Three Card Poker

Nowadays, Three Card Poker is the quickest developing new casino game in the U.S.A. and Canada. Its growing popularity is associated with the simplicity of the game and very high payments as well. In many casinos Three Card Poker is the second top casino game (after Black Jack) taking into consideration the number of tables.

Three Card Poker consists of two separate games. And the player can bet Pair Plus as well as Ante-Play. As the name of the game suggests, the player`s aim is to get possibly the best set of three cards.

In Pair Plus you bet only the worth of your cards, it does not matter what kind of cards a croupier gets. You get three cards, the casino pays for the worth of those cards according to the below chart:

Straight Flush	40:1
Three of a Kind	30:1
Straight	6:1
Flush	4:1
Pair	1:1

If your cards are lower than a pair, you lose a bet.

Ante-Play is a game a bit like Caribbean poker. In this game, you play against croupier`s cards. At the start of the game you stake a starting bet-Ante. Next the croupier deals three cards each, for you and the casino. Then, you can make up your mind whether you want to give up (Fold) or be in the game adding a Play bet, equal to Ante. For example, you bet $1 on Ante, and if you think that your cards are high enough to beat the croupier`s card, you add $1 bet on Play.

Then, the croupier shows the cards. The casino is in the game (qualifies for the game) only when there are cards worthy at least "nothing" with a Queen as the highest card"* or higher (i.e. nothing with a Queen, nothing with a King or Ace, a pair, flush or straight etc.). If the croupier is not in the game, all the players are paid- those who did not give up earlier-only Ante bet. However, if the croupier qualifies for the game and you (the player) have higher cards than the croupier, the casino pays equal money for Ante and Bet.

*nothing (high card) with a Queen- i.e.: Q§, 7¨, 5§

Ante Bonus: This is an extra pay that the player gets for a higher card sets:

The player gets this payment no matter what croupier`s cards are like. For example: the player gets Ante Bonus payment for a straight (1:1), even though the croupier has i.e.: a higher straight or does not qualify for the game.

Ante-Play: According to optimum strategy, you should bet Play when you have in your hands at least "nothing" with a Queen, 6 and 4. If you have lower cards, you should give up (fold). This strategy decreases casinos predominance in this bet to 2.32%.

Pair Plus: There is no optimum strategy for Pair Plus because it is not possible for the player to make any decisions after this bet. Casino`s predominance in this bet equals 3.37%.