Slots.lv Casino is the best three card poker online casino for United States players. The site not only offers quality slot gaming but also covers table games, including three card poker. At Slots.lv, the game of three card poker is found listed under Table Games and titled Tri Card Poker. There are two versions, a simple option with no table or extras, just three card poker game play; and a version similar to land.
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Let me ask you a question – Would you like to play 3-card poker online? Then you’re going to want to read this page. We’re going to show you which casinos you should join.
But what if you don’t know how to play? Don’t worry about that either. The truth is, this game is dead simple to learn. By the time you get a dozen rounds under your belt you’ll know exactly what you’re doing.
And that will happen fast. 3-card poker is a fast game. When I last played online I probably got through 50-ish hands in the span of a couple minutes.
So not only is it an easy game to learn, once you learn it you’ll never get bored of it. Especially online where you can play against a computer, which means you never have to wait for cards to be dealt or for slowpoke tablemates to make a decision.
(You’ll never be pressured to make a decision, either, which is great for beginners.) How does that sound? Well, before I get into how to play 3-card poker, lets first look at our picks for the best casinos.
A couple things to keep in mind –
- You won’t find many, if any 3-card poker variations. However, what you may find are 3-card poker games under different names. That includes three card and tri-card poker.
- The biggest difference from one casino to the next will be the payouts. I suggest you read our reviews to find the casinos with the best odds/payouts.
- If the casino lets you take the deposit bonus, just know that you’re going to have a hard time getting through the wager requirements.
That’s about it. Other than that just make sure the casino you choose is reputable and has banking options you can use.
How to Play 3-Card Poker
At first glance, 3-card poker might seem strange or unfamiliar if you have never played the game.
But it’s a simple game to learn. We’re going to walk you through it now.
So the premise is this – you want to make a better poker hand than the dealer. Simple, right?
Each hand begins with you making an ante bet. Your ante bet (online) can be as low as $1, while most live casinos have a required minimum bet amount of $5 or $10.
After placing your ante bet, you and the dealer are both dealt 3 cards. Your cards are dealt face up, while the dealer’s hand is dealt face down.
At this point, you have two options: to raise your ante or fold.
If you fold, you’ll forfeit your ante. The hand is over for you.
To raise your ante, you must bet an amount equal to it. So if your ante bet is $5 you must raise another $5. This is something you want to keep in mind before you make your ante bet.
After you raise the dealer will flip his hand over.
If your hand beats the dealer’s hand, your ante and raise are paid out based on the pay table listed on the game. If the dealer’s hand beats yours, you’ll lose both your ante and raise.
But that’s only if the dealer qualifies.
The dealer must have a queen-high hand or better to qualify. If the dealer’s hand does not qualify, your ante is paid out at 1:1 and your raise (if you made it) is given back to you (a push or tie).
This means that even if you have a 9 high hand but decide to raise and play it anyway, the dealer has to have a queen or better in order for you to lose your ante or raise. If the dealer only has jack high then you’ll still win the ante and push the raise.
That’s all there is to it.
The Pairs Plus Bet
3-card poker has an additional bet called Pair Plus. This is an optional bet you make at the same time you make your ante bet.
This bet can be any size (within the table limits). And it pays only when you make a pair or better.
Nothing else matters. Not even the dealer’s hand.
But none of that matters because we recommend you pass on this side bet. It doesn’t have very good odds (7+ percent).
Top 3-Card Poker Hand Rankings
When playing 3-card poker, it is important to understand what beats what, as there are a few differences in how hands are ranked playing this game compared to a traditional poker game. We listed the ranks below.
- Straight Flush (such as A23 of one suit, or 456 of one suit)
- 3 of a kind (such as JJJ)
- Straight – (such as 789 of different suits)
- Flush – (same cards of 1 suit, such as A 7 T of diamonds)
- Pair – (such as 884)
- High Card – (such as A 9 4 different suits)
Keep in mind that suits are not used to break any ties.
Final Thoughts
To play 3-card poker you simply compare your three cards versus the dealers and see who has the best hand. It is a fast game, with only two betting rounds and relatively straightforward decisions on each hand. You can play a lot of hands in a short period of time, making it one of the most entertaining and popular casino table games on the market today.
So jump on in, what are you waiting for?
Although Three Card Poker is a very simple game to play, there are some important rules that must be followed in order to qualify for bonuses or make further bets. One of the most basic rules is that every player must have a bet on the table to play. Players are not allowed to watch games for any period of time before making a bet. If you fail to place a bet during your first hand, you will be removed from the table and the game.
Learn The Rules For Online Play
Basic Considerations
Each game of Three Card Poker is played with a single, standard 52 card deck. One of the primary considerations to Three Card Poker is that it actually allows for the play of two simultaneous and different games. One form of the game is called the Play/Ante where players compete against the dealer to see who can have the highest score in their hand. At the same time, players can wager on the Pair Plus end of the game. Essentially, players make wagers that they will receive a pair or better when they are dealt cards.
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Many online casinos allow players to make wagers on both types of games at the same time during hands. Others allow for players to choose one or the other. In many casinos, the standard rule is that the player wishing to make a wager on the Pair Plus side of the game first wager on the Ante Bet.
Bonus on Ante
Some card combinations award Ante bettors a bonus regardless of how the game continues. They do not have to beat the dealer's hand to qualify for the bonus. In addition, players that qualify for the Ante bonus do not have to make an additional bet to keep playing as they normally would before seeing the dealer's cards. The specific payout ratio varies depending on the casino site that you play at but is typically within the same range as others.
If your hand contains a straight (normal or flush) or three cards of the same value, you will be paid the Ante bonus. A straight (normal) qualifies for an even money 1:1 payout. A straight (flush) qualifies for a 5:1 (sometimes 4:1) payout bonus. Three cards of the same face value will qualify for a 3:1 payout bonus.
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It is important to note that the payout bonus greatly influences the calculation of the house edge with the Ante/Play section of Three Card Poker. If the bonus payouts are listed as 5:4:1, the house edge is calculated as 3.4%. However, if the bonus payouts are listed as 4:3:1, the house edge is calculated as 6.8%.
Pair Plus Payouts
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Although a pair always pays even money to players that have made wagers in the Pair Plus field, there are other payout amounts that can be awarded to players that qualify. Although your hand is played in the entirely separate game against the dealer, the following payouts are calculated based on the cards that you are dealt in your hand:
Casino 4 Card Poker
- Two cards of the same face value: 1:1
- Three cards of the same suit: 4:1
- Three cards in sequential order without matching suit: 6:1
- Three cards of the same face value: 30:1
- Three cards of the same suit and in sequential order: 40:1
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