Three Card Poker Strategy
Perfect Three Card Poker strategy is surprisingly easy to remember. Out of all the games in the casino, three card poker is by far the easiest game to play with optimal strategy. Three card poker consists of two games in one: the “ante and play” wager and the “pair plus” bet. On this page, we will examine the correct strategy for both three card poker wagers.
Ante and Play Strategy
This is considered the main game in thee card poker. The perfect 3 Card Poker strategy is as follows:
- Always play Q-6-4 or higher; fold everything else
That’s all there is to it! If you can remember that much, you’ll be playing perfect three card poker. The house advantage with this strategy is about 3.37%, which is pretty decent for a casino table game.
If you’re wondering what exactly we mean by Q-6-4 or higher, you’re not the only one. For example, what happens when you get A-3-2? For the purposes of this strategy, we always start with the highest card and work our way down.
In the case of A-3-2, you would play the hand because the highest card is higher than a queen. Nothing else needs to be done. If you have a hand like Q-7-2, you can still play. In this case, the Queens tie so we look at the next card down. The 7 is higher than a 6 so you can play this hand as well.
This Three Card Poker strategy may seem too simple but that’s really all there is to it. There are many resources (both live and online) that agree this is the best strategy for 3 Card Poker. The math has been checked and rechecked, and the numbers work out.
Pair Plus Strategy
In Three Card Poker, there is no real strategy for the pair plus bet. The only thing you have to do is decide whether or not to play it. The house advantage of this bet depends on the pay table, but it is generally somewhere between 3% and 4%. It’s not a great bet, but it won’t send you home broke either.
If you want to play the pair plus bet, go for it. This bet offers some pretty decent payouts and the house advantage isn’t terrible. Three Card Poker is a gambling game after all so there’s no harm in placing this bet. If you have a limited bankroll and want to maximize your time at the table, feel free to skip this bet.
Three Card Poker Strategy Tips
These 3 card poker strategy tips are pretty basic in nature but they do help. If you want to make the most of your time at the casino, these tips will help you do exactly that.
- Practice bankroll management – If you want to have a long night of gambling, size your bets so that they are small compared to your total bankroll. Three Card Poker is a swingy game and it helps to have a deep bankroll.
- Take advantage of VIP programs – Live casinos and online casinos both have VIP programs that reward you for regular play. Make sure you sign up and get rewarded for playing Three Card Poker.
- Set a loss limit – Nobody wins every single time at the casino so it’s important to set a loss limit and stick with it. If you have a bad night at the table and hit your loss limit, it’s time to call it quits this time. There’s always another day but there’s not always another dollar.