Three-card poker has risen in popularity since it is one of the most exciting variations of poker games in online Singapore casinos. The game can be played with a 52-card deck, and there are three ways of playing the 3 card poker game. However, beginners often struggle to understand how to play three card poker since there are four ways of winning the game.

When it comes to three-card poker, a player places a bet against a dealer. Players sometimes bet on the three-card value they hold in their hands. Besides, some players even prefer to bet against the dealer and the value they are holding in their hands. The game’s main objective is to get a three-card poker hand value greater than the dealer’s.

On that note, playing three-card poker for the first time can be a bit challenging if you don’t have any prior knowledge. As such, we at ASAA88 have put together this blog to help you learn how to play three card poker like a pro. So, let’s look at how to play three card poker in online casinos!

What Is 3 Card Poker In Casino

play 3 card poker online

3 card poker is a casino variant of poker which was first created in 1994 by Derek Webb. The same person later on patented it in the year 1997. The main object of Webb was to invent a version of poker that could keep up with the speed of other table games.

As such, 3-card poker utilizes the player-dealer position to ensure that the speed matches the other table game. Players play against each other, aiming to collect all winnings and make the others lose. In addition, players that lose the wager must pay according to the full amount covered in the wager.

How To Play Three Card Poker

After you have taken your seat at the 3 card poker table, the casino will ask you to make a first bet. Normally, you will find an ante bet box sitting ideally in front of you. You can place your bet chips inside the box. In fact, you will be allowed to place any bet as long as it falls within the table stakes of minimum and maximum bet.

Once you and the other players have placed their bets, the dealer will deal every player with three cards. These three cards are the only cards you get during the game. The players must decide whether to discard the three cards or place them for the Play bet.

If a player has decided to place a play bet, they must ensure that the Ante bet matches to the fullest. This is double the total bet. Also, players should be ready to bet the whole amount when they start their hands.

After placing the bets, the dealer turns over their cards, and every player’s hand is compared. The winning hand receives double the money for their play bet and ante bet if the dealer has the least Queen high hand.

In the subsequent section, we will learn about the requirements and objectives of 3 card casino poker, followed by the rules and variations of the game. Also Read Seven Card Stud Poker Rules and Variations

3-Card Poker Requirements

Regarding live casinos, 3-card poker table is played with 52 cards and betting chips. Most of the main work is done by the automatic shuffling machine. On one side, it shuffles the deck, while on the other, it ensures smooth gameplay.

Nowadays, online three-card poker has virtual representations of chips and cards used for the game. In addition, the interface also provides a credit meter which allows the players to see the amount of wagering available to them. Similarly, certain casinos provide video streaming of a live dealer while playing online 3-card poker.

3-Card Poker Objective

If you are wondering how to play three card poker, you don’t have to worry much since the game is really simple. The player needs to make sure they can play the best three-card poker hand in the game.

In fact, the players don’t need to draw or exchange cards, which occurs in Blackjack. As such, they mostly need to focus on the cards initially drawn. This makes 3-card poker a “stud” based game rather than a “draw” based game.

Every player tries to aim and achieve two objectives which are as follows:

  • Make a pair or something better
  • Have a hand that can outrank the dealer

3 Card Poker Rules In Casino

3 card poker strategy

1. Betting:

There are two main betting options in three-card poker which are as follows:

  • Pair Plus: In this betting option, the player aims to make a hand of pair or better with their hand. The dealer’s hand doesn’t play an important role in this bet.
  • Ante Play: Players need to wager their hand against the dealers and ensure they have a high-ranking poker hand.
  • Note: Always remember that the requirements can differ from one casino to another. For instance, some casinos might require placing an ante bet if you want to play a hand. In this case, the Play Plus bet is an optional choice for the player, which can be discarded. In contrast, some casinos allow players to choose between Pair Plus or Ante bet.

2. Dealing:

In this stage, three cards are dealt face-down and provided to each player in their hand, along with the dealer. This is similar to Blackjack since the players aim to bet dealer by using an “ante-play” betting option. As such, it doesn’t matter what the other players have in their hands as long as your hand combination is greater than the dealer’s hand.

3. Playing Action:

Once the players have received their cards, they must act on their turn. The players can either discard the cards they are holding in their hands or “play” their hands.

  • If the player decides to discard their hand for that particular round, the dealer will automatically win the initial player’s ante.
  • On the contrary, if the player decides to play, they must put forward a “Play” bet. The players should always ensure that the play bet amount matches the ante value that the player initially placed. Chips are usually played after the player has arranged their hand sequentially and placed their card face-down in the marked area.
  • After the player has clicked or touched an online casino icon that allows them to place a play bet, the credit will be automatically deducted from their meter.

4. Winning:

The next stage in this card game the dealers reveal the player’s card and their cards. When it comes to the online version, this stage is done automatically after the players have completed their fold or play decisions. Everyone’s hands are compared, and appropriate money is allotted and paid out to the winners:

  • For instance, a dealer has a Queen-high Card hand or better, and their hand “play” is compared with the player’s hand to compare their ranking. If the player has a better hand, they will win the amount equivalent to their play bets and ante. However, if the dealer win’s the game, the player’s money is collected according to the betting action.
  • In the second example, let’s assume that the dealer has a Jack-high High Card hand or something worse. As such, the dealer is not qualified to play that hand. Nevertheless, the players that still have a hand will win an amount equivalent to the “ante” bet, but they will need to push a “play” bet. In the end, they need to collect the chips originally in the play and forget about winning any additional amount from the wager.
  • If suppose the dealer’s hand is better than the player’s, the player will automatically win the ante as long as the dealer doesn’t qualify. Moreover, they can “push” the play wager and try to get their chips back once the hand has been played.

5. Three Card Poker Payouts:

3 card poker tips

Normally, an online Malaysia casino or online casino in Singapore offers Ante Bonus payouts as long as the players place a very strong hand. In fact, any payouts on the better or straight are a part of the ante-play section of the game. Hence, they don’t require any further wagering.

The Ante Bonus payouts will look similar to this, but they are subjected to different payout structures:

  • Straight payout: 1 to 1
  • Three-of-a-kind: Can have 2 to 1, 3 to 1 or 4 to 1.
  • Straight Flush: Can have 3 to 1, 4 to 1 or 5 to 1
  • The straight flush, a 5 to 1, is the most common play table. Similarly, 4-1 on three-of-a-kind and 1-1 on straights are quite popular and commonly used by everyone. However, you shouldn’t be surprised if you notice reduced payouts during the game.

3-Card Poker Rankings

how to play 3 card poker

Ranking in three-card poker is very simple. You need to ensure that you have the highest-poker-ranked cards in your hand. Here is a list of all the ranking card combinations from the highest to the lowest:

  • Straight Flush: Three cards with consecutive values that belong to the same suit. Example: Kc-Qc-Jc
  • 3-of-a-kind: The three cards must have equal values. Example: 9-9-9
  • Straights: Three cards having consecutive values. Example: 4-5-6
  • Flush: The three cards belong to the same suit but have different values. Example: 3h-8h-Qh
  • Pair: When two cards match of equal value.
  • High Card: This card combination is when non-paired cards have no matching suits or consecutive orders between themselves. Example: 5d-7s-Ac

Conclusion

Now that we have covered the various topics on how to play three card poker, we have developed a basic understanding of the game. One of the easiest ways to win the game is by understanding the basic strategies and concepts related to the game.

Ultimately, your chance of winning the game will depend on how you use the strategies efficiently. In fact, three-card poker rules are pretty easy to learn and master. However, there is no particular strategy for winning every game. Either place good bets and win every game or lose a lot of money.

Nevertheless, practice and thorough research will increase your odds of winning a bet every time. You can take some time to practice a few games on our ASAA88 site if you want to learn how to play three card poker like a pro. That said, we hope you enjoy the game and have a pleasurable time ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions On How To Play Three Card Poker

1. Can You Play 3 Card Poker Online?

Yes! Nowadays, many online Malaysia casinos and Singapore casinos offer online versions of 3-card poker for players. The main objective of online 3-card poker casino is to beat the dealer’s hand with a greater value than theirs.
Players start off by placing an ante bet along with a side bet, such as a six-card bonus or pair-plus bet. If you have signed up for the game, you can easily change the value of the bet but using the chip display. This display will only show the denomination that is present in your current balance.
After you have placed your first three-card bet, the game will offer you a couple of options. For instance, the double button allows the players to double all their bets to the maximum limit. Similarly, the repeat button lets players repeat all the bets from the previous round.

2. What Is The Best Hand In 3-Card Poker?

When it comes to 3-card poker, a player’s best hand is a straight flush since it is the highest-ranking hand combination. While playing this hand combination, the three cards must be sequential and have the same suit. For instance, J, Q, and K of hearts or 2,3,4 of Spade are good examples of straight flush hand combinations.
Alternatively, you can use a “Three of A Kind” hand combination since it ranks second from the best hand combination. If you want to play this hand combination, you need to ensure that the three cards are of the same number, but they belong to different suits. For example, you can have three As from different suits like hearts, diamonds and clubs or three Ks from diamonds, spades and hearts.

3. What Are The Odds Of Winning 3 Card Poker?

If you compare 3-card poker with other casino poker games, you will notice that the house has quite a substantial edge in the game. For example, online casinos hold an advantage of 3.37% in Ante and Play Bets. This is significantly higher than a game such as a blackjack.
On the other hand, the house has an advantage of 2.32 % in the Pair Plus bet, which is lower than the basic bets. This becomes an interesting prospect for any player participating in the game.
Players and dealers have an equal chance of achieving the winning hand. However, the Play bet is only paid out if the dealer has a Queen high. This resulted in the house having most of the edge in 3-card poker. Most of the time, the players might find themselves with a hand that doesn’t contain a flush, straight or any pair.

4. Should I Bet Pair Plus In 3-Card Poker?

Most players prefer to bet a Pair Plus since it has a house edge of only 2.32%, which is extremely low. Only a few casino bets can come close to offering such a low house advantage. This is the main reason why most three-card pokers players prefer to place a Pair Plus Wager.
On the other hand, an ante bet has a house edge advantage of 3.37%. As such, players find this a bad bet compared to Pair Plus. However, Ante bets are better wagers since they account for the “element of risk.”
The element of risk is the total percentage of average bets that a house can win. This way, the element of risk takes care of not only the initial bets but also the subsequential wagers. On that note, playing Pair Plus in every bet may not be the best option since it has a high element of risk compared to the Ante bet.

5. What is Six Card Bonus In Three Card Poker?

A six-card bonus in three-card poker is a type of three-card game popular in Singapore casinos but comes with a twist. In this game variation, the players can combine their three cards with the dealer’s three-card to form a six-card bonus hand combination.
Depending on the type of hand combination a player forms, they will receive different payouts, increasing or decreasing their chance of winning.

Cathrine Tan

Cathrine is a professional content writer and has more than 5 years of experience in this industry. Her works have been published in a few magazines in China and she has partnered with multiple businesses with content writing .

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