Three Card Poker is Fun and Easy

Three Card Poker is not only one of the most popular casino table games, but it's a lot of fun to play at home if you can get one of your friends or family members act as dealer. This game is easy to play, which contributes to much of its popularity. The game is just you competing against the dealer, and not against the other players. Playing with others can be a hoot because you all have the same agenda -- to beat the dealer! Three Card Poker is less intimidating to play than other casino table games, and is great for first time card table players.

The Basic Rules of Three Card Poker

Three Card Poker is played with a standard 52-card deck, and it is actually two games in one. Directly in front of each player are three circles. The top circle is for Pairs Plus, and the middle and bottom circles are for the Ante and Play respectively.

On the Ante bet, the player is betting against the dealer for the highest card. Pairs Plus is the bet that the player will get a pair or better, such as three of a kind. In some casinos, the Ante bet must be made in addition to the Pairs Plus bet at the required table minimum. The game starts with the player making a bet on Ante and/or Pairs Plus.

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After all the players (a limit of six) have made their bets, the dealer starts at his or her left in a clockwise motion and gives each player a three card hand, which is dealt either by hand or by a card-shuffling machine. The players then evaluate their hand and decide to hold or to play.  If they decide to play, bets  need to be placed on Play and Ante, or Play, Ante, and Pairs Plus. The dealer then turns over his or her hand, and starting at the left of the table, he dealer compares his hand to those of the players. Payout will be made for the highest card, pair, three of a kind, flush, straight, or royal flush. A pair always wins if Pairs Plus or Ante has been played; it always beats the dealer. Payouts vary from casino to casino and are posted at the tables. Of course, if you're playing at home, your "bets" could be all kinds of stuff -- like doing the dishes for a week or other household chores, betting pennies or whatever. 

Three Card Poker Strategies

The player must have a strategy to win at Three Card Poker in order to beat the dealer and lose as little money as possible. The play should only be made if the player has a queen or better on at least one card, and should have greater than a four and a six on the other two cards. If the player chooses to play with a lower hand, the odds are greater that he will lose against the dealer. If the player folds, he has lost his Play, Ante, and/or Pairs Plus bets. The player's bet is then removed from the table along with the three cards for that play, and the dealer then goes on to the next player to complete the cycle.

Persons of all skill levels can play three Card Poker; its simplicity makes it so fun to play, and the more the players the better. This table game will continue to gain popularity as the number of casinos offering table games increases across the country. Next time you and your family or friends are visiting a casino, or wanting to add a new card game to your family games, take the plunge and have the time of your life!

"Three Card Poker is Fun and Easy" contributed by Leslie Thompson