3 card poker is a very popular game at casinos because 3 card poker really has two different games in one.; you have the ante and the Pair Plus. You’ll often see that the 3 card poker tables are the loudest tables in the casino because the players are all cheering for each other to beat the dealer.
Players have the option to play both games or just the ante. Either way, you are dealt just three cards and you’re playing 3 card poker against the dealer and not the other players at the table.
As far as how you are paid on the Pair Plus, below shows the payout chart that most casinos offer:
- Straight flush pays 40 to 1
- Three of a kind pays 30 to 1
- Straight pays 6 to 1
- Flush pays 4 to 1
- Pair pays 1 to 1
With 3 card poker, the objective is to beat the dealer. If you beat the dealer and you bet on the Pair Plus, you’ll earn the bonus payouts as listed above. However, the dealer needs to have at least a queen to make his or hand to qualify in 3 card poker. Here’s what happens:
• If the dealer does not qualify: the Ante pays 1 to 1 (meaning, you get your bet back)
• If the dealer qualifies and you beat the dealer: You win what you bet on the Ante (meaning, you doubled your money)
• If the dealer qualifies and dealer has better cards than you: Then you lose your bet on both the Ante and Pair Plus.
• If the dealer qualifies and you tie the dealer: It’s a push.
3 card poker is both a game of luck and skill. You place your initial bet on the Ante and then look at your 3 cards. If you decide to bet, you have to double what you bet in the Ante and put it in the Pair Plus.
Many players only play if they have a queen or better. But it’s up to the players. Many other players play the odds and play 3 card poker blind, meaning that they don’t look at their cards. This adds additional excitement and fun to 3 card poker.
Susan Harper is an expert 3 card poker player and offers her secrets on her website, http://www.ThreeCardPokerSecrets.com