Some Tips for Three Card Poker

If you are a fan of table games at both online and offline casinos, then you have probably come across Three Card Poker. Whether you are a new player or an experienced one, 3 Card Poker offers both challenges and entertainment that other table games may not necessarily present. Here are some tips to keep you going and maximize your winning potential when playing:

Play Ante and Pair Plus

As 3 Card Poker is essentially two games in one, the standard game and the pair plus game, there are multiple ways you can win. By placing your bid on the ante area, you are speculating that you can beat the dealer's hand on either a push or a play, while a pair plus bet indicates that you feel you will get at least a pair or better in the round. While it may seem strange to risk money on a pair plus when you're not guaranteed as good of a chance to win as you would be if you simply pay into the ante and play circles, the payouts are substantially higher than the standard game, and you're chances of getting a pair or better in your hand are approximately 20%. Balancing both your pair plus an ante bets by placing a wager in the pair plus circle equal to or less than your ante (but no less than half,) can actually turn the odds in your favor and potentially win you a substantial amount of money, particularly if you come across a straight flush in a deal. Use this to your advantage when playing at the table, as properly wagering in both the ante and pair plus circles can reduce the house's odds over you to a mere three to four percent.

Learn When to Play and When to Fold

As continuing to play in Three Card Poker requires an additional bet to meet your ante, deciding when to play and when to fold is key to determining your success at the table. As a rule of thumb, only play if you have a starting hand with a Queen, Six and Four or better. While it is true that the dealer cannot play unless they also have a queen or better in their hand, the fact is that by only deciding to play these three cards or better, you run a greater chance of profiting over the dealer's hand on a regular basis, much more so than if you were to play random hands. The only time you should play a lower hand is if you feel certain that the dealer will not be able to play this round. It is quite difficult; however, to make this assessment, as virtually all casinos do not allow other players to see each other's cards. This makes it difficult or impossible to determine what set the dealer may have in their hand when a round starts, and you need to make your call. When in doubt, stick to hands of Queen-Six-Four or better.

Mind Your Winnings

Finally, as obvious as it may seem, pay close attention to how much you are earning and how much you are losing. Many times, three card poker can be as much up to luck as it is skill in determining which cards are dealt at any given time. If you are having a bad day, do not push your luck and risk losing more money. Take a break; wait for the cards to be shuffled through a few more times, and see if you can get a better deal later on. It is one thing to be happy walking home with a lot of money, but doing the opposite on a regular basis can easily dig you into a hole that you may not be able to get out of.