Three Card Poker (also known as Triple Card Poker) is the casino game lovechild of poker and blackjack. It’s one of the easiest casino games to learn, yet gives players all the fast-paced excitement and winning potential of perhaps more popular table games. In this guide, we’ll break down what Three Card Poker is all about, how to play, and where you can get started in Cloudbet’s casino lobby.
Contents
What is Three Card Poker?
Three Card Poker burst onto the scene in the early 1990s and quickly gained popularity in casinos across America. The casino table game was designed by gambling entrepreneur Paul Rubino to appeal to both poker and non-poker players – and succeeded! Rubino’s creation brought in droves of new gamblers over the past few decades, establishing Three Card Poker as a foundational game in modern casinos.
At its core, Triple Card Poker simplifies the mechanics of traditional poker, using only three cards per hand versus the 5-7 format. This variation means shorter play times and simpler decision-making strategies. Anyone who ever felt intimidated by a classic poker game now had the opportunity to play something easier and breezier with the three-card game.
The basic rules of Triple Card Poker
With some history under your belt, let’s jump into how Three Card Poker works. The objective is simple: make the best three-card hand and outplay the dealer. Here’s how it works:
- Start by placing an Ante bet – this is mandatory if you want to join the game.
- Once all the Ante bets are in, everyone – including the dealer – gets three cards, face down.
- From here, decide whether to fold (and lose your Ante) or place a Play bet equal to your Ante. Folding means you’re out of the game.
- The dealer then reveals their hand and compares it using standard poker rankings (see rankings below).
- If the dealer doesn’t have at least a Queen-high, they don’t qualify, and your Ante bet pays even money.
- If the dealer qualifies, then the best hand wins. The dealer takes the Ante/Play bets if they come out on top.
- There are optional bonus side bets that can also be made, independent of the outcome against the dealer (more on that later).
Three Card Poker hand rankings
Like traditional poker, Triple Card Poker hands are ranked based on certain combinations. Here is the full ranking order from best to worst in Triple Card Poker:
- Straight Flush: Three cards of the same suit in sequence (E.g., 10-J-Q of Hearts). In Triple Card Poker, the Mini Royal (A-K-Q of the same suit) is typically considered the highest-ranking hand within the straight flush category.
- Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank (E.g., 3-3-3)
- Straight: Three cards of consecutive rank but different suits (E.g., 4-5-6 of Mixed Suits)
- Flush: Three cards of the same suit but not in sequence (E.g., J-Q-K of Diamonds)
- Pair: Two cards of the same rank and one unmatched card (E.g., Q-Q-2)
- High Card: The highest card by rank wins between single high cards (E.g., A-3-7). The dealer qualifies if they have at least a Queen-high i.e., their highest card in the hand is a Queen, with no pairs or higher combinations.
Triple Card Poker strategy
Employing a basic strategy will maximize your chances against the house edge over many hands. Knowing when to fold versus continue is a core Three Card Poker skill.
To give yourself the best odds of winning at 3 Card Poker, follow these tips at a minimum:
- Only make the Play bet if you have a Queen-high or better. Fold all weaker hands to mitigate loss.
- Having an Ace in your hand might seem strong, but Ace-2-3 doesn’t form a pair, straight, or flush – which are stronger hands. Be wary of making the Play bet with a hand like this because it has poor odds of staying ahead of the dealer.
- Consider the Play bet if holding a hand like King-Queen-Jack as it has over a 50% chance of winning.
- Always make the Ante bet as it offers breakeven odds, even if you fold afterwards.
- The Pair Plus side bet (discussed later) should nearly always be made as it has great payout odds.
- Don’t just focus on your hand; watch other players and learn to spot strong/weak rankings that might hint at the dealer’s outcome.
And, as with any casino game, pace your bets and know when to walk away with a profit instead of chasing losses.
Three Card Poker payouts
There are two core bet types in Three Card Poker – the Ante bet and the optional Play bet. Additionally, there are side bets players can make for even more winning chances. Knowing the payout odds will help you weigh risk/reward and decide which bets offer the better house edge. Maximize your profits over many hands by recognizing where that edge truly lies.
Let’s take a look at some of these bets:
Ante bet
- Pays even money if the dealer does not qualify with a Queen-high or better
- Won/lost based on who has the stronger 3 card hand if dealer qualifies
To win your ante bet, your three card poker hand needs to be higher than the dealer’s hand. There are two ways of winning an Ante-play showdown:
You can win without even showing your hand to the dealer. This happens when the dealer is not qualified to play against you as he or she does not hold a queen-high or better. If the dealer does not qualify to play, you will receive 1:1 on your ante and your play bet is returned.
You can win if the dealer qualifies and your hand is better than theirs.
Play bet
- Play bet pushes (tie) if hand ties dealer
- Won/lost based on who has the stronger 3-card hand
Bonus payouts on Ante/Play bets
There is also a bonus payout where you can win more. This is when you have strong hands in general – with no relation to the dealer’s cards – with the following card combinations:
- Straight Flush: 5 to 1
- Three of a Kind: 4 to 1
- Straight: 1 to 1
If you hold any of the above, you will be paid a bonus even if you don’t beat the dealer.
Pair Plus Side Bet
Unsurprisingly, a Pair-or-better bet is based on whether your hand is comprised of a pair or higher. The dealer’s cards are irrelevant which means it they don’t even need to qualify to play against you or even have to beat you in order for you to win.
If your hand of three cards has a pair or a better combo then you win. If you do not hold or pair or better, you lose. It’s that simple. This is how much you will win depending on what you cards you have on your hand:
- Straight Flush: 40 to 1
- Three of a Kind: 30 to 1
- Straight: 6 to 1
- Flush: 4 to 1
- Pair: 1 to 1
If you do not have at least one pair, you lose – but you can still win your Ante bet if your cards end up being higher than the dealer’s. Remember that the Pair-or-better feature is available on top as an extra, giving you an extra chance for an even bigger win!
Mastering Three Card Poker
Ready to become a Three Card Poker pro?
By combining solid strategy, smart bankroll management, and continuous learning, you’ll be well on your way to long-term success in Triple Card Poker. Conquer those tables on Cloudbet, and enjoy the smoothest gaming experience online.
Want to learn about the other casino games at our live bitcoin casino? Check out our guides on:
