Three Card Poker (or Tri Card Poker) :
  THREE CARD POKER EASY STRATEGY

THREE CARD POKER EASY STRATEGY FOR ONLINE OR ON-LAND CASINOS

Three Card Poker is a fast-moving game that combines some of the best parts of Caribbean Stud and Let It Ride poker. Three Card Poker is similar to five card stud poker except that you get only three cards and play against the dealer's hand, rather than against other players.

Three Card Poker is easy to learn and the playing strategy, for online or on-land casinos, is very simple. All Three Card Poker winning hands are based on variations of standard poker hands. There are no wild cards.

When the round begins, you may put up an initial ante wager and/or place a side bet in the Pair Plus circle. The dealer or online casino software then deals three cards to both the player and the dealer. There are no draws or community cards, so the three card hand you are dealt is all you have to work with.

The only decision you have to make in Three Card Poker is whether your hand is likely to beat the dealer. If you like your cards, you may place an additional wager equal to the first one to stay in the round. If you think your hand is a loser, the best move is to fold your hand and lose the ante.

If your hand is a winner, and the dealer has a qualifying hand (more on that below), you will be paid even money. If you have a straight or better, you will also collect a bonus. If you placed the Pair Plus side bet, you will also win a bonus on that bet for a pair or better, regardless of whether or not you beat the dealer. These bonus payouts can be worth a lot in Three Card Poker.

How to Bet at Three Card Poker

There are three betting spaces. The circle nearest the dealer, marked PAIR PLUS, is where the Pair Plus side bet may be placed. The center space, marked ANTE, is where the basic bet on your hand is placed. You may place both the Pair Plus and Ante bet, or just one or the other, whichever you prefer.

The third space on the layout, nearest the player, is marked PLAY. This is where to put the second bet if, after viewing your hand, you decide to continue playing.

For the Pair Plus bet, the dealer does not have to qualify. Also, you do not have to beat the dealer's hand to win a bet on the Pair Plus. All you have to do to win this bet is get a pair or better and you will be paid according to the Pair Plus paytable.

After you make all your betting decisions, the dealer's cards will be turned over for you to see. Then you are paid according to the proper paytable for your bets and according to whether or not the dealer qualified.

How the Dealer's Hand Qualifies

To qualify, the dealer's hand must contain at least a queen. The lowest dealer qualifying hand is Q-3-2. You can expect the dealer to qualify roughly 44% of the time.

When the dealer has a qualifying hand, the game proceeds in normal manner. That is, you have to beat the dealer's hand to win both the Ante and Play bets (at even money). If your hand is a straight or better, you are also paid the Ante bonus. If the dealer's hand beats yours, you lose both the Ante and the Play wagers. But if your hand is good enough, you still win the Ante bonus. You neither win nor lose on ties.

When the dealer's hand does not qualify, the dealer folds and pays even money on just the Ante bet. The Play bet is returned to you and the Ante bonus still pays off.

In either case, if you made a Pair Plus bet you will be paid according to the Pair Plus bonus paytable.

The Payoff Tables

The Ante Bonus:  The Ante bonus is paid even if the dealer beats your hand. The Ante bonus is also paid if the dealer does not qualify, which is an improvement over Caribbean Stud. If your hand is a straight or better, you are paid a bonus on your ante wager in accordance with the following chart:

Note: The house edge on the Ante bonus, with the paytable shown above, is 3.4%.

The Pair Plus Bonus:  The Pair Plus bet pays according to the paytable below, whether or not your hand beats the dealer hand. You may choose to place only the Pair Plus bet if you prefer. Anything less than a pair, and you lose the Pair Plus wager. (On average, you can expect to be dealt a pair or better about once every four hands.) If you are dealt a pair or better, you will be paid according to the following chart:

The house edge on the Pair Plus bet, with the paytable shown above, is 2.3%.

The Best Three Card Poker Strategy

The best Three Card Poker Strategy online is to place only the Pair Plus bet, which has the lower house edge of 2.3%.

If you'd like to play the Ante bet at Three Card Poker, call if you're dealt any hand containing a Q-6-4 or better. Otherwise fold. Three Card Poker is the kind of game where you will often lose a small amount in exchange for winning a big score less often.