Last Updated: 3 November 2025
How to Play 3 Card Poker Online: Rules, Hands, Odds & Strategy
Learn how to play 3 Card Poker with our easy-to-follow guide. Discover the rules, hand rankings, and essential tips to help you master the game and increase your chances of winning at CoinPoker.
GuidesAre you looking for a simple poker game you can get into without extensive studying? Three Card Poker is the perfect choice, and this simple guide will teach you everything you need to know about its rules, strategy, and history. We covered everything a novice poker player needs to sit down and win, so read on for a full rundown of 3 Card Poker.
What is the Three Card Poker Game?
Three Card Poker is a fast-paced casino-style poker game first invented in the 1990s by Derek Webb. Unlike poker games like Texas Hold’em or Pot Limit Omaha, 3 Card Poker is played against the house, and not other players. This makes the Three Card Poker strategy much simpler, and its rules are easy to learn and digest.
The basic premise of 3 Card Poker is straightforward. Both you and the dealer are dealt three cards. Your goal is to make the best three-card poker hand you can and beat the dealer’s hand. You can easily master the rules of Three Card Poker in a single day, and this guide will help you do just that.
Rules of 3 Card Poker
Before you can play a hand, you will need to post an Ante bet, and you will be given a chance to fold the hand or place a Play bet once your three cards are dealt. Since this is the only decision in each hand, the game’s pace is typically very fast.
There are a total of four bets you can place during a hand of 3 Card Poker:
- Ante Bet: This is the basic bet you must place before being dealt a hand. An ante bet is obligatory, but you can choose how much you want to bet before each hand.
- Play Bet: Once your three cards have been dealt, you are given an option between forfeiting your hand or placing a Play bet, equal to your Ante bet, to stay in the hand. You cannot raise more than the Ante.
- Ante Bonus Bet: This is not a separate bet you place, but an automatic bonus paid on your Ante whenever you make a strong hand – specifically a Straight (1:1), Three of a Kind (4:1), or Straight Flush (5:1). You’ll receive this bonus even if the dealer doesn’t qualify or beats your hand.
- Pair Plus Bet: The Pair Plus bet is an optional side bet you can place at the same time as your Ante Bet. This bet pays in accordance with a preset paytable anytime you have a pair or better, regardless of whether your hand beats the dealer or whether the dealer qualifies.
Once you reach a showdown in any hand of Three Card Poker, your hand is compared to the dealer’s. From here, the dealer follows a fixed rule:
If the dealer’s hand is weaker than Queen-high, the dealer does not qualify.
In this case, the Ante bet pays at even money, while the Play bet is returned to you as a push. If the dealer has Queen-high or better, they qualify. If your hand is better than the dealer’s, both the Ante and the Play bet will pay even money. You can also get bonuses on your Ante if you make a big hand. A Straight pays a 1x Ante bonus, Three of a Kind pays a 4x Ante bonus, and a Straight Flush pays a 5x Ante bonus.
Three Card Poker Hand Rankings
Three Card Poker hand rankings should be familiar to any poker player, but there are some twists to keep an eye out for. With only three cards available per hand, hands like a Full House and Four of a Kind are not possible. Three-card Straights and Flushes do count, but a Straight actually beats a Flush, and Three of a Kind beats both, due to the likelihood of making these hands.
Here is a look at the full 3 Card Poker hand rankings, from best to worst:
| Rank | Poker Hand | Example |
| 1 | Straight Flush | JT9 (same suit) |
| 2 | Three of a Kind | 777 |
| 3 | Straight | QJT |
| 4 | Flush | A74 |
| 5 | Pair | KK5 |
| 6 | High Card | A94 |
It is worth noting that compared to traditional Texas Hold’em poker hand rankings, Straight beats a Flush in 3 Card Poker.
3 Card Poker Odds, Payouts & House Edge
Three Card Poker odds are relatively low compared to games like Blackjack or Baccarat, but quite favorable compared to slots. Fixed 1:1 payouts are available anytime you win a hand on your Ante bet, and anytime your hand beats the dealer’s qualified hand (Queen-high or better). Additional payouts can be won from Ante bonuses and the Pair Plus side bet. Here is a look at the exact odds of getting dealt each particular hand in Three Card Poker, along with the payouts you can expect for each:
| Hand | Odds | Ante Bonus Payout | Pair Plus Payout |
| Straight Flush | 1 in 460 | 5:1 | 40:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 1 in 425 | 4:1 | 30:1 |
| Straight | 1 in 31 | 1:1 | 6:1 |
| Flush | 1 in 20 | None | 3:1 |
| Pair | 1 in 6 | None | 1:1 |
| High Card | 1 in 1.34 | None | None |
The Ante Bonus pays out on the main Ante bet when you make a strong hand, even if the dealer beats you or doesn’t qualify. Pair Plus pays separately based only on your three cards.
The different odds and payouts in Three Card Poker add up to a total RTP (return to player) rate of 96.63% on the main bets, and 95.51% on the Pair Plus side bet, resulting in the following house edge numbers.
House Edge in 3 Card Poker
House edge in a casino game represents the percentage of all bets won by the casino in the long term. Three Card Poker’s house edge stands at 3.37% for all Ante and Play bets made, and 4.49% for all Pair Plus bets made. This may be relatively high compared to some other card games, but CoinPoker’s 3 Card Poker tables retain a competitive house edge with other online casinos, assuring competitive payouts for each bet you make.
Step by Step: How to Play 3 Card Poker at a Casino: Live or Online
All action in 3 Card Poker comes down to just a few stages. The game is very easy to learn, and the entire Three Card Poker strategy you need to know can be summed up in a few simple steps.
#1. Place Your Bets
To play a hand of 3 Card Poker, you must place an Ante bet. You can choose the value of your Ante bet yourself, anywhere between the table’s minimum and maximum. If you choose to, you can also place a Pair Plus side bet before the cards are dealt. Once your bets are placed, press the deal button to get your cards.
#2. Get Your Cards
You will be dealt three cards. Your Pair Plus result is determined instantly from your three cards, because the dealer’s hand doesn’t matter. Assess your hand and decide if you want to place a Play bet. Typically speaking, you should play anytime you have Q-6-4 or better. If your hand is weaker than that, simply fold it.
#3. Win & Get Paid
Once you place your Play bet, the dealer’s cards will be shown, and your hands compared. Payouts are made automatically, in accordance with the previously mentioned system. You will win even money on your Ante bet if the dealer doesn’t qualify, as well as an Ante Bonus if you have a Straight or better. You will also win even money on the Play bet if the dealer qualifies and you have the best hand.
Game Variants of 3 Card Poker
Online casinos like CoinPoker offer multiple versions of Three Card Poker in their lobbies. Each version brings its own twist. From micro stakes virtual tables designed for practice, to the high roller tables with live dealers, here is a quick look at a few of the most popular 3 Card Poker variants you can choose from:
Live Dealer 3 Card Poker can be found in CoinPoker’s live casino lobby. The game is played against a real dealer, with action streamed from a live casino studio. Every hand is dealt in real time and brought to you via a high-speed video stream. The game allows you to experience the real feeling of playing on a glamorous casino floor while playing from the comfort of your living room.
Three Card Poker tables with the Six Card Bonus give you another side betting option along with Pair Plus. If this bet is active, both your and the dealer’s cards will be taken into consideration. You can win bonuses worth up to 1,000:1 for a Royal Flush, 200:1 for a Straight Flush, and 50:1 for Four of a Kind. The minimum payout is available for Three of a Kind, standing at 5:1 to 8:1, depending on the game version.
Progressive jackpot 3 Card Poker tables add another side bet to the mix. This time, a small side bet will qualify you for a massive jackpot, reserved for one lucky player. Some Progressive side bets pay fixed prizes for premium hands (for example, suited AKQ), and some also include a growing jackpot that can reach five or six figures. Betting as little as $1 per hand on the progressive jackpot can land you a quick windfall worth tens of thousands of dollars if you get lucky.
3 Card Poker Strategy
Now that you know how to play the game, let’s talk about some basic Three Card Poker strategy you should follow. Remember, this is a simple game, and there is no reason to deviate from basic strategy at any time. Follow our tips and give yourself the best chance to win every time.
The most important thing in 3 Card Poker is to stay disciplined. No matter how many times in a row you are dealt a bad hand, stick to the optimal betting pattern. Place the Play bet when you have Q-6-4 or better, and fold your cards when you don’t. This strategy will win you the most money in the long run.
The Pair Plus side bet comes with a higher house edge than the Ante and Play bets. For this reason, we recommend either avoiding it altogether or betting small when you do opt for it. In most cases, you are better off placing any chips you were going to bet on Pair Plus on your Ante bet instead.
Smart bankroll management is essential to winning in any casino game. In 3 Card Poker, you should make sure to have a bankroll that can sustain a prolonged losing streak. Have at least a few dozen base bets ready before you sit down to play, and be willing to quit the session if things go particularly badly.
History of 3 Card Poker
Three Card Poker was invented in 1994 by Derek Webb. He was a poker dealer and casino manager who recognized that many players didn’t have the patience to play traditional poker games. Instead, he wanted to invent a fast-paced poker game that players could play against the house at any time. Webb combined the basic hand rankings of poker with the fast and simple gameplay of blackjack to create 3 Card Poker. The game became very popular in US casinos during the early 2000s, and was adopted by most online casinos as iGaming started booming on the global stage. Today, few live or online casinos don’t offer at least one 3 Card Poker table.
Check Out CoinPoker for More Action
While Three Card Poker is an incredibly popular and fun game, CoinPoker has much more in store for you. Our online casino offers over 2,000 games, with stakes starting as low as $0.10 per spin or hand. If 3 Card Poker isn’t your jam, here is a look at a few other popular options available in our lobby:
Crash Games
Super-fast gameplay, massive maximum wins, and complete control over when you stop are some of the main trademarks of crash games. These fun modern games appeal to gamers and thrill-seekers of all generations. Check out our lobby and choose games like Crash, Adrenaline Rush, and Speed Crash to join the action.
Dice Games
Letting the dice decide your destiny is one of the oldest forms of gambling. At CoinPoker, you can enjoy popular dice games like Craps and Sic Bo in multiple versions, with stakes starting as low as $0.10 per roll, and going up to $10,000 and beyond. Roll virtual RNG-powered dice, or join live casino action to experience the full thrill of these games.
Caribbean Stud Poker
Another casino poker game you can try at CoinPoker is Caribbean Stud Poker. Caribbean Stud shares similarities with both 3 Card Poker and traditional poker games like 5 Card Draw. Get a full hand of five cards, go up against the dealer, and use a strategy similar to the one you learned in this guide to beat the house.
FAQs
What are the basic rules of 3 Card Poker?
You and the dealer each get three cards. You can fold or bet. If the dealer has Queen-high or better and you beat them, you get paid on both bets. If the dealer doesn’t qualify, you get paid on the Ante and the Play bet pushes.
How do the different bet types in 3 Card Poker work?
The Ante bet is obligatory and normally pays even money when you stay in the hand. It can also earn an Ante Bonus for strong hands like a Straight or better. The Play bet is optional, and placed after your cards are dealt. This bet pays even money if the dealer qualifies and you win. The Pair Plus bet is optional, placed before the cards are dealt, and pays anytime you have a pair or better.
What hands beat a Flush in Three Card Poker?
A Straight, Three of a Kind, and a Straight Flush beat a Flush in Three Card Poker.
Does the dealer always qualify in 3 Card Poker?
No. The dealer needs at least Queen-high to qualify. If they don’t qualify, you get paid on your Ante and your Play bet is returned (push).
What is the house edge in 3 Card Poker?
The house edge in this game is 3.37% for the Ante and Play bets and 4.49% for the Pair Plus bet.
How does the Pair Plus bet differ from the Ante bet?
Pair Plus is an optional side bet. If you decide to place it, you will win anytime you have a pair or better, regardless of the dealer’s hand. Payouts are made in accordance with an existing paytable.
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