What is three-card poker?

It is a fairly young game. It was invented by American Derek Webb in 1994 Three card poker variation of poker (Three card poker) is created for the casino, because in it a person competes with the gambling establishment. For the first time dany variant of poker was created in 1994 by Derek Webb. Three years later it was patented. The creator of the game was important to create such a version of poker that the game was as fast as other table games. Also, the creator did not forget the three main factors of any other casino game: the rules of the game were simple, the payouts were big enough, and the house advantage was enough to make casino owners interested in adopting three-card poker. A little later, a company called Prime Table Games was founded and used to promote the game.Over time, three-card poker gained popularity in the US and the UK.Some players believe that the game was played as far back as the Renaissance period in Italy under the name Primero, which later became known as Bragg. Then came three-card poker, which gained popularity in the late 90s.

Rules of 3 Card Poker

As stated earlier three card poker is played heads-up – the dealer against each player at the table. First, a mandatory ante (a type of mandatory bet, like the small and big blind) is placed, after which the dealer deals three cards to each player and himself. The players have the choice to either fold the hand or continue the game with another ante bet. Then the cards are revealed and the winner is determined. The dealer’s hand must be no worse than Dama-Hai for the game to continue. If the dealer’s hand is worse, all bets are returned to their owners and a new deal begins. If the dealer has collected a hand of Dama-Hai or higher, it is compared with the cards of each participant.  If a player loses, he loses both the ante and the second bet. When a player’s hand wins, both bets are paid out at a 1-to-1 ratio. And if the dealer’s and player’s combinations are the same, the bets are returned. From two to six people at a time can participate in a hand.Then everyone gets three cards in the blind and chooses one of two options:

• Fold (by folding, you lose the ante you bet);
• Call (betting 1 ante allows you to guarantee a showdown).

The dealer cannot discard his hand. If at least one player has entered the hand, the dealer is also obliged to equal 1 ante and open-raise a combination of Q-high or higher. If he fails to do so, everyone who has cards left in his hand is declared the winner.

Three-card poker combinations

Let’s list the combinations in this game in descending order:

• Straight flush – three cards in a row of the same suit: for example, clubs K-Q-J;
• Trips or Set – three cards of the same suit, e.g. 7-7-7;
• Straight – a sequence of three cards, at least one of which is of a different suit from the others;
• Flush – three cards of the same suit out of order;
• Pair – two identical cards;
• Senior card – three cards of different denominations and not of the same suit.

In this game, the hierarchy of combinations is different from others. For example, in the same Texas Hold’em, a flush is older than a straight and trips. Such differences are related to the mathematical probabilities of poker combinations. The probability that a hand of Dama-Hai or higher will be collected is 69.59%. It follows that the dealer will play 7 hands out of 10 on average. Now let’s look at the Para Plus and Ante bonus payouts for each of the combinations in 3 card poker. Pair Plus payouts:Straight Flush – 40 to 1, Three of a kind – 30 to 1, Straight – 6 to 1, Flush – 3 to 1, Pair – 1 to 1.

Read also about European Roulette.

Three-card poker variations

In some casinos, there is a payout called Prime. In England, this variation of the game is known as Prime 3-card poker. The Prime bet itself is placed at the player’s discretion, but necessarily before the dealer deals and is paid according to the colour of the cards. If the player collects all three cards of the same colour, he receives a payout of 3 to 1 of the Prime bet. If the dealer at the same time with the player has all three cards of the same colour, the payout increases to 4 to 1. There is also another variant of the three-card poker rules – “six-card bonus”, which is paid out depending on the strength of the 5-card combination of the dealer’s and player’s cards. Payouts range in size from 5 to 1 for a three of a kind to 1,000 to 1 for a Royal Flush. Thus, the player has a small chance to hit the jackpot and increase his winnings by a thousand times. It should be realised that all long distance casino games against the dealer cannot guarantee you a win, unlike Texas Hold’em, Omaha and other types of poker where the game is played between all participants.

How do you learn to play poker?

In order to learn how to play three-card poker, you can play in online casinos, or play with live opponents in poker rooms, where you can gain experience and improve your skills. For beginners, it is better to start with training. It is desirable to find a good mentor, which is not very difficult. For example, you can apply to a poker school, where players are not only taught, but also sponsored. Alternatively, you can take lessons from an experienced poker coach who will teach you the basics of the game and advise you on how to develop further. You can find a coach to suit any budget. You can also take lessons on your own using special software. If you like the video format, you can turn to training videos. Theory is impossible without practice, but beginners are better not to risk their own money, but to pay attention to freerolls – free tournaments with real prize money.