Three-card poker rules

A poker hand of three against the dealer, decided in one round.

  • 2-7 players
  • Standard deck

A three-card hand against the dealer, over in one round. Because there are only three cards, the ranking is not the one you know.

Hand ranking, highest first

Straight flush, three of a kind, straight, flush, pair, high card. A straight beats a flush here, which is the reverse of five-card poker, and for a good reason: with three cards a straight is harder to make.

The ante and play bets

Place an ante and receive three cards. Then decide: fold and lose the ante, or place a play bet equal to it and see the dealer's hand.

The dealer must qualify

The dealer needs queen high or better to play. If they do not qualify, the ante is paid even money and the play bet is returned. If they do qualify and you beat them, both bets are paid even money. If they beat you, both are lost.

Ante bonus

A straight or better pays a bonus on the ante whether or not the dealer qualifies.

Pair plus

A separate optional bet, paid purely on your own three cards: a pair or better wins, with rising odds up to a straight flush. It is settled independently of the dealer.

The simple strategy: play any hand of queen, six, four or better, and fold everything below it.