Content:
- 3 card poker rules
- Payouts of 3 card poker
- Is the house edge high?
- 3 card poker online winning tips
- To conclude
A very easy poker variation, which is ideal for beginners, is 3-card poker. There are only three cards in hand, and all you need to win is to create a better hand than your opponent. All the rules and tips you need to know about this type of poker and the best AU online casino sites are in this article. Keep reading to learn more about the game.
3 card poker rules
If you have ever played a poker game, this variant will seem to you more simple. But it isn’t less exciting. In 3-card poker, your goal is to create a hand that values more than that of your opponent — the dealer.
Or you can bet on the outcome of your own hand: whether it will contain a pair or higher. All in all, the game rules aren’t complicated at all. Just remember that there are two basic ways to play out the cards:
- Ante-play, where you place your bet on the ante. When the cards are dealt face down, you can look at your 3 cards and decide either to fold or play. If you choose to fold, you lose your wager and have to start over with the initial bet. After that, the dealer shows his cards and the two hands are compared. Players get paid according to the outcomes of the hands.
- Pair Plus is a bet you make additionally or instead of ante-play. When the bet is placed, the dealer distributes the cards. If your hand features a pair or higher, you win no matter the hand of the dealer.
Payouts of 3 card poker
As you can figure out, odds and payouts depend on the way you decide to play. Thus, in the ante-play scenario, the dealer must have a queen high or better. So if your hand is better, you win and get paid 1:1. But if you lose the round, you lose money. If there’s a tie, you keep your bet.
You can get increased payouts if your hand contains one of the three combinations: straight, three-of-a-kind, or straight flush. The payouts are as follows:
- Straight Flush, the biggest bonus outcome, pays 40:1 for Pair Plus bets and 5:1 for ante bets.
- Three of a Kind pays 30:1 for Pair Plus and 4:1 for ante.
- Straight outcome pays 6:1 for Pair Plus and 1:1 for ante play.
- Flush pays 3:1 for Pair Plus.
- Pair, which is the lowest, pays 1:1 for Pair Plus.
Of course, payouts depend on the software you’re playing. There are various 3 card poker games from different developers, so payouts and house edge can differ. Mind it before playing, and check the paytable on the game’s information page.
Is the house edge high?
Online casinos always benefit no matter your skills or game choice. This advantage is measured in percentage, which is called house edge. And usually, the riskier the bet, the higher the casino edge. This is why when playing ante bet, the house edge is only 3.4%, while the Pair Plus side bet house edge can grow up to 7.3%.
The typical return to player (RTP) is 97.15%, which is similar to roulette games and other table games.
However, you can find 3 card poker games with reduced house edge or, reversely, higher. It depends on the game title and software provider, as we said earlier. So once again, you should pay attention to the information about the game before playing if you want to make sure you’re playing the top-paying 3-card poker.
3 card poker online winning tips
As you can see, there’s nothing difficult in 3-card poker. The theory is clear, now you need to practice a couple of rounds in free 3-card poker, and you’ll be ready to win at real money 3-card poker games. Before you choose a game, we’d like to give a few tips that will help you win more often:
- Start with free play. Although 3-card poker is simple to play, you need to practice for free until you get a hang of all the rules. It’s always better to keep your bankroll for better times when you are sure how to play.
- Professionals advise to fold all hands lower than Queen-6-4. This is because the dealer’s hand qualifies with a queen so it makes no sense to complete with a poor hand.
- Ignoring Pair Plus side wagers is a good strategy for low-budget players because the house edge is way higher with Pair Plus in play. So it’s safer to play low-risk 3-card poker, especially when payouts for Pair Plus aren’t high.
- Check the payouts, as we said earlier in this article. All 3 card poker titles are different even if the rules are the same. They differ in payouts and house edge. Make sure to check the payouts because this is where game developers can go all out, setting payouts at 100:1 or higher.
- Set your bankroll beforehand — this is a golden rule for all poker games, and 3-card poker is no exception. Analyze your budget and how much you can spend without harming your financial aspect. For example, if you have only $100 for games, start at $1 per hand.
- Don’t chase your losses because it’s impossible to recover them. Just accept it that the lost wagers are gone, and your following winnings don’t depend on your losses.
- Use a casino bonus for a longer and more advantageous gameplay. Aussie casino sites often reward new and regular players with deposit match bonuses. 3 card poker is eligible for bonus play in most cases. Nevertheless, you should check the list of qualifying games in the bonus rules.
To conclude
The best casino sites in Australia offer a variety of poker games. These include many titles of three card poker from different providers, including Microgaming, Evolution, Pragmatic Play, and others. You can choose to play an RNG-based poker or live poker where you play against a real dealer. But no matter which version you choose to play, make sure to practice 3-card poker for free and check the payout details.
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