This is an educational guide to how casino games work. House edge and payout figures are typical values and vary by game, rules and operator. No casino game can be beaten in the long run — play for entertainment, never as a way to make money, and only stake what you can afford to lose.
Three Card Poker Rules
Three card poker is one of the most popular casino poker games — fast, simple, and played against the dealer rather than other players. Here are the rules.
The main game
You place an Ante and receive three cards. After seeing them, you either fold or make a Play bet equal to your Ante. Your three-card hand is then compared with the dealer’s, which must “qualify” with Queen-high or better.
The Pair Plus bet
There’s an optional Pair Plus side bet that pays purely on the strength of your own hand — a pair or better — regardless of what the dealer holds.
A twist on rankings
Here’s the surprise: with only three cards, a straight beats a flush, because straights are harder to make. Worth remembering before you play. See how Casino Hold’em works, what Pai Gow Poker is and what video poker is.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play three card poker?
You and the dealer each get three cards; you bet your hand beats the dealer’s, which must qualify.
What is the Pair Plus bet?
An optional side bet that pays if you’re dealt a pair or better, regardless of the dealer.
What beats what?
Hand rankings differ slightly — a straight beats a flush, because straights are rarer with three cards.
Related guides: how Casino Hold’em works, what Pai Gow Poker is and what video poker is.