3 Card Poker Online Real Money. 3 Card Poker is the perfect online casino game to play live. The game is fast and the payout is great. At the listed casinos below you find either 3 card poker with Ezugi or Evolution Gaming. We like both variants a lot. Online 3-Card Poker Similar to the classic English card game of Brag, 3-Card Poker is a popular casino game where players take on the dealer. Where Caribbean Stud is played like poker, with the best 5-card poker hand winning, 3-card Poker is played with just three cards. The aim is to beat the dealer's hand. As you can see, our process is designed to cover every single aspect of the real money online three card poker experience. We start with the safety and security of the players, go through the real money 3-card poker games, and test every key action involved in the process. Learn To Win Poker. Setting realistic and achievable goals, poker theory. Analysis of the game using special software, individual or group training with a trainer (Cash; MTT; SnG), tilt tolerance.

1. Online Three Card Poker For Real Money
2. Live Three Card Poker Online
3. Three Card Poker online, free

Of all the casino table games based on poker hand rankings, 3 Card Poker is the most popular. This game combines simple strategy with a shot at some big pay outs for the best poker hands.

If you live in a state with regulated online casinos, you’ll be able to play Three Card Poker via desktops and mobile casino apps. Live dealer online casinos let you play a dealt game online. Software-based games are also available where you can play 3 Card Poker for free or with real money.

The key to the popularity of 3 Card Poker is the ‘Pair Plus’ side bet. Most players bet on the main hand (a requirement) and one or more optional side bets. In live casinos, you might find a side bet includes a big progressive jackpot for players lucky enough to hit a 6 card ‘Super’ Royal Flush.

This page gives you all you need to get started with 3 Card Poker whether you play online or in a brick and mortar casino. The rules and order of events in a hand of the game are covered directly below. After this, you’ll find detailed information on the side bets, house edge, strategy and the options for online play.

How to play 3 Card Poker

Each hand starts with the players placing bets. The only mandatory bet is the Ante. The minimum and maximum bet will vary. Online this can be as little as 50c, in live casinos a $5 minimum is more common. Players often combine their ante bet with one or more side-bets – these are covered in the section below.

After all the players have bet, each player and the dealer are dealt 3 cards face down.

Players examine their cards individually (without sharing what they have with the other players). You then decide whether to fold, which forfeits the ante bet, or raise. To continue with the hand (raise), you place an additional bet equal to the ante on the table in the square marked ‘Play’. Strategy for which option to choose is covered below.

After all the players have either folded or raised, the dealer will reveal his/her cards.

This game includes a dealer qualification rule. If the dealer does not have at least Queen high, his/her has not qualified. When this happens, the ante is paid at 1-to-1 and the Play bet is a push (the stake is returned).

If the dealer has a qualifying hand, then the value of that hand is compared to the value of the players hand to determine the winner. Standard poker hand rankings are used, with bonus payouts paid for a straight or better. Note that with 3 cards, a flush is easier to get than a straight, and so considered below this in the poker rankings. In the rare event of a tie, both the Ante and Play bets are returned.

Payout on Ante Bets

Here are the additional Ante bet pay outs:

• Straight: 1-to-1
• 3 of a Kind: 5-to-1
• Straight Flush: 5-to-1

Simple 3 Card Poker strategy and casino house edge

The math shows that the optimal strategy in 3-Card Poker is to play when you have Queen/6/4 or better, and to fold anything below this. You might notice that this strategy is very close to the dealer’s play – qualifying with Queen high. Some players choose to further simplify their strategy by mimicking the dealer and raising with any Queen regardless of the side cards.

While close, this does give the house a slightly bigger advantage in the long run.

• House Edge for Q/6/4: 3.24%
• House Edge for any Queen: 3.37%

As the side bets are completely independent from the main game, the pay tables for these bets will never influence your strategy.

Popular side bets in Three Card Poker games

For many players, a hand of Three Card Poker would not be complete without a bet on the ‘Pair Plus’ side bet. This bet is optional. It is also independent of the main game.

Pair Plus works by looking at your own three cards. If you have less than 1 pair, the bet is lost.

Pairs Plus Payouts

With hands of 1 pair or better, you’ll be paid according to the table below:

• Mini Royal (Ace / King / Queen of the same suit): 80-to-1
• Straight Flush: 40-to-1
• 3 of a Kind: 25-to-1
• Straight: 6-to-1
• Flush: 3-to-1
• Pair: 1-to-1

Note that you can find casinos with minor variations of this pay table. Some casinos do not offer a boosted prize for a mini-royal, instead increasing the prize for the flush.

The other popular side bet involves all 6 cards in your hand and the dealer’s hand. The best possible 5-card poker hand using a combination of these cards will qualify for the bonus. There are several variations under the generic title of 6-card bonus.

Some of these may include progressive jackpots. For example, Caesars Entertainment casinos have a linked progressive which pays on a 6-card ‘Super Royal’ in diamonds only.

Payouts for 6-card bonus

Typical payouts for 6-card bonuses are as follows:

• Royal Flush: 1000-to-1
• Straight Flush: 200-to-1
• 4 of a Kind: 5-to-1
• Full House: 25-to-1
• Flush: 15-to-1
• Straight: 10-to-1
• 3 of a Kind: 5-to-1

Any hand below 3 of a kind results in a loss. There are many side-bet variations. Some casinos add a (smaller) progressive element to the 3 card hands of individual players. Note that the side bets have a much bigger house edge than the main game. This can be as high as 15.28% in some 6-card bonus variations.

How to Play 3 Card Poker online

Regulation for online casinos is happening at the state level. The online casinos in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia will only work within state lines in each instance.

Big casino brands have partnered with local brick and mortar venues to create mobile apps as well as desktop casinos. Brands include 888 Casino, Golden Nugget and Sugarhouse.

You’ll be able to enjoy slots, video poker and table games via these casino apps. This includes 3-Card Poker, alongside blackjack, roulette, Ultimate Texas Hold’em and more.

There are two ways to enjoy 3 Card Poker online. First, you can play against casinos on software-based games. These are fast, include side-bets and can be enjoyed for micro-stakes starting at around 50c per hand.

You can also bet on the result of games streamed from a casino. Live dealer 3-Card Poker uses an overlay to bet, with a real dealer handling the cards in real time. Everyone bets on the same hand, with the hand being continued to its conclusion each time (for those people who did not fold).

This way of enjoying 3-Card Poker has social element. You can chat with the dealer and share messages with other players. Stakes are higher compared to the software-based games. You’ll have to stay focused on the game. If you time out (or disconnect) before making your decision, then your hand will be folded.

How to clear your bonus using 3 Card Poker

Most mobile casinos in the regulated states offer new players generous bonuses to sign up. These include no-deposit (free play) style bonuses, matched welcome bonus offers based on your first deposit – and many other promotions.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to play through your bonus a set number of times before any winnings can be withdrawn.

If you are playing slot machines, then all of your play counts towards ‘clearing’ your bonus. With table games including 3-Card Poker, the contribution towards bonus clearing is weighted. Some casinos will allow for 25% of your play to count, while others will offer 10% or under. Before you choose a casino bonus, checking the terms of each bonus for excluded games and weightings is always a sound strategy.

With free-play casino bonuses, you might find that only slots are permitted.

Other casino table games

Pros and cons: Live vs Online 3-Card Texas Hold’em

While both online and live casino table games have their place, there are distinct advantages to each. If you are lucky enough to live in a state with legal online casinos, the pros and cons are outlined below:

The pros and cons of playing 3-Card Poker online are as follows:

Pros

• No need to travel to a casino to enjoy the game
• Stakes are lower
• Live dealer games include a social element

Cons

• Only available in a handful of regulated states
• Disconnections or time outs (live dealer) mean your hand will be folded
• Game is not fully weighted for clearing casino bonuses

Live 3-Card Poker Casinos

The pros and cons of playing Live 3-Card Poker online are as follows:

Pros

• Enjoyable social settings
• Casinos often have progressive jackpot side bets
• Loyalty schemes with free-play/resort benefits

Cons

• Stakes are generally higher than online ($5 minimum is typical)
• You’ll need to travel to a casino
• Naturally slower pace of play

FAQ

Can you cheat at Three Card Poker?

While some forms of collusion are possible, these would be fraudulent and require marked cards or a casino dealer getting involved. Collusion among players would not result in a positive expectation for the game. If players developed a system to share their hands, several cards could be accounted for. This would increase or decrease the chances of the dealer having a good hand slightly – although not enough to win any money over time.

Marked cards or fraudulent collusion would be picked up by casino security as soon as losses from the table were significant. With the base strategy very simple, diversions from this would be very easy to spot.

How big a bankroll do I need for 3-Card Poker?

Compared to many casino table games (UTH, Mississippi Stud and Casino Hold’em for example) the natural variance of 3-Card poker is low. On most hands, you’ll be winning or losing single bets. There is also a low house edge, at least in the main game, of 3.27%.

20 times your ante bet is a common starting point for this game. This is enough to enjoy a session, with the possibility of upping your bets if you go on a hot streak.

Your total bankroll depends on how much you can afford to lose and how easily your gambling money can be topped up.

How does the house edge of 3 Card Poker compare?

Compared to other casino table games based on poker hand rankings, 3 Card Poker has a slightly higher house edge. This game has an easy strategy, which means new players can quickly realize the house edge. Compare this with blackjack, where small mistakes made by newer players can have large effect on the casino’s edge.

You should keep in mind that 3-Card Poker side bets have a big edge in favor of the house compared to the main game.

Three Card Poker House Edge vs. Other Table Games

Here is how 3-Card Poker’s house edge compares:

Online Three Card Poker For Real Money

• 3 Card Poker: 3.27%
• Blackjack: 0.5% to 3% (depends on the rules)
• Baccarat: 1.06% (if you play the ‘Player’ bet)
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em: 2.2% + 0.5% of any play bets
• Roulette: 2.7% / 5.26% (European / US wheel)
• Casino Hold’em: 2.16%

Is it legal to play 3-Card Poker online?

States determine their own laws for online casinos. In each state where these are legal, the casinos will only work within their borders. So far, PA, NJ, MI and WV have legal online casinos. There are many more states in various stages of introducing gambling online.

Outside of these states, you can enjoy limited casino table games and slots at ‘Sweepstakes Casinos’. 3-Card poker has not yet made it to any of these brands.

Final thoughts on 3 Card poker

Of all the casino games based on poker hand ranks, 3-Card Poker is the most popular. This game combines a straightforward strategy (play Q-6-4+/fold otherwise), with the chance of boosted payouts for big poker hands. The house edge, at just 3.27%, is reasonably low. It is harder to make mistakes in this game which could boost this edge in favor of the casino. Optional side bets are available, many of them with big progressive jackpots.

If you live in one of the regulated states, you can now enjoy free and real money 3 Card online. This can be played against software, or at live dealer online casinos – where you’ll bet on a dealt game streamed from a studio.

Three Card Poker, also called “Tri Card Poker,” is a gambling game that is loosely based on poker. In this game, the goal is to end up with a better three card poker hand than the dealer. If you accomplish that goal, you receive a payout based on the strength of your hand.

There are two different wagers you can place in this game. The primary wager is called the ante-and-play bet. In this one, you must end up with a higher hand than the dealer. The secondary wager is called the pair plus bet and that one pays you regardless of what the dealer has. You must simply end up with a pair or better to qualify for a payout.

One of the nice things about 3 Card Poker is that it’s not particularly competitive. In one of the bets, you don’t even compete against the dealer. All you have to do is decide whether or not to stay in the hand. There are not deep layers of strategy in this game like there are in traditional forms of player-vs-player poker.

Where to Play 3 Card Poker Online for Money

Here are the best online casinos for 3-card poker players.

Rules

The rules of 3 Card Poker are fairly simple. At the beginning of each hand, you can place either the “pairs plus” bet, “ante-and-play” wager or both. The payout schedule for each bet is a little different, but the general rules of the game remain the same no matter which bets you choose.

Ante-and-Play

This is considered the main bet in Tri Card Poker. In this bet, you compete against the dealer for the best hand. At the beginning of the hand, you pay an ante and then you and dealer are each dealt three cards.

After you look at your cards, you may choose to fold and surrender your ante or continue to play by placing another bet equal in size to the ante. If you choose to play on, the dealer will then reveal his cards.

Before anything else happens, the dealer must check to see if his hand “qualifies” by containing a Queen high or better. If the dealer does not qualify, you are paid 1 to 1 on the ante and the second bet is returned without any winnings.

When the dealer does qualify, his hand is compared to your hand. If your hand is higher, you are paid even money on both bets. In addition to that, there are special payouts for the following hands:

If the dealer’s hand is better than yours, you lose both the original wager and the raise wager.

In the end, there are three possible outcomes for each hand in which the player does not fold:

• The dealer does not qualify. The player wins even money on the ante bet and the second bet is considered a push.
• The dealer qualifies and beats the player. The player loses both bets.
• The dealer qualifies and loses to the player. The player wins even money on both bets and qualifies for an additional payout if the player’s final hand is a straight, three of a kind or straight flush.

Live Three Card Poker Online

Pairs Plus

The Pair Plus is a sort of side bet in which you are paid bonuses for achieving hands of one pair or better. You do not have to beat the dealer to win money in the Pair Plus bet. The bet only requires you to make it through the hand without folding.

The payout table can vary from one casino to the next but a common one looks like this:

Play for Free

You can try Three Card Poker for free below. This is an embedded game that I was able to snag from Lucky Red Casino. If you can’t see anything below or it says “unable to communicate with server” try turning off any ad blocker extensions and enabling flash in your browser.

I’ve found that most casinos require you to sign up for an account before even letting you try the games. This is annoying because it’s a waste of time if you just want to see what a certain game is like. I have sized the resolution down to fit on this page so it doesn’t look as good here as it does at the actual casino website, but it should give you a good idea of what it’s like to play.

Strategy and Tips

The perfect strategy for Three Card Poker is very easy to remember. That’s one of the things I like about this game. Unlike some other casino games, very little memorization is necessary to play with a perfect strategy.

Ante-and-Play Strategy

Let’s address the ante-and-play bet first. This is the only bet out of the two possible bets in which any strategy can be applied because it’s the only wager in which you make any decisions after placing the bet (choosing to stay in or fold). Since you only make one decision, there are no charts or calculations to memorize.

All you need to know is this:

• Always play Q-6-4 or higher; fold everything else

That’s all there is to it! If you can remember that much, you’ll be playing perfect Three Card Poker. The house advantage with this strategy is about 3.37%, which is pretty decent for a casino table game.

If you’re wondering what exactly I mean by Q-6-4 or higher, you’re not the only one. For example, what happens when you get A-3-2? For the purposes of this strategy, we always start with the highest card and work our way down.

Three Card Poker online, free

In the case of A-3-2, you would play the hand because the highest card is higher than a queen. Nothing else needs to be done. If you have a hand like Q-7-2, you can still play. In this case, the Queens tie so we look at the next card down. The 7 is higher than a 6 so you can play this hand as well.

This Three Card Poker strategy may seem too simple but that’s really all there is to it. There are many resources (both live and online) that agree this is the best strategy for 3 Card Poker. The math has been checked and rechecked, and the numbers work out.

Pairs Plus Strategy

In Three Card Poker, there is no real strategy for the pair plus bet. The only thing you have to do is decide whether or not to play it. The house advantage of this bet depends on the pay table, but it is generally somewhere between 3% and 4%. It’s not a great bet, but it won’t send you home broke either.

If you want to play the pair plus bet, go for it. This bet offers some pretty decent payouts and the house advantage isn’t terrible. Three Card Poker is a gambling game after all so there’s no harm in placing this bet. If you have a limited bankroll and want to maximize your time at the table, feel free to skip this bet.

Deposit Bonuses

Because 3 Card Poker has a low house advantage when played strategically, not all gambling sites allow you to clear deposit bonuses by playing this game. For example, the welcome bonus at Casino Titan states in the terms and conditions that all wagers on Tri Card Poker do not count towards meeting the rollover.

Make sure to check the terms and conditions of any deposit bonus before you play at that gambling site. Some casinos are fine with 3 Card Poker, others are not. If this is your main game, there’s no point in getting a big signup bonus that isn’t even compatible with 3 Card Poker.

Note 1: All of the gambling sites recommended at the top of this page have bonuses that are compatible with 3 Card Poker. I checked the terms and conditions of each casino’s bonus before recommending it here.

Note 2: Golden Cherry Casino has two different new player bonuses. One is a $3,000 bonus for slots while the other is an $888 bonus for all other games. Make sure you choose the $888 bonus when you sign up. The bonus code for that one is CHERRY1.

Other Tips

The strategy above is really all you need to know about Three Card Poker specifically. The following tips work for this game as well, but they could be applied to any real money gambling game.

• Practice bankroll management – If you want to have a long night of gambling, size your bets so that they are small compared to your total bankroll. Three Card Poker is a swingy game and it helps to have a deep bankroll.
• Take advantage of VIP programs – Live casinos and online casinos both have VIP programs that reward you for regular play. Make sure you sign up and get rewarded for playing Three Card Poker.
• Set a loss limit – Nobody wins every single time at the casino so it’s important to set a loss limit and stick with it. If you have a bad night at the table and hit your loss limit, it’s time to call it quits this time. There’s always another day but there’s not always another dollar.
• Avoid betting systems – Betting systems are just as useless for Three Card Poker as they are for every other casino game. The only thing a betting system does is manipulate the size of your bets and potentially cause you to wager more than you intended. People who sell betting systems rely on desperation to con people into paying money for a useless product.

A Little about the Game

3 Card Poker is a relatively new casino game that was invented by Derek Webb in 1994. Shuffle Master then bought the rights to the game in 1999 and used its existing contacts in the casino industry to spread the game across the world. It proved to be a hit in casinos and has been with us ever since.

You may also see some casinos refer to it as “Tri Card Poker.” This is the same exact game other than the name. The reason some casinos call it “Tri Card Poker” is because of copyright issues. Casinos have to have permission to host Three Card Poker so some casinos just spread the same game and call it Tri Card Poker.

Whatever you want to call it, Three Card Poker has expanded rapidly over the years and is currently one of the top performing card games at all casinos. Its simple rules and fast pace make it fun for players and easy for casinos to host. As a result, you’ll find plenty of Three Card Poker action at most casinos.

A lot of players enjoy Three Card Poker because it basically consists of two games in one. The main bet offers payouts that range from even money to 5-1 and the side bet offers payouts of up to 40-1. And because each hand only consists of three cards, it’s easy to catch strong hands and receive payouts. It’s no wonder that Three Card Poker has caught on so well.

The strategy for Three Card Poker is fairly simple and it can reduce the house advantage significantly. The short of it is that if you raise with Q-6-4 or better and fold everything else, you will be playing optimally. You can find more details in my Three Card Poker strategy article.

The house advantage of Three Card Poker depends on how well the players play the game. With optimal strategy, Three Card Poker shows a house advantage of about 3.37%. This can also vary based on the payouts offered by each casino. Compared to most casino games, this house advantage is not bad. There are a few better games (such as blackjack) but Three Card Poker is one of the best for your money considering how simple the game is.