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Three-Card Poker Rules, Strategies And Winning Game Play

If you're looking for one of the best versions of online poker, then three-card poker should be your go-to game of choice. It's easy to learn, as well as quick. There are only two possible bets to make and you're playing against the dealer as opposed to the other players. If you're a poker beginner then the game is going to be great fun. But having said that, you might want to spend some time and effort increasing your winning chances by learning some useful three-card poker strategies.

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Learn to Play Three-Card Poker

Three-card stud is a poker variant that’s very easy to pick up. In fact, it’s a very easy game to play, and today we will show you the best jackpot winning strategies and gameplay methods to help increase your winning chances. Three-card poker is not just easy to learn, but it’s also a fun game, which is why it’s so popular around the world.

The gameplay is easy enough to master, but learning the basics and strategies is going to take both time and experience. We suggest you go to Bovada Casino to check out the gameplay. In spite of this, we thought that we’d have a look into the details. We’ll explain some of the poker rules of three-card poker, along with that bets, odds and playing strategies.

What Is Three-Card Poker?

Simply put, it’s the simplicity of the gameplay that sets three-card poker apart from the more common poker variance. At all times you will only have three cards. Also, it’s important to keep in mind that you’re playing against the dealer, not against the other players. You may well be sitting at the table with other players, but your main objective is to beat the dealer’s hand.

The game differs from blackjack in that with three-card poker, you can’t exchange or draw more cards. This means the whole game revolves solely around the cards you’ve been dealt. Also, keep in mind that the house edge is not paid from the prize money. It’s actually built into the game’s odds. You may find Caribbean stud poker quite similar. We think that the game is uncomplicated and it’s possible to create the right hand at the right time. This will give you a better chance to win the jackpot online.

How to Play Three-Card Poker?

As previously mentioned the aim of three-card poker is to have the best poker hand with the three cards you’re dealt. Before the dealer deals out the cards, you will need to make an ante bet or a pair plus wager.

The game will then continue as follows:

To start, you receive three cards face down. The dealer also gets the same.
You check your cards to decide your wagers which are equal to your ante wager.
If you wish you can simply fold. In this case, the game ends and the dealer will take your ante wager/and the pair plus wager.
You can place a play wager after turning over your cards to see if you beat the dealer.
If the dealer’s hand is Jack-high or worse, the play wager will be returned to you.

As for payouts, both the play wager and the ante bet payout at 1:10 if you have a hand that beats the dealer. Take note that the payouts might vary depending on the online casino you’re playing at. Also, some casinos may payout an ante bonus if you have the strongest hand.

You can find all the casino games at the Bovada Casino

Three-Card Poker Bets

Let’s have a look at some of the different bets available in more detail.

Ante Wager

This is the wager you make against the dealer before the game starts. In order to win it, you’ll need a better hand than the dealer.

Pair Plus Wager

You can look at this as a bonus feature that’s based on the three cards you have in front of you. In order to win this, you need to get a pair or better. Now, if you’re dealt a pair, you’ll get a payout. But keep in mind that any hands less than a pair means you will lose your bet.

Three-Card Poker Hand Ranking

The idea behind three-card poker is that you need to create the best poker hand possible according to the pay table. Happily, you’ll find the odds in three-card poker, as well as the hands, to be very easy to grasp. At Bovada Casino you can even play for free with their “free play” option, Ad all without having to spend a single cent. It’s a great means to practice. The main point to remember is that it’s not a card drawing game. To that end, the outcome depends entirely on the three cards you get at the beginning of each round. With this in mind, let’s have a look at the types of hands ranked from the highest to the lowest.

Straight Flush – Three cards in sequential order of the same suit. Ace is either high or low ( A-K-Q or 3-2-A). For example, a Straight Flush could be King, Queen, and Jack of Hearts. Ties are broken by the highest ranking card in hand, except the 3, which is used for a 3-2-A Straight Flush
Three of a Kind – This is a straightforward hand to collect, with three cards of the same rank
Straight – Three cards in sequential order of non-matching suits
Flush – Any three cards of the same suit, for example, 4-7-9 of Spades
Pair – Two cards of the same rank (e.g. two Queens) and the third card of a different rank
High Card – Cards that are not paired or do not have a consecutive order or matching suits

Now, if you have any other card combinations apart from the above, it means you don’t have a winning hand. One thing to keep in mind is trying not to compare the hands in online three-card poker to the game you might find at a regular poker table. This is because you find that straits outrank flushes online. Conversely, in your average Five-card poker hand, flushes always rank higher than straights.

Three-Card Poker Strategy

As with all poker jackpot games, you can utilise a set amount of strategy. Having said that, you can still have a good time, even if you have only a little experience. Below we’ve listed some of the optimal strategies for three-card poker:

Playing hands valued at Q-6-4 or better, including Pairs
Folding anything else
Making a Play Wager also includes any time you have a high Ace or King, regardless of how high your other two cards are and if your cards are Q-7 or better, regardless of your third card value.

If you have a hand lower than any of the above, the optimal strategy suggests that it’s better you fold. This is also true if you have a Jack or lower, and you should fold, irrespective of your other two cards’ value. Of course, if you see one of the dealer’s cards, then it’s possible to change your strategy on the fly.

The House Edge

The ante bet game in three-card poker will always give a house edge of around 2% of your total ante bet. In the long run, the same goes for play bets. But keep in mind that you won’t be making a play bet on every round. This means that the house edge goes up to 3.4% with its ante bet alone. Keep in mind that these percentages can vary considerably with their payouts on the ante bets. It’s also worth taking note that during this game of jackpot poker, there are few opportunities to move the mathematical edge in your direction.