 3-card poker, explaining its rules, side bets, and more.

Playing 3-Card Poker Step By Step Guide

3-Card Poker is a lot less complicated than other traditional poker games and can be an excellent way into the world of poker for beginners. The game breaks down into the following stages.

The Ante

The-Ante

At the start of a 3-Card Poker game, the ante is posted. This is the player’s opening bet and it is played before any cards are dealt.

Side Bets

Side-Bets

When players play their ante, they also have the option to bet on any side bets. This includes Pair Plus and 6 card-bonus, which we will cover later in this how-to-play 3-Card Poker online game guide. Once these have been placed, the game can begin.

The Deal

The-Deal

When all bets have been placed, the player and the dealer are both dealt three cards. The players cards are face-up and the dealer’s cards are face-down.

Fold or Play

Fold-or-Play

Now, the player can see their cards; they have to decide whether to fold or play. If they fold, the ante is lost. If they play, they make a second bet based on the outcome of their hand that is equal to the ante.

The Reveal

The-Reveal

With all bets placed, the dealer reveals his hand. The dealer’s hand is only compared to the player’s if it is queen-high (a hand with no pairs, flushes, straights, flushes, or three-of-a-kind with the queen as the highest ranking card). If the dealer’s hand is worse than this, the ante bet is paid at evens. Otherwise, the hand will have one of three outcomes: a straight-flush, three-of-a-kind, or a straight. The rank is then compared to yours and paid out if it wins.

Rules when playing 3-Card Poker

The rules for playing 3-Card Poker are straightforward. The following rules are applied to all versions of the game:

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The game is played with a 52-card deck.

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The ante must be placed before any hands are dealt.

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Each player will receive only three cards.

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The aim of the game is to beat the dealer’s hand.

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Players can either raise, match the ante, or fold.

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Hands are compared to the dealer’s hand, providing the dealer has a hand with a queen-high or of better value.

House Rules

Players should remember that different games and casinos may have slight variations in the way the game is played. You should always check the house rules before playing at a physical casino, and the paytable before playing at an online casino.

Payouts

The payouts in a game of 3-Card Poker are very simple to remember. If the player beats the dealer, they are paid out at events on their ante and play bets. If the dealer fails to have a queen-high, they are paid out at events on their ante-bet. Any side bets are paid out separately depending on their outcome and not the outcome of the overall game.

3-Card Poker Ante Bonus

The Ante Bonus bet is offered in many different online casinos and versions of the game. This is when the game pays out the ante without the need for an additional bet if the player gets a straight flush, three of a kind, or a straight from their initial hand.

The pair plus side bet

The pair plus is one of two side-bets that can be placed in 3-Card Poker. This is a bet on the player’s hand containing a pair or better. This is paid out regardless of whether the player wins their hand or not, as it is a totally separate bet from the main game. The bet will pay out at evens and has to be placed at the beginning of the round, the same time as the ante.

The 6-card bonus side bet

The 6-card bonus side bet is another side bet that is paid separately to the winning hand. For this, players will make the best hand possible from the six cards that have been dealt between the player and the dealer. These will then be paid out according to the paytable, with the payments ascending in ranking card order: Three of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, Four of a Kind, Straight Flush, and Royal Flush.

Best Online Casinos to Play 3-Card Poker

3-Card Poker is an extremely popular way to play poker, and you can find a lot of variations of the game at many top online poker sites in the UK. To find the best casino to play 3-Card Poker online, check out Gambling Zone’s top online casino reviews.

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3-Card Poker Final Thoughts

3-Card Poker is an excellent way to enter into the world of poker. Unlike other poker games, there is no strategy involved at all, with the game being an out-and-out game of chance. As such, players should always practise responsible gambling when playing 3-Card Poker online for real money.

3-Card Poker FAQs

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