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Poker has become one of the most popular games in the world. It is played in casinos, homes, and on online sites throughout the world.
Sometimes, however, variations of the game are played. There are lots of poker games known as “casino poker” games. These include Carribbean Stud, Casino Hold ‘Em and Pai Gow, among others. These are different games; they are not like traditional poker because the player is competing against the house instead of other players.
In reality, they are casino card games.
One of the popular versions is three-card poker, or poker three. As the name would suggest, it is played with three cards.
The rules of Three Card Poker are as follows:
A. The player pays an ante. The player gets three cards, as does the dealer. The dealer’s cards are face down.
B. The player now has a choice. First, fold his hand and give up the ante. Or he or she can raise, which means the bet must now be twice the original ante. For instance, if the ante is $5, the raise must be $10.
C. The dealer then turns over his cards. The dealer must have Q or higher in order to qualify. If the dealer does not, the player wins even money on his ante and the raise is a push.
D. If the dealer’s hand qualifies, the hands are compared, and the higher hand is declared the winner based on standard poker rankings. If the dealer has the best hand, the player loses both bets. If the player does, he wins both and gets even money back.
E. A straight or better earns the player an ante bonus no matter what the dealer’s hand.
As with most casino games, there is not a lot of strategy to learn or live by! However, here is a few to consider:
1. Many players will raise on queen or better to match the dealer’s payoff hand. This is a solid strategy.
2. A better one is to consider the Q with a kicker (second card) of at least eight before raising. This gives the player more options for a better return.
The three-card poker pays off on straights (ex. 3-4-5) flushes (three of the same suit). It is an easy to learn and easy to follow game.
The hand rankings are the same as real poker, with a straight flush being the best, then flush, str8, three of a kind and pair.
As with most casino poker games, the player really only has to make one decision – to raise or fold once he or she has seen the cards. This gives the player some room to gamble, but also to escape from hands as well. In the long run, it is a game where the draw is completely random, so past performance has no impact on present result, so each hand should be played individually.
Three Card poker is easy to learn and features fast action. It is available all over the world in casinos as well as online.
Players should not expect to make a living at this game, but it is fun and a good change of pace. Just remember that as with all casino poker games, it’s you against the house, and the house will always have an advantage. Long term, the house will win. But if you have a good stretch and are on a good run, you can make money in surges.
Three Card Poker is a fun casino game. Give it a try and you might find you can make some money playing it.
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