How to Play 3 Card Poker
Exotic 3 Card Poker is an exciting but relatively new card game variation.
Derek Webb, a poker enthusiast from Britain and former Prime Table Games proprietor invented it in 1994 (protected by patent rights in 1997). Yet, it was first introduced at the Grand Casino Gulfport in Mississippi, USA. This information can be easily found on Wikipedia 🤓
Nowadays, one can find this format in many ground-based and online casinos. Gameplay is simple yet captivating and exhilarating, you will understand its rules and nuances in just a few hands.
However, it's advisable to acquaint yourself with the basic theory first, and we’re here to assist you with that. Let's get started!
Hierarchy of 3 Card Poker Hands
Combinations, their strength, and the number of elements in a set deviate from traditional poker disciplines. Here's what you can collect in the discussed game (hands are listed in descending order):
Combo | Explanation | Probability |
---|---|---|
Straight flush | Three consecutive cards, all belonging to the same suit. For example, Q♠K♠A♠. | 1 to 454 |
Three of a kind | 3 cards sharing the exact rank (7♠7♣7♥, Q♥Q♣Q♦ and so forth) | 1 to 416 |
Straight | Three off-suit elements in consecutive order, e.g. T♦J♣Q♥. | 1 to 30 |
Flush | Any 3 suited cards, for instance, 7♥ T♥ K♥. | 1 to 19 |
Pair | Two cards with identical values (for example, 4♠4♣, J♣J♥, K♥K♠, etc) + one random card. | 1 to 4.9 |
High card | No hand collected. Three elements are not connected in any way; the highest rank is taken into account. | 2.85 to 1 |
As you can see, straights are more powerful than flushes, while triplet comes over straight and flush. Ace is regarded as the lowest card to complete an A-2-3 straight.
Essential Guidelines of the Game
What are the rules for Three Card Poker? This format requires a very standard playing deck, which is composed of 52 pieces (without jokers). Similarly to Caribbean poker rules, here you also vie with a dealer. Only three cards are at the player’s disposal, as implied by the name. No shared board, and no possibility to exchange what you’re holding. It should also be pointed out that Ace serves as both high and low.
The number of boxes (seats) is limited, so no more than 6 people can play at one table. Being the only active gambler, you are allowed to take up several spots, that is to say, run multiple games simultaneously. In this case, your bet sizes can differ across each individual box.
This discipline basically combines two "matches", or rather, bets – Ante and Pair Plus. Everyone has the freedom to choose how they want to proceed: place ante only or take advantage of both bets (it's entirely up to them). Their sizes are typically identical, but some casinos have exceptions. Therefore, it is better to clarify all the specifics before joining the table.

Well, that depends on your personal preferences. Gameplay is largely different from familiar Texas Holdem, yet thrilling. This discipline, however, is usually presented in online casinos, and we haven't come across it on poker sites.
Three Card Poker Rules for Ante Game

A gambler makes a mandatory Ante bet, it works the same way as in traditional poker games.

Next, a dealer – either real or virtual – deals the player 3 cards face up and lays out their own set shirt up. We remind you that it's impossible to swap your hand if you are not satisfied with it.

Not it's time to evaluate your combo. Based on its strength, people must decide whether to continue fighting or give up and fold. If you believe that your set is strong enough, move forward and call. That is, bet an amount equal to the Ante.

If the game proceeds, the dealer flips their combination over and compares it with the players’ ones according to the hand hierarchy mentioned earlier.

We have a little tip on how to play three card poker and hold back from wasting money. If your combo is worse than Qx6x4x, it is better to fold it immediately.
How Winnings Are Paid Out
Ante game involves both standard and bonus rewards. Regular payouts directly depend on the gambler's and croupier's hands, as they are compared to determine the winning one. They are paid according to the following scheme:
- Dealer fails to qualify
That is, their combo doesn’t allow them to continue participating in the action. In this situation, ante is paid out 1:1, and play bet is refunded in full.
- Dealer qualifies, but their hand is inferior to that of the player
In this scenario, their cards meet the requirements to enter the game, but they are weaker than yours. Both regular bet and ante are granted 1:1.
- Dealer qualifies for the game and wins it
This outcome results in both of your bets being lost. Your opponent got a superior hand, which proved to be stronger than yours.
- Dealer qualifies, but there is a tie result
Both you and the croupier have hands of equal ranking, resulting in no winner. In this case, you receive all the money spent on bets back.

To qualify, a dealer must have a queen or higher. Otherwise, they automatically lose that hand.
Ante Bonus
This extra payout does not predicate upon your rival's holding at all. It is awarded in addition to the standard win if the player completes any of the following combinations:
Hand | Payout |
---|---|
Straight | 1 to 1 |
Three of a kind | 4 to 1 |
Straight flush | 5 to 1 |
Pair Plus Round: Specificities & Payouts
In fact, "Pair +" is a sort of a prop bet that the player will get at least a pair (any value) or better. Dealer's cards are not taken into account in this case and cannot affect hand outcome. When your combo is worse than a pair, the casino takes away your Pair Plus bet, and a new round begins. If you’re dealt a qualifying hand, gameplay follows the same steps as the above-mentioned ante variant.
Pair + paytable
Qualifying set | Payout |
---|---|
Pair | 1 to 1 |
Flush | 4 to 1 |
Straight | 5 to 1 |
Three of a kind | 30 to 1 |
Straight flush | 40 to 1 |
A Few Hand Examples to Consider
Let's consider a few hand examples to gain a clearer idea of the game as well as possible betting options. Putting theory into practice, so to speak.
Example #1
Having paid a $10 ante, a player received a frankly weak hand – 9♣7♣4♥. In such situations, it's best to fold immediately, and that's exactly what Hero did. They only lost 10 dollars (i.e. the mandatory bet).
Example #2
Hero placed two bets (ante and pair+), each amounting to $10. They were dealt 2♦2♠K♣, meaning that their pair plus bet played due to a pair of deuces. The player chooses to go ahead by betting $10. The dealer flips over their cards, which turn out to be weaker. Luck is on Hero's side, and their net winnings total $20 (pair + reward and standard prize money for a successful round).

If you find the gameplay boring and monotonous, try mixing it with some other format, for example, strip poker. This option is, of course, not suitable for online or regular casinos, but it can be an entertaining activity for home recreation (all participants must be consenting adults!).
Good Choices for Beginners and Amateurs

1. Players must be aged 18 and above to participate in this promotion.
2. Welcome Bonus and Honeymoon promotion for new players only over a limited period .
3. Welcome Bonus only available to new players that make an initial deposit. The minimum deposit necessary to obtain a matched bonus is $10, or if a player chooses the $100 in rewards the minimum deposit necessary is $20.
4. $50 Free Play offer made up of $52.50 in free All-In Or Fold SNG tickets from Welcome Bonus and $2.50 in free tickets from Daily Freebie.
5. Free tickets automatically credited to eligible players’ accounts over a six day period.
6. A 100% matched deposit bonus worth a maximum of $600 can be claimed by players selecting ‘Match Bonus’ when making their first deposit(s) over a limited period.
7. Bonus cash is released at a rate of $1 for every $5 paid in net rake/tournament fees.
GGPoker standard rules apply. Play responsibly. www.begambleaware.org.


The following are the terms and conditions of the "£20 Bonus Package Promotion" (the "Promotion") for www.888poker.com (the “Site”). The Promotion is organized by 888 UK Limited.
This Promotion is an ongoing Promotion, currently without an end date, we will provide reasonable notice of when the Promotion is to come to an end (the “Promotion Period”).
888poker may cancel, modify or suspend the promotion, and any of the bonuses or benefits offered hereunder, where required for security reasons, to comply with applicable law or regulation, due to abuse or otherwise where the promotion is not capable of being conducted as specified as a result of exceptional circumstances. Other than where necessary to prevent fraud or other similar unlawful behavior, any such modification, suspension or cancellation will not apply to you if you have already opted into the promotion, made a deposit in expectation of receipt of a bonus or other benefits offered, and/or commenced play in relation to the promotion, bonus or special offer prior to the date of the communication of the modification, suspension or cancellation.
No-one under the age of 18 may participate in the Promotion and the Promotion is only available to eligible members located in the UK.
You may be asked at any stage to provide us with a proof of age and/or identity.
You may only enter this Promotion once.
For security and verification purposes, we reserve the right to limit participation in this Promotion to: (i) one per household; (ii) one per computer terminal; or (iii) one per mobile device.
During their engagement period and for a period of 24 months thereafter, none of our officers, directors, employees, consultants or agents or any other company within our group of companies or our suppliers, vendors or white label partners are permitted to participate in the Promotion, nor is any supplier or vendor. This restriction also applies to relatives of such persons and for this purpose 'relative' means any of a spouse, partner, parent, child or sibling.
If you have a pending message on the Site’s cashier regarding your recent gaming activity, we reserve the right to revoke your eligibility to participate and/or continue to participate in this promotion. In such event, any bonus and/or other benefit which you have received and/or are eligible to receive under this promotion, shall be forfeited by you.
The Promotion is a new registration offer with the Site and completely replaces any similar registration offer with the Site.
All bonuses and promotional offers, and any winnings generated through the wagering of either of the aforesaid, will be cancelled at withdrawal if any of the applicable conditions have not been met in full.
You hereby agree to these terms and conditions which govern the Promotion, along with the "User Agreement" which includes but is not limited to the "Bonus Policy".
Withdrawing funds your deposit balance (otherwise known as “Transaction Balance” in our Withdrawal Policy) is available for withdrawal at any time. General withdrawal terms apply, for further info see our Withdrawal Policy.
In order to meet the applicable wagering requirement, no real money shall be deemed to contribute (in full or in part) to the wagering requirement, unless otherwise specified by us.
Available funds will always be used before Restricted Funds (to include Money transferred) and the balance of both will be displayed in your My Account
Promotion
You may only participate in the Promotion, if you have not previously registered with the Site. If you benefit from this Promotion you will not be eligible to benefit from any other first deposit bonus or first deposit offer with the Site. If you have benefited from another first deposit offer with the Site you are not eligible to benefit from this Promotion.
You may not combine this registration offer with any other type of registration offer provided by the Site.
In order to be eligible and receive the Tournament Tickets (as defined below) granted under the Promotion, during the Promotion Period: (i) you must either download the 888poker client on PC or mobile application or click ‘Instant Play’ on the English non-download version of the Site; (ii) open a new user account with the Site; and (iii) verify his/her e-mail address by clicking on a link within the e-mail body or by SMS to the phone number entered within 14 days of the Site sending the email to you, otherwise the bonus offer will expire and you shall forfeit the bonus offer.".
Under the terms of this Promotion, eligible players will be entitled to receive £20 worth bonus (granted in USD at equivalent value of USD 25 in accordance with the Exchange Rate as defined in the User Agreement referenced above) that will be given as Tournament Tickets, according to the following allocation: 50 tickets of $0.1buy-in and 20 tickets of $1 buy-in.
Once claimed, Tournament Tickets will be granted in batches as follows:
First batch worth $5 (10 tickets of $0.1buy-in and 4 tickets of $1buy in) will be granted following your fulfilment of point 3 above.
Second batch worth $10 (20 tickets of $0.1buy-in and 8 tickets of $1buy in) will be granted 3 days after the bonus was claimed.
Third batch worth $10 (20 tickets of $0.1buy-in and 8 tickets of $1buy in) will be granted 7 days after the bonus was claimed.
If you don’t use the Tournament Tickets granted under the Promotion within 24 hours of being credited to your account, such Tournament Tickets shall expire and you shall forfeit each of such Tournament Tickets.
Tournament Tickets
A Tournament Ticket possesses a fixed value and may only be used in tournaments that have a buy-in equal to that of the value of the Tournament Ticket. For the avoidance of doubt, Tournament Tickets may not be used as a buy-in for a tournament where the buy-in is less than the value of a Tournament Ticket.
A Tournament Ticket can’t be used by a player to re-buy chips or to add chips to his/her stack during a tournament.
Tournament Tickets may not be: (i) exchanged or converted into cash; (ii) joined together to create a higher value ticket; or (iii) transferred by a player to another player.
For further terms and conditions in relation to the use of Tournament Tickets, please see our Bonus Policy.


100% First Deposit Bonus
Make your first-ever real money deposit using the bonus code ‘STARS600’, and we will give you a 100% bonus up to $600. To claim the full value of the bonus, you can make up to three qualifying deposits in 60 days.
Alternatively, deposit using code ‘THIRTY’ and claim $30 of free play.
How the 100% First Deposit Bonus works
Once you’ve made your deposit, you need to earn redemption points by playing real money games. Unless stated otherwise, you will earn 5 redemption points for every USD $1 you pay in rake or tournament fees (6.5 points per £1, 4 points per CAD $1, or 5.5 points per EUR €1).
Every time you reach 180 redemption points we’ll credit your Stars Account with $10 cash. You have four months after each qualifying deposit to earn all the redemption points needed to release your bonus.
You may only take advantage of one of our first deposit offers, but may be eligible for further deposit bonuses open to existing players. You can view any bonuses you have, alongside information on expiry dates, redemption point requirements and more, under the ‘My Stars’ menu.
Please note that redemption points will not be earned at pot-limit or no-limit tables with blinds of $5/$10 or higher, 8-game tables with stakes of $20/$40 or higher, or other limit games with stakes of $20/$40 or higher.

Final Thoughts
Three-card poker has achieved popularity among those who appreciate non-traditional formats. There’s no need to fret over whether outs come, as you are dealt a complete hand from the start. To win, you need to beat only a dealer, and not 2-9 other opponents.
Bluffing plays a significant role in card games, but you won’t have to resort to it or other strategic techniques – almost everything here depends on lady luck. But, if you're yearning for the thrill of calling, raising, and beating opponents, you might find the variation of Short Deck Poker intriguing. This is a favourite format of Tom Dwan, an expert in identifying a worthy game.
FAQ
This game runs in the "gambler vs croupier" format where they both receive three cards. Multiple participants can play simultaneously (up to 6 people), but they cannot compete among themselves. Each individual’s combination is compared with the dealer's holding.
There are several types of bets: Ante, Bet, and Pair Plus. Once a player reviewed their combo, they have two choices: bet (amount is usually equal to the current Ante wager) or simply fold cards. Croupier, in turn, opens their set, followed by the winner determining. Payouts are calculated based on predetermined odds and bonus conditions.
The choice is yours, but this is definitely an interesting leisure option due to its straightforward rules. Besides, this discipline provides cash prizes for defeating a dealer as well as bonus rewards, which is a big plus and adds to its prestige.
Nevertheless, keep in mind that all types of poker where you play against casinos are gambling entertainment and carry the risk of losing money. All gamblers are therefore advised to approach such activities responsibly.
The rules of the game are inherently designed to give dealers a mathematical advantage. There is no shared board or opportunity to exchange cards, bluff, or employ other manoeuvres. You check your hand and then decide whether to call or fold, that’s all.
Developing an optimal strategy here is impossible, but some actions can help greatly reduce the house's (online or offline) edge.
For instance, choosing to continue only with a strong hand or cards that are not worse than Qx6x4x.