How To Play 3 Card Poker

If you're hanging out in the casino and you're tired of playing the same old games like blackjack and craps, then you need to learn how to play three card poker. In three card poker both the dealer and the player get dealt three cards that they can use to make a poker hand. Since there are only three cards, the hands end up being slightly different than regular poker hands. From worst to best the hands are high card, pair, flush, straight, three of a kind and straight flush. There are a few rules that slant the game in the house's favor, but with proper strategy the house edge in the game is around 3.5 percent, which isn't too bad at all.

1. Place your ante bet on the table. Make sure that you check the table minimum and at least bet that much. Plus you need to have double your ante in available funds in order to play. So if you want to bet $10, you need another $10 ready since you might need it later.
2. Look at your hand as it is dealt. The dealer will deal your three cards face up, and his face down.
3. Decide if you want to play or fold. If you want to play, you need to put down another bet equal to your ante bet, called a play bet. If you play, you will have to compare your hand to the dealer's, if you fold you lose your ante bet and the game is over for you. Most players will choose to play if their hand is queen high or better, and fold otherwise.
4. See if the dealer qualifies. The dealer will turn over his cards and one of two things will happen. If the dealer's hand is less than queen high, meaning it would be a jack high or worse, then the hand does not qualify and your play bet is returned to you and you win even money on your ante bet. This happens regardless of your poker hand. If the dealer's hand is queen high or better, then you have to compare your hand to the dealers. If your hand is worse, you lose both bets, if it is better, you win even money on both bets.
5. Collect your bonus, if applicable. If your hand is a straight, three of a kind, or straight flush, you will win some money regardless of the value of the dealer's hand.
6. Play the pair plus bet if you want a little more action. The pair plus bet is made at the same time as your ante bet, but it is really a side game. If your hand is a pair or better, you will win money based on a pay chart located on the table. You will win or lose the pair plus regardless of the dealer's hand.