THREE CARD
POKER
This games is growing
in popularity because it combines the best of Caribbean
Stud and Let It Ride. Your objective is to beat the dealer's
hand but, in this case, you have a three-card hand instead
of a five-card hand. You also have the option of a side
bet called Pair Plus, which is paid out independent of your
decision against the dealer, with a fixed bonus schedule,
similar to a slot machine. There are three types of bets,
including Pair Plus-the other two are Ante and Play. The
rules of play are described here. Note that in this games,
a three-card hand of three-of-a-kind beats a straight or
flush because three like cards are more difficult to get
than a three-card flush or straight. The house edge is a
little less than 2.5 percent.
Step 1. The players make their Pair Plus
and Ante bets. Either one or both bets may be made.
Step 2. The dealer deals three cards to
each player and himself. After you look at your three cards,
you must decide whether you wish to "play" the
hand or fold and take no further part in this hand. If you
fold, you lose your ante bet.
Step 3. To stay in the hand, you make a
bet in the Play box equal to your ante bet. Now you are
in the games and playing against the dealer.
Step 4. After all the players have made
their decisions, the dealer turns over his three cards and
determines whether he has a qualifying hand. If the dealer
does not have at least a queen-high or better hand, the
players win the ante bets and have their play bets returned.
If the dealer qualifies with queen-high or better, he settles
all the hands.
In a dealer-qualifying hand, if your hand is better than
the dealer's, you collect even money on the ante and play
bets. If not, you lose both bets. Note that even if you
lose both the ante and play bets with an inferior hand,
you do collect a bonus on the ante bet even with a losing
hand.
| Straight flush |
: 5 to 1 |
| Three-of-a-kind |
: 4 to 1 |
| Straight |
: 1 to 1 |
| Flush or lower |
: zero |
If you have made a
Pair Plus bet, you are paid according to the schedule in
Table 8. If your hand doesn't qualify for a bonus, you lose
the Pair Plus bet. Note that it has nothing to do with whether
you win or lose your ante and play bets. Also note the three-card
hierarchy: Three-of-a-kind is more difficult to get than
straights and flushes, and a straight is more difficult
to get than a flush.
| Straight
flush |
: 40 to 1 |
| Three- of-a-kind |
: 30 to 1 |
| Straight |
: 6 to 1 |
| Flush |
: 4 to 1 |
| Pair |
: 1 to 1 |
| All other hands |
: players loses |
Your decisions in
Three Card Poker are whether to make the Pair Plus bet,
how much to bet on Ante, and depending on your three cards,
whether to fold or make the Play bet.
Since there is no possibility of achieving an advantage
in this games, we recommend avoiding the Pair Plus bet until
you are comfortably ahead from the Ante and Play bets. Then,
with luck on your side, make a Pair Plus bet when you feel
lucky or have a hunch on that next hand.
As far as the Play bet is concerned, it seems logical that
you follow the dealer. If the dealer must have a queen-high
or better to qualify, you should, too. Therefore, fold your
hand if it's less than a queen high. Let the dealer have
the Ante bet and avoid the risk of losing that play bet
on an inferior hand.
