How to Play Three Card Poker (Vegas Style)
Three Card Poker is one of the easiest and fastest casino table games to learn. You are playing against the dealer using only three cards, and rounds move quickly, making it very popular on the Las Vegas Strip.
Three Card Poker actually includes TWO separate games:
- Ante & Play — you play against the dealer.
- Pair Plus — optional side bet based only on your hand.
1) Objective
Get a better three-card poker hand than the dealer.
2) Basic Gameplay (Ante & Play)
| Step | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1 | Place an Ante bet (and optional Pair Plus). |
| 2 | You and the dealer each receive three cards face down. |
| 3 | Look at your cards and choose:
|
| 4 | Dealer reveals cards. |
| 5 | If dealer qualifies (Queen high or better), compare hands. |
3) Dealer Qualification Rule
The dealer must have Queen-high or better to qualify.
| Outcome | Result |
|---|---|
| Dealer does NOT qualify | Ante pays 1:1, Play bet pushes. |
| You beat dealer | Ante and Play both pay. |
| Dealer wins | You lose both bets. |
4) Pair Plus (Optional Side Bet)
Pair Plus is independent of the dealer. You win if your hand contains at least a pair.
| Hand | Typical Pair Plus Payout |
|---|---|
| Straight Flush | 40 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 30 to 1 |
| Straight | 6 to 1 |
| Flush | 3 to 1 |
| Pair | 1 to 1 |
5) Three Card Poker Hand Rankings
Note: Rankings differ slightly from traditional poker.
| Rank | Hand |
|---|---|
| 1 | Straight Flush |
| 2 | Three of a Kind |
| 3 | Straight |
| 4 | Flush |
| 5 | Pair |
| 6 | High Card |
6) Beginner Strategy (Very Important)
Three Card Poker has a very simple optimal rule:
Play any hand Queen-6-4 or better. Fold weaker hands.
- Q-6-4 is the approximate mathematical threshold.
- Higher hands should always continue.
- Folding too little is the most common beginner mistake.
7) Why Players Like Three Card Poker
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Fast gameplay | More action than blackjack or baccarat. |
| Simple decisions | Easy for beginners. |
| Big payouts possible | Pair Plus offers exciting wins. |
8) Common Beginner Mistakes
- Playing weak hands instead of folding.
- Confusing hand rankings with regular poker.
- Overbetting Pair Plus (higher house edge).
- Ignoring dealer qualification rules.
Side bets like Pair Plus are fun but usually have higher house edge than Ante & Play.
Responsible Gaming
Three Card Poker is fast-paced and can encourage rapid betting. Set limits before playing and treat the game as entertainment. Never chase losses.