A Five Minute Crash Course in Three Card Poker

If you want to learn to play Three Card Poker on a very high level in about five minutes, then you’ve come to the place. There are a few sets of information that you need to know. First, you need to know the actual procedure of the game so that you know how to play. Second, you need to know the three-card poker rankings since they’re different than the five-card rankings. Third, you need to know how to play this game in terms of strategy and when to take each betting option. We’re going to cover all three of these topics for you here.

Here’s how this game works. You place an ante, and you’re dealt three cards. You use those three cards to decide if you want to play or fold. If you play, then you effectively double your bet size, and if you fold, then you lose your original bet and can start another hand. If the dealer doesn’t have at least queen high, then he doesn’t qualify to play, and you’ll win 1:1 on your ante and have your play bet returned to you. If the dealer does qualify, then you’ll compare hands. Winning will win 1:1 on the ante and the play bet. However, if you have at least a straight, then you’ll receive a bonus payout regardless of if you beat the dealer or not.

To understand this game as it’s being played, you’re going to need to know the three-card poker hands and the order they are ranked. First is high-card hands, and then comes pairs. The next best hand is a flush followed by a straight. Remember this because it’s a common mistake to assume a flush beats a straight when it actually doesn’t in this game. After a straight is three of a kind, and the only thing that beats three of a kind is a straight flush. You can also have a royal straight flush which is A-K-Q of the same suit.

Strategy in this game is all about knowing when to fold and when to play based on the strength of your hand. You need to fold if you have a worse hand than Q-6-4 high. If you have Q-6-3 high or lower, then you should fold. If you have Q-6-4 high or better, then you should play. It’s as simple as that when it comes to strategy in this game.