17 August 2022
< 1 minute to read
Three Card Poker is another classic poker variant like Texas Hold’em and Let It Ride at online casinos. In this game, players receive only three cards to beat the dealer’s three cards.
Before you play 3 Card Poker for real try it in demo mode. The top-rated gambling site to play 3 Card Poker for real money is Wild Casino.
Depositors who sign up get a deposit bonus of 250% up to $5,000. This bonus is exclusive to all players who sign up through Casinowhizz.com.
Note the house edge before you play because it may fluctuate. For instance, certain 3 Card Poker variants offer a 4:1 win ratio on a flush.
Another variant may pay 3:1 for the same hand but with a higher house edge. It’s unnecessary to download games or apps to play the casino game.
You can play 3 Card Poker to win money on your phone’s browser or for free. We’ve put together a table to compare the poker hands rankings of the ante bet and the two side bets. *See table below
| Player Hand | Bets | Bonuses | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ante | Play | Ante Bonus | Pair Plus Bonus | 6 Card Bonus | |
| House Not Qualifying | 1:1 | Push | |||
| Win | 1:1 | 1:1 | |||
| Draw | Push | Push | |||
| Royal Flush | – | – | 1000:1 | ||
| Mini Royal | – | 200:1 | – | ||
| Straight Flush | 5:1 | 40:1 | 200:1 | ||
| Four Of A Kind | – | – | 50:1 | ||
| Three Of A Kind | 4:1 | 30:1 | 5:1 | ||
| Full House | – | – | 25:1 | ||
| Straight | 1:1 | 6:1 | 10:1 | ||
| Flush | – | 3:1 | 20:1 | ||
| Pair | – | 1:1 | – | ||
In Three Card Poker, the payout structure for winning bets is as follows:
Basic Payout: If your hand beats the dealer’s qualifying hand (Queen high or better). You win even money (1:1) on the Ante bet.
Ante Bonus: You receive an additional bonus on the Ante bet for certain strong hands, regardless of the dealer’s hand:
| Type of Hand | Payout | Odds |
| Straight Flush or Higher | 5:1 | 0.2% |
| Three of a Kind | 4:1 | 0.2% |
| Straight | 1:1 | 3.3% |
When you place the bet, a pair automatically gets you a win. Any winning hand beyond that pays higher.
For example, a straight earns you 5 to 1, and a straight flush is 40 to 1 your initial bet. When you make the Pair Plus bet, a single pair brings in even money, and only specific poker hands compete.
A Mini Royal of the same suit (Ace, King, Queen) in the Pair Plus bet pays 40:1. Depending on the casino the payout can vary.
| Type of Hand | Payout | Odds |
| Royal Flush | 100:1 | 0.018% |
| Straight Flush | 40:1 | 0.021% |
| Three of a Kind | 30:1 | 0.023% |
| Straight | 5:1 | 3.2% |
| Flush | 4:1 | 4.9% |
| Pair | 1:1 | 16% |
The Play bet pays out even money (1:1) if your hand beats the dealer’s qualifying hand. If the dealer doesn’t qualify, the Play bet results in a push, with no win or loss.
In Three Card Poker, you can choose the 6 Card Bonus as an optional side bet. It involves the player’s and the dealer’s three-card hands, creating a six-card hand.
The goal is to form the best possible five-card poker hand using these six cards. The 6 Card Bonus offers significant payouts. It has a higher house edge of 8% or more, making it riskier than the main bets.
| Type of Hand | Payout | Odds |
| Mini Royal Flush | 1000:1 | 0.0009% |
| Straight Flush | 400:1 | 0.0081% |
| Four of a Kind | 300:1 | 0.07% |
| Full House | 20:1 | 0.8% |
| Flush | 15:1 | 1.01% |
| Straight | 10:1 | 1.7% |
| Three of a Kind | 7:1 | 3.5% |
The table below lists the best sites to play Three Card Poker for real money. If you’re a high roller, play Three Card Poker at online casinos that pay you fast.
A site with a quality VIP program goes a long way. The more money you spend the more perks you’ll earn. More perks also mean a higher VIP Status at the casino.
$5000 100% bonus to play on slots, table games and video poker, daily bonus comp points and huge competitions
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Play your hand when you have a Queen-6-4 or better. This strategy gives you the best chance of beating the dealer while minimizing losses over time.
While side bets like Pair Plus and the 6 Card Bonus offer big payouts, they have a higher house edge.
The house edge differs based on the type of bet placed. When you combine the Ante and Play bets, the overall house edge is around 3.37%.
The Pair Plus bet has a higher house edge of 7.28%, potentially the payout can be huge albeit riskier.
The odds of getting a high-ranking hand in Three Card Poker depend on the specific hand.
For example, the odds of receiving a Straight Flush are about 0.22%, and getting a Pair is 16.94%.
Understanding the odds helps you gauge the likelihood of winning each type of bet.
The Pair Plus offers high payouts because it has a higher house edge. The downside is that it can quickly drain your bankroll if you over-bet.
Fold if your hand is below the Q-6-4 threshold.
While the rules of Three Card Poker are the same, online play often moves faster. That’s because an automated dealer deals the cards, and you don’t have to wait for other players.
In land-based casinos, the social side of it makes it fun to play. However, the time between each hand is slightly longer than playing the game at online casinos.
Online Three Card Poker provides convenience, allowing you to play anytime and anywhere. You can also take advantage of bonuses and promotions you won’t find at land-based casinos.
Additionally, online games typically have lower minimum bets. That makes it more accessible for players with smaller budgets.
In this case, the player automatically wins equal money for the Ante bet. Once play starts, the payouts are 1:1 for a win.
This Ante bet pays 1:1 for a straight. However, the payouts increase to 5:1 for a straight flush.
The hand rankings of 3 Card Poker differ from other variations. A three-of-a-kind hand is one of the best.
In terms of hand rankings, the three-of-a-kind beats a flush and straight.
The game information like hand rankings, rules, and payouts is also readily available on-screen.
Side bets or bonus bets allow for even bigger wins per hand.
This is where the game gets exciting. The two side bets are the Pair Plus and 6-Card bets, which we explain below.
When you place this bet, a pair automatically gets you a win. Any winning hand beyond that pays higher.
For example, a straight earns you 5 to 1, and a straight flush is 40 to 1 your initial bet.
When you make the Pair Plus bet, a single pair brings in even money, and only specific poker hands compete.
These are the flush, straight, three-of-a-kind, straight flush, and mini royal.
The Mini Royal is an Ace, King, and Queen of the same suit carrying a massive win of 200:1.
The 6-Card Bonus is another separate wager after winning the ante bet.
You take your initial three cards plus the dealers’ three cards to make a new hand.
A full royal flush pays out an earth-shattering 1,000 to 1 bet. Not all 3-card Poker variants have the 6-card side bet option.
Three Card Poker combines strategy and chance, making it ideal for all players. You’ll enjoy its simple rules and fast-paced action. Focus on the Q-6-4 rule and use side bets with discretion.
What are the best casinos online to play Three Card Poker?
We list the top sites to play Three Card Poker in the above table. They offer generous deposit bonuses and ongoing promotions. More importantly, they offer fast payouts, have VIP programs, and their games are fair. They have licenses in Panama, Costa Rica, and Curacao. Some of them have sportsbooks, live casinos, esports, racing, and poker sections.
Is 3 Card Poker more popular than Blackjack?
Three Card Poker is a new casino game online if we compare it to the likes of roulette and blackjack. It’s extremely popular in land and online casinos and it’s easy to learn it. Though it offers bigger wins than blackjack, the game’s house edge is higher.
Is there a strategy I can use when I play Three Card Poker?
Yes, there is a strategy. When you have a hand that is lower than Q-6-4, fold. Any hand higher than that place your bets and play. Compare your highest card with the Queen, anything higher than that, play. If the Q is your highest card and your second card is higher than a 6, hit them hard. Always fold if none of your hands are Q or higher.
What is the best hand in Three Card poker?
A Mini-Royal Flush of A, K, and Q with a matching suit is the best hand. The chance of you getting it is once every 5,525 hands. A straight flush is the second most valuable and appears once in every 502 hands.
In Three Card Poker does a Straight beat a Flush?
The second most valuable hand in Three Card Poker is the Straight Flush. It beats a pair, three of a kind, straight and flush.
What is the 6 Card Bonus?
It’s an optional side that takes the best 5-card hand by combining the dealer’s and the player’s hand. The dealer will pay a bonus to the player if the best hand is three of a kind or better. It also carries an extreme house edge of 10.22% than the Pair Plus and the Ante Play bets.
What's the best casino game to play if you want to win?
Blackjack has a phenomenal RTP of 99% providing you use an optimal betting strategy. You can lose if you’re up against a smart dealer, and if your timing is wrong when you HIT. It’s easier to win with Three Card Poker since it has a HE of 97.99%. Plus, the dealer disappears from the scene if he has a Queen or lower.
What's the house edge of Three Card Poker?
The game has an edge to the house of 3.37% for the Ante bet. For the Pair Plus it is 4.49% and for the Six Cards bet it is 8.56%.
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