Three Card Poker
Three Card Poker is a fast casino game with two independent bets: Ante-and-Play against the dealer (house edge ~3.4% on the ante) and the optional Pair Plus side bet on your own hand (~7.3%), both decided from just three cards.
| Cards | 3 per hand |
|---|---|
| Ante Play Edge | ~3.4% (on the ante) |
| Pair Plus Edge | ~7.3% |
| Dealer Qualifies | Queen-high or better |
Two bets, two decisions
You can make an Ante bet, a Pair Plus bet, or both. On the Ante, after seeing your three cards you either fold or make a matching Play bet to go to a showdown; the dealer needs queen-high to ‘qualify’. Pair Plus is a separate wager that pays purely on the strength of your own hand — a pair or better — regardless of the dealer.
Optimal play and the edge
The correct Ante strategy is simple: play any hand of Queen-Six-Four or better and fold the rest. That keeps the house edge on the ante around 3.4% (a little under 2% measured against total action including the Play bet). Pair Plus is more volatile at about 7.3%, trading a higher edge for the chance of large payouts on straights, flushes and three-of-a-kinds.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best strategy in Three Card Poker?
On the Ante, make the Play bet with Queen-Six-Four or better and fold weaker hands. This minimises the house edge to about 3.4% on the ante.
Is Pair Plus worth playing?
It offers bigger payouts but a higher house edge (~7.3%), so it is more of an entertainment bet than a value one.
Sources
- Published Three Card Poker rules
- Strategy analysis