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3 Card Poker is a fast and fun online casino game that’s easy to pick up. It’s simple yet diverse, featuring various iterations and side bets with payouts up to 40:1.
Undoubtedly, where you decide to play the game will dictate your experience. We present top gambling sites for three card poker, along with details on rules, odds, payouts, and pro tips to enhance your strategy.
Disclosure: At GamblingSites.com, our mission is to connect you with the best gambling sites and informational resources available. If you click one of the links on our site, we may earn a commission payment at no extra charge to you.
The Best Online 3 Card Poker Casinos for Real Money
Looking to jump right into the best Three Card Poker online casinos? It’s recommended that you first consider what you value most in an online casino. When attaching the thought to 3 Card Poker in particular, we quickly saw that not every site was the same. Here are the standout picks for playing 3 Card Poker online and exactly why they top our list:
- Wild Casino – Best Site For a Variety of Three Card Poker Games
- DuckyLuck Casino – Best 3 Card Poker Site for Beginners
- Bovada – Best Three Card Poker Rewards Program
Wild Casino Best Site For a Variety of Three Card Poker Games
Wild Casino offers four different 3 Card Poker variations, which is impressive compared to other offshore gambling sites that usually only have one or two at most. All of them are housed under the ‘Table Games’ category: Tri Card Poker, Triple Edge Poker, Teen Patti, and Three Card Poker.
The gambling site creates a welcoming environment for players of all levels to get their foot into the action. Betsoft’s version lets you place bets starting at just $1 and sticks to the core gameplay without any extra side bets. Meanwhile, Tri Card Poker spices things up by adding the Pair+ option to the mix and betting limits that go up to $10,000. Looking for a twist in how you play and bet? Try Rival Powerd’s Teen Patti.
You’ll also find a ton of match-up bonuses, reloads, cashbacks, and tournaments to join in on, with Three Card Poker games generally contributing 10% to the wagering requirements.
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- Bonus: 250% up to $5,000
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DuckyLuck Casino Best 3 Card Poker Site for Beginners
Never played a round of Three Card Poker? We suggest starting out at DuckyLuck Casino. The platform itself is super easy to navigate and features a classic version of the game by Qora-Gaming that sticks to the traditional rules. It comes with its own game guide that explains how to play and details the payouts, which are definitely on the good side.
There is literally zero risk involved—you can try it out for free in demo mode before even creating an account. And when you feel comfortable enough to do so, setting it up takes less than three minutes. Plus, you can claim a 500% welcome offer up to $7,500. The rollover requirements are 30x, but the real bonus is that DuckyLuck really looks out for table game players with a 20% contribution rate.
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- Bonus: 500% up to $7,500
- Visit Site Read Review
Bovada Best Three Card Poker Rewards Program
Bovada features two classic Tri Card Poker and two Teen Patti games. They’re terrific in terms of variety, but what really stands out is the site’s rewards program. You earn one point for every dollar spent on table games, which you can then exchange for cash to use across the site—whether that’s playing in the casino, buying into poker tournaments, or betting on sports or horses.
The best part is that everyone begins accumulating rewards right from their first bet. You’ll slowly make your way up through the six available tiers—Starter, Rookie, Pro, All-Star, Legend, and finally, at the very top, Hall of Fame. At that point, you might even get invited to their exclusive VIP program.
Something we really liked was the fact that you can’t lose any of your progress. Every point you earn stays there no matter what; you can go on an extended break and return to the same tier that you left.
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- Bonus: 100% up to $1,000
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How We Choose the Top Three Card Poker Sites to Recommend
Every Three Card Poker online casino listed on this page has gone through our in-house B.E.S.T. rating system. We dive in and play just like any other player, so we can analyze and truly understand what each gambling site has to offer.
Here’s more about what we look for:
- Three Card Poker Game Selection: We make sure that there’s a mix of classic Three Card Poker and modern variations from different providers among the casinos we feature. This way, you always have something new to try and won’t get stuck playing the same old thing.
- Favorable Rules: A slight house edge is unavoidable. Yet, at the same time, not all games are created equal. We look at the specifics—like payout structures and side bet options—to find titles that give you a fair shot at winning.
- User Interface and Gameplay: Nobody wants to deal with clunky software or confusing menus. We test each site’s interface on both desktop and mobile to confirm everything runs smoothly. We do this across various states in the U.S. and under different bandwidth strengths to pinpoint exactly when and where any glitches might first appear.
- Site Security: We only recommend the safest online casinos. Our team thoroughly verifies each site’s license and ensures their games are audited for fairness by independent third parties. We also dig into the fine print of privacy policies and T&Cs and check out security measures like TLS encryption to see how they handle and protect your personal and financial information.
- Bonus Value: Who doesn’t love a good bonus? We closely examine the promotions available, from welcome offers to ongoing deals, focusing on their value specifically for Three Card Poker players. Of course, major attention is given to those that are tailored to table games.
Online 3 Card Poker Rules
3 Card Poker is played with a standard 52-card deck—no jokers or wild cards involved. It’s you against the dealer. You both get three cards each. But while you can look at yours, the dealer’s cards are dealt face down; they remain a mystery for a bit.
The objective is to create the strongest three-card hand and outplay the dealer. There’s no exchanging nor the use of community elements like traditional poker. You play the hand you’re dealt.
Hand Order
The rankings in 3 card poker are slightly different from the classic variation of the game because you’re only dealing with three cards.
Here are the possible hands, ranked from strongest to weakest:
- Straight flush: Three consecutive cards of the same suit.
- Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank.
- Straight: Three consecutive cards of any suit. The ace can be high or low but can’t wrap around, so no King-Ace-2 sequences.
- Flush: Any three cards of the same suit.
- Pair: Two cards of the same rank.
- High card: If none of the above combinations are achieved, the highest card in your hand plays.
Dealer Qualification
The dealer only qualifies to play against you if their hand includes a Queen high or better. Anything less means you win the round, regardless of what you have.
So, if the dealer has a 10 high, and you have a 7 high, you still win because the dealer didn’t meet the qualification requirement.
Betting, Raising, and Folding
A game of online 3 card poker starts with an ante bet. This is your initial wager, placed before any cards are dealt. It’s essentially your buy-in to start a new round.
After you receive your three cards, you may look at your hand and decide on your next move. Here, you face a decision to either fold or play (raising). Folding means you forfeit the ante bet, and the game ends right there. If you decide to play, you must place a play bet, which is equal in amount to your ante.
Ante Bonus
The ante bonus is a special payout you’d be eligible for if you’re holding a straight, three of a kind, or straight flush, and it’s paid out directly—depending on the strength of your hand—based on your ante wager without requiring you to risk additional money.
3 Card Poker Side Bets
Beyond the standard Ante and Play wagers, 3 Card Poker variants might also feature the Pair Plus side bet. This is an optional one that can be made at the start of each round, where you’d be anticipating that the three cards dealt to you will include at least a pair or something even better. What’s great about this is that the payout depends only on the strength of your hand and is completely independent of what the dealer gets.
There’s also the possibility you’ll come across a 6-Card Bonus option. Here, you’d be combining your three cards with the dealer’s to form the best possible five-card poker hand, like a full house or even a royal flush.
How to Play 3 Card Poker Online
Is it your first time playing 3 card poker online? Let me walk you through what a typical round looks like so you know exactly what to expect.
As soon as the game loads up, you’ll find yourself seated at the table directly across from the dealer. The first order of business is to buy into the round by placing your ante bet.
Depending on the version, you might also have the option to go for a side bet like the ‘Pair Plus’ or the ‘6-Card Bonus.’
Once you’re satisfied with your choice, click the ‘Deal’ button. This prompts the hands to be dealt: three cards for you face up and another three face down for the dealer.
At this stage, you get the chance to assess your cards. Now, you either double the ante if you think your hand has a fighting chance, or you ‘fold’ if you feel the dealer has got one above you this time.
If you fold, you forfeit your ante and effectively step out of the round.
The dealer then reveals their cards, whether you have chosen to fold or continue playing.
Now it’s the moment of truth. Payouts happen automatically based on the following scenarios:
If the dealer doesn’t qualify with a Queen or higher.
If the dealer qualifies and your hand is better.
However, you lose both bets if the dealer’s hand outranks yours.
After the round concludes and all payouts are settled, you can either leave the game or place your bets again to start a new round.
Online 3 Card Poker Payouts
How much you win in Three Card Poker can vary from one variant to another, but traditionally, your payout is determined by specific outcomes. Let’s break it down:
3 Card Poker Pay Table
In every round that the dealer doesn’t qualify, you win even money on your ante, and your play bet is returned. If they do, but your cards beat the dealer’s, you get back even money on both your ante and play bets, plus any ante bonuses for high-ranking hands like straights or better.
| Winning Scenario | Hand | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Dealer Does Not Qualify | Any | 1:1 on ante; play bet returned (push) |
| Hand Beats Dealer’s (Dealer Qualifies) | Any better than dealer’s | 1:1 on ante + 1:1 on play bet |
| Ante Bonus (Regardless of Dealer’s Hand) | Straight | 1:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 4:1 | |
| Straight Flush | 5:1 |
Pair Plus Side Bet Pay Table
The Pair Plus side bet pays out based solely on the strength of your hand, no matter what else happens in the game. It could be that the dealer has a Three of a Kind, but if you’re holding a Straight, you still pocket a 6:1 payout on your bet.
| Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Straight Flush | 40:1 |
| 3 of a Kind | 30:1 |
| Straight | 6:1 |
| Flush | 4:1 |
| Pair | 1:1 |
3 Card Poker Odds
While it might seem at first that you and the dealer have equal chances of getting any hand in 3 Card Poker, certain game rules like dealer qualification and the betting structure give the casino a house edge of around 3.37% when playing optimal strategy.
The following table lays out the various hand combinations and their odds of hitting in Three Card Poker, using a standard 52-card deck:
| Hand | Possible Combinations | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Straight Flush | 48 | 0.22% |
| 3 of a Kind | 52 | 0.24% |
| Straight | 720 | 3.26% |
| Flush | 1096 | 4.96% |
| Pair | 3744 | 16.95% |
| Ace High or Less | 16440 | 74.39% |
Pair Plus House Edge
The house edge on the Pair Plus bet in Three Card Poker is typically higher than the Ante bet, averaging around 7.28%.
3 Card Poker Strategy and Tips to Win
What sets 3 Card Poker apart from other online casino games like slots and keno is that you can strategize and influence the outcome. Here are some tips to consider before you square off against the dealer:
The Optimal Raise/Fold Strategy
For the best chance to beat the house in the long run, you should always raise when you’re holding Queen-6-4 or better. Otherwise, fold! This is because, statistically, such a hand is the breakpoint where your expected value turns positive.
Avoid the Side Bet
While the Pair Plus bet can offer substantial returns, the payouts themselves do not compensate for the probabilities of achieving the respective hands. For example, the odds of getting a pair (which has the lowest payout on the Pair Plus pay table) are about 16.94%, but it only pays 1 to 1. The same goes for other combos; a straight flush pays 40:1, but statistically, it only happens 0.22% of the time.
My Advice? Set aside 10% of your winnings, and when you feel a strong hunch, go for it. Just don’t make it a regular thing!
Use Bankroll Management
Managing your bankroll smartly in Three Card Poker means adjusting your bets based on how often you choose to play or fold. For instance, if you follow the Q-6-4 strategy, you’ll end up playing your hand roughly 44% of the time and folding the rest. This means if you start with a $200 budget, betting a $1 ante each round can let you play around 138 rounds comfortably without accounting for any winnings.
Play Free Games to Learn the Ropes
Reading this guide to Three Card Poker should give you a solid foundation. But there’s nothing like playing the game yourself. With casinos like DuckyLuck and Bovada, you can jump right into the demo versions without even setting up an account. Just head to the site, find 3 Card Poker or Teen Patti under the ‘Table Games’ category, and start testing out your strategies.
Take Advantage of Promotions
Don’t let the lower contribution rate to the wagering requirements put you off. Remember, Three Card Poker has better odds and a lower house edge than many online slots, keno, scratch cards, and arcade games. This means your bets are generally more effective at keeping your balance stable. So, even though only a small percentage of your wager counts towards the rollover, you’re likely to hold onto your funds longer, giving you more playtime and better chances to cross over the finish line.
It Only Takes Three Cards and a Little Luck to Win
Three Card Poker is perfect if you’re after a game that’s got a bit of a classic poker feel but lets you take it at your own pace.
If it’s your first time playing, we can’t recommend a better place than DuckyLuck—it’s user-friendly and lets you try out the demo versions completely for free. Wild Casino is also a great option, especially for those looking for variety and a bigger contribution rate to the wagering requirements.
Bovada, on the other hand, offers an excellent rewards program. Plus, it’s got one of the best online poker platforms just a click away if you ever feel like running a bluff against live opponents.
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