It is easy and fun to play Three Card Poker because both the dealer and the players will be dealing three cards. However, does this game have good odds? Together let’s find out about the Three card poker house edge, rules, and the right strategy to increase your odds of winning.
What is the 3-Card Poker game?
Three Card Poker is a Singapore online casino poker game that is based on traditional player vs. player poker. However, instead of competing against other players, they are playing against the house.
This Singapore online casino card game is very simple to play as it uses a regular 52-card deck. The goal is to beat the dealer’s three-card poker hand with your three-card poker hand. You begin by placing an Ante wager. Before the dealer’s hand is revealed, you can either surrender your three-card hand and make an Ante wager or make a Play bet equal to your Ante bet. You win both of your bets if you win. In addition, the Ante and Play bets both payout at even money (1:1). Almost everywhere, including Singapore, the game is played in this manner.
How to play Three Card Poker: The Rules of the Game
- All players can wager on the Ante and/or Pairplus bet.
- Then, the dealer deals three cards to each player as well as himself. The player has the option of looking at his or her cards. Meanwhile, the dealer’s cards are dealt facing down.
- If the player chooses to place the Ante bet, then he must either raise or fold.
- In case the player folds, he then forfeits his Ante bet.
- Otherwise, he must place an additional Play bet. In addition, the amount of his Play bet should be exactly equal to his Ante bet.
- After all the player places their side bet, the dealer will then turn over his cards.
- To qualify, the dealer must have a Queen high or better.
- In case the dealer fails to qualify, the players will compare their hands to the dealer’s hands. Then again, the one with the higher hand will win.
- Moreover, the Ante and Play will both pay even money if the player has a better poker hand than the dealer. Otherwise, the dealer wins, while both the Ante and Play bet lose.
- Also, if the player and dealer’s hand results in a tie, the Ante and Play bets will become a push.
- Regardless of the value of the dealer’s hand, if the player placed the Ante bet and possesses a straight or higher one. Also, the player will get an Ante Bonus.
- Furthermore, the payout for the Pairplus bet is solely determined by the poker value of the player’s hand, as indicated in the Pairplus section below.
Hand Order and Odds in Three Card Poker
| Poker Hand | Odds | Combinations |
| Straight Flush | 0.002172 | 48 |
| Three of a kind | 0.002353 | 52 |
| Straight | 0.032579 | 720 |
| Flush | 0.049593 | 1096 |
| Pair | 0.169412 | 3744 |
| Ace High or Less | 0.743891 | 16440 |
Three Card Poker House Edge: Hand Comparison
Three Card Poker assigns a value to each hand based on a standard poker ranking system (strongest to weakest).
Straight Flush – This consists of three numerically adjacent cards of the same suit. If both the player and the dealer have a Straight Flush, the hand with the highest card wins.
3 of a Kind – It consists of three cards of matching rank. Meanwhile, when both the player and the dealer have three of a kind, the winning hand is the one with the highest rank.
Straight – This poker hand consists of three numerically adjacent cards, not minding the suit. When both the player and the dealer have a Straight, the winning hand is the one with the highest card.
Flush – It consists of three cards of the same suit. Then again, when both the player and the dealer have a Flush, the hand with the highest card wins.
Pair – This consists of two cards of the same rank plus a third unmatched card. Also, the hand with the highest third card (commonly known as a ‘Kicker’) wins when both the player and the dealer have a matched pair.
High Card – It consists of any three unmatched cards ranked as the highest card.
By the above table, if both the dealer and the player have hands of equal value, the hand is termed a push. In addition, the player’s stakes are refunded.
Three Card Poker House Edge: What to Expect?
Because of its favorable odds, three-card poker is one of the most profitable table games ever devised. Meanwhile, the odds might vary depending on the game as well as the prizes offered by different casinos. Therefore, the Three Card Poker house edge is typically relatively minimal (as low as 2.2 percent).
So, what is the house edge of 3-card poker?
Correct three-card poker strategy revolves around the player’s single decision point in each hand. Specifically, whether to place the play bet or fold and just lose their ante. This is an important aspect of the game.
Furthermore, the Three Card Poker house edge is partly since the player must act before the dealer when it comes to playing or folding in the basic game.
Consider how much simpler the game would be if the dealer took the lead and just folded his cards when he had a bad hand. This results in paying the player out on their ante bet regardless of their hand. So, when a player folds before putting a play wager, they are doing the same thing.
Isn’t it true that the play wager should always be placed?
Not exactly. Keep in mind that the dealer will only payout on both the ante and play bets if he has a Queen-high or better hand himself. If he has a worse hand, he will pay out the ante bet. However, the play bet will become a push. Also, the Three Card Poker house edge is 7.65% when using this raise on any strategy.
When should a hand be played and when should it be abandoned at the ante stage?
Isn’t it true that if the dealer only plays with Queen high or better, the playing field would be leveled if everyone followed the same strategy? This methodical technique is quite close to becoming the best strategy for the game. Moreover, the house edge is reduced to 3.45% using the “any queen will do” strategy. It’s not awful, but it might be better with a little more work.
In addition, while playing a queen-high hand, having a fair chance of defeating the dealer when he also has queen-high helps. Besides, not all queen-highs are made equal. Therefore, the Q-J-9 is significantly more powerful than the Q-3-2.
Yet, where do you draw the line?
Also, which Queens should be held and the play bet placed, and which should be folded entirely?
According to computer analysis of all potential three-card combinations held by the player, as well as all possible dealer hands, the critical cut-off hand is Q-6-4. Any hand worse than this is preferable to fold in the long term. Yet, any hand strong enough to post the play bet is advantageous.
In addition, it is worth noting that placing the play bet with Q-6-4 is still a negative expectation move. This also means that the player will lose money in the long term if they execute it. However, they will lose more if they fold their hand. Also, playing Q-6-4 or better decreases the house edge of Three Card Poker – but only slightly – to 3.37 percent.
House Edge of Three Card Poker and Other Casino Games
Besides, a 3.37% Three Card Poker house edge is by no means excessive but does not compare well with the 2.70% edge of Roulette for example. Furthermore, it is nothing near the house advantage of less than 1%. Besides, this is normal in most Blackjack versions when utilizing an optimal strategy.
On the other hand, this 3.37% house edge on 3 card poker refers to the proportion of the Ante bet that is lost when using optimum strategy.
Looking at the proportion of total money staked lost when playing the Q-6-4 method would be a more realistic comparison. So, when a player is handed a card other than Q-6-4, they merely wager their ante. In addition, every time they are dealt Q-6-4 or better they wager an extra amount on the play bet.
The ante bet is a random gamble. Yet, the play bet is dependent on the handheld’s quality. As a result, the odds might be great in the gambler’s favor when placing a play bet. Deciding to put a play bet or not decreases the Three card poker house edge to only 2.01% of the total money staked.
3 Card Poker Chart: The Pay Table
| Hand | Payout Table #1 | Payout Table #2 | Payout Table #3 | Payout Table #4 |
| Royal Flush | 1,000:1 | 1,000:1 | 1,000:1 | 1,000:1 |
| Straight Flush | 200:1 | 200:1 | 200:1 | 200:1 |
| Four of a Kind | 100:1 | 100:1 | 50:1 | 50:1 |
| Full House | 20:1 | 20:1 | 25:1 | 25:1 |
| Flush | 15:1 | 15:1 | 20:1 | 15:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 8:1 | 7:1 | 5:1 | 5:1 |
| Straight | 9:1 | 10:1 | 10:1 | 10:1 |
| Three Card Poker House Edge | 6.74% | 8.56% | 10.23% | 15.28% |
With only a 2.01 percent house margin on Ante bets, Three Card Poker’s basic game is quite fair to the players. A typical house advantage for side bets is 7.28 percent for the Pair Plus bet, which is the middle of the road for side bets.
Play Three Card Poker 6 Card Bonus Online at Live Casinos in Singapore
Three Card Poker does not require a chart or complicated technique to play well. If the player holds a Queen/Six/Four or better, they should play their hand and fold if they don’t. In addition, there’s no need to glance at the other cards if you have a King high or above. Also, compare your second-highest card to the ideal six for the second card if you have a Queen high. Moreover, play if it’s higher than a 6. Otherwise, compare the third card if it’s exactly a six.
If you simply play any Queen high or better, you won’t lose anything in terms of the house edge. So, playing any hand against the dealer carries significant risk and a significant loss. In addition, the Ante bet’s house edge rises to 7.65 percent. Playing Three Card Poker blind or with the play bet, regardless of the strength of your hand, is never recommended.
Three Card Poker FAQs:
In Three Card Poker, what is the 6 Card Bonus?
The “6 Card Bonus” is a side bet based on the player’s and dealer’s three cards forming the greatest five-card poker hand possible. In some casinos, the house edge for 6 card bonus is 15.28%.
What is the best online strategy to lower the Three Card Poker house edge?
There are various ways to acquire a genuine advantage in online Three Card Poker games. Generally, these entail promotions, bonuses, and comp point systems because the games will not reveal any extra information about the cards and shuffle after each hand. That is, as long as the game is running properly. It’s worth noting that online advantage play isn’t limited to Three Card Poker. In addition, the wagering requirements for players who want to play any table game have risen to the point where Three Card Poker is now frequently a poor decision.
What are the odds of playing Three Card Poker online?
The percentage chances for a player victory are 44.91 percent, 55.03 percent for a dealer win, and 0.06 percent for a tie. If the player finishes with a straight or better, an ante bonus may be awarded.
In 3 Card Poker, what does it mean to fold?
Upon folding, the hand is ended, and the dealer will receive the ante wager and pair plus stake from the player. During a play wager, the cards are turned over to see if the player’s hand is better than the dealer’s.
