The highest hand is Ace, King and Queen of the same suit, sometimes called a Mini Royal. All suits have the same value, and the rank of cards is: Ace (highest), King, Queen, Jack, Ten, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2. In 3 Card Poker a straight beats a flush. The ranking of hands are slightly different in 3 Card Poker than in traditional poker games, because it is easier to make a flush with three cards than to make a straight. If they do have a Queen-high or better hand they will pay both the Ante and the Raise wagers, and of course any Pair Plus winning wagers. If they do not they will pay only the Pair Plus wager winners and any Ante bets, not any Raise wagers. However, the dealer must have at least a Queen-high hand to qualify. The Pair Plus wager may be made without an Ante bet and it is paid regardless of what the dealer’s hand is. Higher-ranking hands have higher payoffs than the even-money offered for a single pair. The Pair Plus wager is a separate bet that wins anytime the player receives a hand of at least a pair. Once each player makes their decision the dealer will take the folded cards, take the forfeited wagers, and then expose their own three-card hand. To continue playing after looking at their hand, the player must match their first bet with a second bet that goes in the Raise circle. The Raise (sometimes marked Play) circle is next to the Ante circle. However, there is an additional wager that must be made if the player wants to actually have a chance to win.Īfter the player looks at their three-card hand they must either fold or raise their bet. If the player’s hand is indeed higher than the dealers, the Ante wager pays even money. The player is wagering that their three-card hand will be higher than that of the dealer. Most players start their play with the Ante wager, which is a bet against the house. If the low bet is $5, expect each hand to cost $15 to complete. New players should keep in mind that they will often be wagering at least three times the table minimum. Unlike baccarat or blackjack, where only one bet is necessary, 3 Card Poker players routinely place wagers on all three circles. Once the player is seated at the table and has gaming chips, they will see that there are three circles for wagers in front of them.

Think of the game as 3-card stud with nice bonus payoffs for big hands!

Once the wagers are placed, the dealer will deal three cards face down to each player and to themselves. To receive cards each player must place a wager in the Ante and/or the Pair Plus wager circles. Regular casino chips are used to signify bets. The game of 3 Card Poker uses a Standard English deck of 52 cards and is played on a blackjack-style, half-moon shape table with a layout made specifically for the game.

Play 3 card poker game