About Three Card Poker
You start with an Ante and can also place an optional Pair Plus bet. Once you see your cards, you choose whether to fold or place a Play bet to face the dealer. The dealer needs Queen-high or better to qualify, and strong hands may earn a bonus.
How to Play Three Card Poker
You receive three cards. After seeing your hand, choose Play or Fold. The Play bet must equal your Ante. Folding forfeits your Ante.
The dealer needs Queen-high or better to qualify. If the dealer does not qualify, your Ante pays 1:1 and your Play bet is returned.
If the dealer qualifies, your hands are compared. A stronger hand wins 1:1 on both Ante and Play. A weaker hand loses both bets. An exact tie returns both bets.
The Ante Bonus is paid on your Ante amount regardless of the dealer’s hand or the result of the comparison. A Straight Flush pays 5:1, Three of a Kind pays 4:1, and a Straight pays 1:1.
Pair Plus is settled separately based on your own cards, whether you Play or Fold. A Straight Flush pays 40:1, Three of a Kind 30:1, a Straight 6:1, a Flush 3:1, and a Pair 1:1.
In Three Card Poker, a Straight ranks above a Flush. This is the reverse of standard five-card poker.
Three Card Poker Hand Rankings and Payouts
Three-card hands rank differently from five-card poker: a straight beats a flush. Pair Plus and Ante Bonus are separate rewards.
| Hand | Pair Plus | Ante Bonus | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Flush | 40:1 | 5:1 | 0.2172% |
| Three of a Kind | 30:1 | 4:1 | 0.2353% |
| Straight | 6:1 | 1:1 | 3.2579% |
| Flush | 3:1 | None | 4.9593% |
| Pair | 1:1 | None | 16.9412% |
| High Card | No payout | None | 74.3891% |
Frequencies are based on a randomly dealt three-card hand. Ante and Play bets are settled against the dealer separately from these bonuses.
Three Card Poker Strategy and Tips
Use the Queen, Six, Four threshold
Play with Queen, Six, Four or better, and fold weaker hands. When comparing high-card hands, check the highest card first, then the second and third.
Judge the Ante and Play bets together
Choosing Play means adding a bet equal to your Ante. Make that decision based on your three cards, not on whether you placed the optional Pair Plus bet.
Understand Pair Plus
Pair Plus pays for a Pair or better in your own hand. It is settled separately even if you fold or lose to the dealer. Check its paytable before deciding whether to place it.
Remember the unusual ranking
A Straight beats a Flush in Three Card Poker. A Straight Flush is the highest hand, followed by Three of a Kind.
Check the Ante Bonus
A Straight or better earns an Ante Bonus even if the dealer does not qualify or wins the hand. The bonus does not change the standard Queen, Six, Four Play decision.
Three Card Poker FAQs
Why does a straight beat a flush in Three Card Poker?
With only three cards, a straight is harder to make than a flush. The hand rankings reflect that difference, placing a straight above a flush.
What is the highest possible hand?
A straight flush is the highest hand. It has three consecutive cards of the same suit and ranks above three of a kind.
What is the basic strategy for deciding whether to play or fold?
A commonly used rule is to place the Play bet with Queen, Six, Four or better and fold weaker hands. This includes stronger high-card hands and all pairs or better.
How is Three Card Poker different from Four Card Poker?
In Three Card Poker, the dealer needs Queen-high or better to qualify, the Play bet equals the Ante, and exact ties push. In Four Card Poker, the dealer always plays, you can raise one to three times the Ante, and exact ties go to the player. The hand rankings also differ.