How to Play Three Card Poker

Table Limits

Three Card Poker uses a standard 52-card deck. There are two ways to bet on this game. This game allows the player to wager against the dealer (ANTE BET) or to wager both against the dealer and on the value of their own hand (ANTE & PAIR PLUS BET).

Ranking of Hands

The ranking of hands in Three Card Poker differs from traditional poker hands. In Three Card poker, a STRAIGHT beats a FLUSH. Cards are ranked from the highest to lowest as follows:

HAND	EXAMPLE
STRAIGHT FLUSH	4, 5, 6 of the same suit
THREE OF A KIND	Three jacks, or three 5's
STRAIGHT	4, 5, 6 of any suit
FLUSH	Any three cards of the same suit
PAIR	Two Kings, or two Aces

If a hand does not contain a pair or better, the hand that contains the highest ranking card(s) wins. Ace is high except in a 3-2-Ace sequence.

Two Ways to Play

1. Play Against the Dealer - ANTE WAGER

The object when playing against the dealer is to get a three-card poker hand with a value higher than the dealer's qualifying hand of a Queen or better. Players must first make an ANTE bet after which time each player is then dealt three cards. After looking at their three card poker hand, players may fold or, if they believe their hand is high enough to beat the dealer's hand, they must place an amount equal to their ANTE on the PLAY spot.

Outcome of Playing Against the Dealer

Player Folds	LOSE.
When a dealer does not qualify	PLAY bet is a PUSH and ANTE bet WINS 1 to 1
When a dealer plays and player's hand beats the dealer	PLAY bet wins 1 to 1 and ANTE bet wins 1 to 1
When a dealer plays and dealer's hand beats the dealer	PLAY bet is lost and ANTE bet is lost

The ANTE BONUS is paid when a player is dealt one of the three highest-ranking hands in the game. The ANTE BONUS is paid regardless of the dealer's hand. Bonus Payouts are as follows:

HAND	BONUS PAYOUT
STRAIGHT FLUSH	5 to 1
THREE OF A KIND	4 to 1
STRAIGHT	1 to 1

2. Playing Both the PAIR PLUS and ANTE WAGERS
The object of the PAIR PLUS wager is to bet that you receive a pair or better. If a player's hand contains a pair or better the player wins the PAIR PLUS wager. A Player receives PAIR PLUS payouts regardless of the dealer's hand. Pair Plus Payouts are as follows:

HAND	BONUS PAYOUT
STRAIGHT FLUSH	40 to 1
THREE OF A KIND	30 to 1
STRAIGHT	6 to1
FLUSH	3 to 1
PAIR	1 to 1

Player's must bet the ANTE in order to bet the PAIR PLUS. When a player bets both the PAIR PLUS and the ANTE (including PLAY), he is playing against two separate pay tables with two different criteria for payouts. In playing the ANTE wager, the object is to get a three-card poker hand that beats the dealer's qualifying hand of Queen or better. In playing the PAIR PLUS wager, the object is to receive a pair or better. The ANTE and PAIR PLUS wagers do not have to be the same amount but players cannot bet more on the PAIR PLUS than they have on the ANTE. However, the PLAY wager must always be equal to the ANTE wager. If a player has made the ANTE wager and the PAIR PLUS wager, he must make the PLAY wager or will forfeit both the ANTE and PAIR PLUS wagers.