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Official Three Card Poker Rules

Three Card Poker is a casino game that pits a player's hand against the dealer's. It's a relatively simple game to learn, making it popular among casual players.

Objective

The goal of Three Card Poker is to form a higher-ranking three-card poker hand than the dealer to win.

Setup

Card Values and Hand Rankings:

  • Standard 52-card deck.

  • Hand rankings from highest to lowest: Straight Flush, Three of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Pair, High Card.

  1. Placing Bets:Players must place an Ante bet to start the game. An optional Pair Plus bet can also be placed, which is independent of the dealer’s hand.

  2. Dealing Cards:Each player and the dealer are dealt three cards face down.

Gameplay

  1. Player Options:

    • After reviewing their cards, players have the following options:

      • Fold: Forfeit the Ante bet and leave the game.

      • Play: Place a Play bet, which is equal to the Ante bet, to continue.

  2. Dealer Qualification:

    • The dealer must have at least a Queen high to qualify.

    • If the dealer does not qualify:

      • Ante bets are paid even money (1:1).

      • Play bets are returned to the players.

  3. Comparing Hands:

    • If the dealer qualifies:

      • Player hands are compared to the dealer’s hand.

      • If the player's hand beats the dealer’s hand, both the Ante and Play bets are paid even money (1:1).

      • If the dealer’s hand beats the player’s hand, both bets are lost.

      • If there is a tie, both bets push (are returned to the player).

  4. Pair Plus Bet:

    • The Pair Plus bet is based solely on the player's hand.

    • Payouts are made according to the following structure (may vary by casino):

      • Pair: 1:1

      • Flush: 4:1

      • Straight: 5:1

      • Three of a Kind: 30:1

      • Straight Flush: 40:1

  5. Ante Bonus:

    • An additional Ante Bonus is paid if the player’s hand is a straight or better, regardless of the dealer’s hand:

      • Straight: 1:1

      • Three of a Kind: 4:1

      • Straight Flush: 5:1

Payouts

  • Winning Ante and Play bets: Both bets are paid even money (1:1).

  • Pair Plus payouts: As outlined in the Pair Plus Bet section.

Notes/Variations

  • Some versions may offer additional side bets, progressive jackpots, or changes in the payout structure. Be sure to check the specific rules of the game being played.

So that's how you play Three Card Poker! We wish you luck against the dealer and hope we covered the basic rules enough to get you started. 

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