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Three Card Poker
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Introduction
Three Card Poker holds the distinction of being one of the first and most popular modern table games. The game is straightforward: both the player and the dealer receive three cards each, and the one with the superior hand wins. Before the dealer plays, the player must decide whether to raise or to fold. This game is quite accessible, making it easy for beginners to learn and become proficient quickly.
Video Tutorial
Video uses our practice Three Card Poker game .
This game is also referred to as Teen Patti in live dealer environments. Ezugi .
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Rules
Player makes an Ante and/or Pairplus bet- In the game, the dealer distributes three cards to each player and keeps three for themselves. Players have the opportunity to view their own cards while the dealer's cards remain face-down.
- If the player has placed an Ante bet, they must then choose to either fold or raise.
- Folding results in the player losing their Ante bet.
- Should the player decide to raise, they must place an additional bet known as the Play bet, which must be equal to their Ante bet.
- The dealer will turn over his cards.
- In order for the dealer to qualify, they need to have at least a queen high.
- If the dealer does not meet the qualifying hand, the player wins even money on their Ante bet, while the Play bet will be refunded.
- When the dealer qualifies, the player's hand is compared against the dealer's hand, with the higher hand being the winner. The ranking of poker hands is provided below.
- If the player’s poker hand ranks higher than the dealer's, both the Ante and Play bets will payout at even money.
- Conversely, if the dealer's hand beats the player's, both the Ante and Play bets will be lost.
- In the event of a tie between the player and the dealer, both Ante and Play bets will push.
- If the player has placed an Ante bet and holds a straight or a better hand, they will receive an Ante Bonus, independent of the dealer's hand strength.
- The Pairplus bet solely depends on the poker value of the player’s hand, as outlined in the Pairplus segment.
Order of Hands and Probabilities in Three Card Poker.
| Hand | Combinations | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Straight flush | 48 | 0.002172 |
| Three of a kind | 52 | 0.002353 |
| Straight | 720 | 0.032579 |
| Flush | 1096 | 0.049593 |
| Pair | 3744 | 0.169412 |
| Ace High or Less | 16440 | 0.743891 |
Ante and Play Analysis
There are multiple pay tables available concerning Ante Bonuses. The following table lists these pay tables, their contributions to returns, and the total returns for each variant. Most tables correspond to pay table #1. house edge and element of risk For those interested, pay tables 5 and 6 can be found at online casinos operated by Gamesys N.V. Notably, players using pay table 6 will incur a 10% commission on their net winnings from each gaming session.
Ante Bet Bonus
| Hand | Table 1 | Table 2 | Table 3 | Table 4 | Table 5 | Table 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight flush | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 12.5 |
| Three of a kind | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 10 |
| Straight | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| House Edge | 3.37% | 3.83% | 4.28% | 3.61% | 1.56% | 0.33% |
| Element of Risk | 2.01% | 2.28% | 2.56% | 2.16% | 0.93% | 0.20% |
The subsequent table reveals the probabilities and expected returns for each potential outcome under the pay table 1 Ante bonuses.
Here, the same data is restructured to illustrate outcomes between the player and dealer along with the Ante bonus.
Ante Return Table
| Win | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 617044 | 0.001515 | 0.010608 |
| 6 | 931972 | 0.002289 | 0.013733 |
| 5 | 289104 | 0.000710 | 0.003550 |
| 3 | 8976452 | 0.022046 | 0.066138 |
| 2 | 91100696 | 0.223741 | 0.447482 |
| 1 | 80955780 | 0.198825 | 0.198825 |
| 0 | 249216 | 0.000612 | 0.000000 |
| -1 | 132923304 | 0.326456 | -0.326456 |
| -2 | 91126832 | 0.223805 | -0.447610 |
| Total | 407170400 | 1.000000 | -0.033730 |
When the player holds a straight flush and the dealer fails to qualify.
Some casinos now feature a line item for a Mini Royal within the Ante Bonus pay table. A Mini Royal comprises a suited AKQ. Below are some pay tables I’ve come across or heard of. The last row indicates the total house edge on the Ante bet associated with each table.
Mini Royal rules
Pay Table 3: This is offered by Borgata, Atlantic City, and Galewind Internet casinos.
Mini Royal Summary Table
| Hand | Table 1 | Table 2 | Table 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Royal in Spades | 50 | 50 | 10 |
| Mini Royal | 10 | 50 | 10 |
| Straight flush | 4 | 8 | 5 |
| Three of a kind | 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Straight | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| House Edge | 6.79% | 4.75% | 3.28% |
| Element of Risk | 4.06% | 2.84% | 1.96% |
Mini Royal Ante Bonus locations:
Pay Table 1: Wynn, Las Vegas
Pay Table 2: Casino Arizona
The next table presents the probabilities and expected returns for the most frequently used pay table concerning the Pairplus bet. The lower right cell indicates a house edge of 7.28%.
Pairplus
The following two tables present different pay tables for Pairplus. Previously, there was only one option, pay table 1, but now pay table 7 has become commonplace. The Pioneer in Laughlin is the only casino in Southern Nevada that I’m aware still uses pay table 1.
Pairplus Return Table
| Hand | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Flush | 40 | 48 | 0.002172 | 0.086878 |
| Three of a Kind | 30 | 52 | 0.002353 | 0.070588 |
| Straight | 6 | 720 | 0.032579 | 0.195475 |
| Flush | 3 | 1096 | 0.049593 | 0.148778 |
| Pair | 1 | 3744 | 0.169412 | 0.169412 |
| All Other | -1 | 16440 | 0.743891 | -0.743891 |
| Total | 22100 | 1 | -0.07276 |
This online casino also utilizes pay table 1. Meanwhile, the Borgata in Atlantic City offers pay table 11 known as the 'Three Card Bonus Bet' within their Let it Ride games. Bovada In 2007, several casinos introduced a 'Mini Royal' to their pay tables, which consists of a suited ace, king, and queen.
The next two pay tables exhibit the house edge for various Pairplus configurations, encompassing both situations with and without the Mini Royal.
Pairplus Pay Tables — Without the Mini Royal.
The subsequent table illustrates the probability and returns for net winnings under the assumption that the player bets equivalently on both Ante and Pairplus, based on the most familiar pay tables of 1/4/5 for the Ante Bonus and 1/3/6/30/40 pertaining to the Pairplus. The lower left corner indicates an expected loss of -0.10649 units on a dual unit initial wager, suggesting a combined bet house edge of -0.053245, or a 5.32% house edge overall.
House edge
| Pairplus Pay Tables — With Mini Royal | Hand | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
| Pay Table | 80 | 50 | 50 | 200 | 100 | 50 | 200 |
| Mini Royal | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 50 | 40 | 40 |
| Straight flush | 25 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Three of a kind | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Straight | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Flush | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Pair | Nothing | -1 | -1 | Pairplus | Pairplus Return Table | Hand | Pays |
| Combinations | 7.73% | 7.10% | 5.39% | 4.38% | 4.20% | 2.14% | 4.38% |
Probability
When betting equally on the Ante and Pairplus as per the indicated pay tables, the overall winning probability is calculated at 32.06%, with a push at 13.23%, leading to a loss rate of 54.71%.
Return
| Straight Flush | Three of a Kind | Straight | Flush |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pair | 77992716 | 0.191548 | All Other |
| -1 | 132652800 | 0.325792 | -0.743891 |
| Total | 12108216 | 0.029737 | -0.07276 |
| 0 | 53876136 | 0.132318 | 0.000000 |
| 1 | 39406040 | 0.096780 | 0.09678 |
| 2 | 20926080 | 0.051394 | 0.102788 |
| 3 | 36171912 | 0.088837 | 0.266512 |
| 4 | 6135276 | 0.015068 | 0.060272 |
| 5 | 13064048 | 0.032085 | 0.160425 |
| 7 | 18288 | 0.000045 | 0.000314 |
| 8 | 4001004 | 0.009826 | 0.078611 |
| 9 | 8975484 | 0.022044 | 0.198392 |
| 32 | 3312 | 0.000008 | 0.000260 |
| 35 | 288960 | 0.000710 | 0.024839 |
| 36 | 665776 | 0.001635 | 0.058865 |
| 43 | 968 | 0.000002 | 0.000102 |
| 45 | 144 | 0.000000 | 0.000016 |
| 46 | 266196 | 0.000654 | 0.030073 |
| 47 | 617044 | 0.001515 | 0.071226 |
| Bovada | 407170400 | 1 | Expand |
I have encountered two variants of the progressive side bet featured in Three Card Poker. Both require a $1 wager and offer a progressive jackpot for scoring a royal flush in spades, alongside an envy bonus if another player achieves a royal flush.
Hand
The first variant, which I discovered at Fitzgerald’s in Las Vegas on February 4, 2009, is a $1 bet that pays based on the pay table outlined below, where winnings are awarded on a 'for one' basis, meaning the original wager is not returned even if the player wins.
Pay Table
Three Card Poker Progressive — Version 1
The return amount varies, depending on the jackpot size and how many additional players are participating. Specifically, it stands at 47.87%, increasing by 4.52% for each $1000 present in the jackpot, along with 0.79% for every extra player at the table. To break even, the jackpot must hit $11,520, deducting $175 for each additional player.
| Straight flush | Three of a kind | Straight |
|---|---|---|
| Flush | Pair | $100 |
| Nothing | $500 | $25 |
| -1 | $100 | $0 |
| -1 | $90 | $0 |
The variant I call version 2A was observed at the Casino Caribbean in Yakima, Washington in June 2014. The most noticeable difference compared to version 1 is that version 2A additionally pays for achieving a straight. This variant also has a bet amount of $1.
-1
Three Card Poker Progressive — Version 2A
As before, the return is linked to the jackpot total and player count. It stands at 54.39%, adding 4.52% for each additional $1,000 in the jackpot, and 0.79% per other players. A break-even jackpot in this case must reach $10,080, decreasing by $175 for every additional player seated at the table.
| -1 | -1 | -1 |
|---|---|---|
| -1 | -1 | $100 |
| -1 | $500 | $25 |
| -1 | $70 | $0 |
| -1 | $60 | $0 |
| House edge | $6 | $0 |
Version 2B is largely a replica of 2A, except that the required bet is $10. Unlike version 2A, the envy bonuses here are five times, not ten. I encountered this version at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas on June 13, 2023. Here’s the corresponding pay table.
Pairplus Pay Tables — With Mini Royal
Three Card Poker Progressive — Version 2B
The expected return from fixed winnings stands at 54.39%. The anticipated return from the jackpot is 4.52% for every $10,000 accumulated in the meter, and envy bonuses yield an expected return of 0.40% per additional player at the table.
| Hand | Pay Table | Mini Royal |
|---|---|---|
| Straight flush | Three of a kind | $500 |
| Straight | $500 | $125 |
| Flush | 70 | $0 |
| Pair | 60 | $0 |
| Nothing | 6 | $0 |
To break even on this version, the jackpot would need to be $100,800, with deductions of $875 for each additional player at the table.
What I've termed version 3 was seen at the Red Rock casino in Las Vegas on September 7, 2018, which relies on the three cards dealt to the player and two additional cards. Unfortunately, I couldn’t determine which two cards were in play as the table was not operational at my visit. This option includes a $1 'red light' wager, outlined in the following pay table, where wins are also given on a 'for one' basis.
-1
Three Card Poker Progressive — Version 3
Just like before, the return varies based on the jackpot size and the number of other players at the table. Specifically, it stands at 53.06%, plus 2.92% for every $1,000 in the jackpot, along with 0.57% per additional player. To achieve a break-even point, the jackpot would need to be $160,531, subtracting $1,947 for every extra player seated at the table, excluding the player themselves.
| -1 | Pairplus | Pairplus Return Table |
|---|---|---|
| Hand | Pays | $1,000 |
| Combinations | Probability | $300 |
| Return | $300 | |
| Straight Flush | $50 | |
| Three of a Kind | $40 | |
| Straight | $30 | |
| Flush | $9 |
The 'Prime' side bet was spotted at the Wynn on July 2, 2010. This bet rewards 3 to 1 if the player's three cards are of the same color, and offers 4 to 1 if all six cards from both the player and dealer match in color as well. The corresponding return table indicates a house edge of 3.62%, which is fairly reasonable for a side bet.
Pair
A casino located near Sacramento has introduced a $1 side bet. As with the previous example, wins are recognized on a 'for one' basis, thereby players do not receive their original wager back, even when winning. Players may win not just from their own hand but can also benefit from 'envy bonus' wins driven by fellow players' hands. The subsequent return table exhibits the paytable associated with the player’s own cards, with a return rate of 57.47% shown in the lower right cell.All Other
| -1 | -0.743891 | Total | -0.07276 | Bovada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expand | 4 | 9,209,200 | 0.022618 | 0.090470 |
| Hand | 3 | 86,595,600 | 0.212677 | 0.638030 |
| Pay Table | Straight flush | 311,365,600 | 0.764706 | Three of a kind |
| Straight | 407,170,400 | 1.000000 | Flush |
Pair
Nothing -1 The following table displays the value of the Envy Bonus which correlates per additional player involved. The lower right cell highlights that the return increases by 0.79% with every additional player at the table.-1
| -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -1 | 4000 | 1 | 0.000045 | 0.180995 |
| -1 | 1000 | 3 | 0.000136 | 0.135747 |
| -1 | 100 | 44 | 0.001991 | 0.199095 |
| -1 | 25 | 52 | 0.002353 | 0.058824 |
| House edge | 0 | 22000 | 0.995475 | 0 |
| Pairplus Pay Tables — With Mini Royal | 22100 | 1 | 0.574661 |
Hand
| Pay Table | Mini Royal | Straight flush | Three of a kind | Straight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flush | 100 | 1 | 0.000045 | 0.004525 |
| Pair | 25 | 3 | 0.000136 | 0.003394 |
| Nothing | 0 | 44 | 0.001991 | 0.000000 |
| -1 | 0 | 52 | 0.002353 | 0.000000 |
| -1 | 0 | 22000 | 0.995475 | 0.000000 |
| -1 | 22100 | 1 | 0.007919 |
-1
| -1 | -1 |
|---|---|
| 6 | 38.57% |
| 5 | 39.37% |
| 4 | 40.16% |
| 3 | 40.95% |
| 2 | 41.74% |
| 1 | 42.53% |
-1
Live dealer studios refer to this side bet as '3+3', utilizing pay table 4 as illustrated below in their Teen Patti version, which mirrors the format of Three Card Poker. Overall, I have identified four different pay tables that have been reported. House edge Comprehensive Guide to Online Three Card Poker: Strategies, Rules, and Helpful Hints - Wizard of Odds
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Combined
| Combined Return Table | Win | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -3 | 1000 | 188 | 0.000009 | 0.009234 |
| -0.574644 | 200 | 1656 | 0.000081 | 0.016268 |
| -2 | 50 | 14664 | 0.000720 | 0.036014 |
| -0.651584 | 25 | 165984 | 0.008153 | 0.203826 |
| -1 | 15 | 205792 | 0.010108 | 0.151626 |
| -0.029737 | 10 | 361620 | 0.017763 | 0.177626 |
| Total | 5 | 732160 | 0.035963 | 0.179817 |
| -0.106490 | Three Card Poker Progressive | 18876456 | 0.927202 | Version 1 |
| Hand | 20358520 | 1 | Pays |
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Envy Bonus
| Mini Royal in spades | Jackpot | Mini Royal | Straight Flush | Three of a Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Version 2A | 1,000 | 2,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Hand | 200 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
| Pays | 100 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Envy Bonus | 20 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Mini Royal in spades | 15 | 15 | 15 | 20 |
| Jackpot | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Mini Royal | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Straight Flush | 8.56% | 14.36% | 15.28% | 10.22% |
Three of a Kind
Three Card Poker stands out as one of the pioneering and popular new casino table games. Its rules are straightforward: both the player and the dealer are dealt three cards each, and the winner is determined by who has the higher hand. Prior to the dealer's move, the player needs to decide whether to raise or fold. This game is quite accessible for anyone looking to learn and excel.
Straight
Live dealer studios often refer to this game as Teen Patti.
Version 2B
| Hand | Pays | Envy Bonus | Mini Royal in spades | Jackpot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Royal | 200,000 | 1 | 0.00000005 | 0.00982390 |
| Straight Flush | 20,000 | 3 | 0.00000015 | 0.00294717 |
| Three of a Kind | 1,000 | 184 | 0.00000904 | 0.00903799 |
| Straight | 200 | 1,656 | 0.00008134 | 0.01626837 |
| Version 3 | 50 | 14,664 | 0.00072029 | 0.03601441 |
| Hand | 20 | 165,984 | 0.00815305 | 0.16306097 |
| Pays | 15 | 205,792 | 0.01010840 | 0.15162595 |
| Envy Bonus | 10 | 361,620 | 0.01776259 | 0.17762588 |
| Royal flush | 5 | 732,160 | 0.03596332 | 0.17981661 |
| Jackpot | Straight flush | 18,876,456 | 0.92720178 | 10% of Jackpot |
| Four of a kind | 20,358,520 | 1.00000000 | Full house |
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Flush
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Three of a kind
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Prime
In the game, the dealer deals three cards to each player and three cards to themselves. Players can look at their own cards while the dealer's cards remain face down.
When a player places an Ante bet, they must choose either to fold or to raise.
Should the player choose to fold, they forfeit their Ante bet.
Prime
If a player decides to raise, they are required to place an additional Play bet that matches their Ante wager exactly. Hand .
Pays
To qualify, the dealer must have at least a queen-high hand. Combinations .
Probability
If the dealer fails to qualify, the player receives a payout of even money on their Ante bet while the Play bet will result in a push. Return .
6 Same Color
Once the dealer qualifies, the player's hand is compared against the dealer's hand, determining the winner based on whose hand is higher. The ranking of the poker hands is listed below.
3 Same Color
| Loser | -1 | -0.764706 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| -0.036206 | 0.95 | 0.499434 | 0.474462 |
| Red Hawk Bonus | I have an unconfirmed report that the | 0.499434 | Red Hawk |
| Red Hawk Bonus — Player's Hand | 0 | 0.001132 | 0 |
| Hand | 1.000000 | Pays |
If the player possesses a stronger poker hand than the dealer, they will win even money on both the Ante and Play bets. Combinations Conversely, if the dealer's hand is superior, the player will lose both the Ante and Play bets.
In the event of a tie between the player and the dealer, both Ante and Play bets will result in a push. Probability .
Return
If a player has made an Ante bet and holds a straight hand or better, they will be awarded an Ante Bonus, no matter how the dealer's hand ranks.
The Pairplus wager pays solely based on the rank of the player's hand, as detailed in the Pairplus section below.
Mini Royal in spades
- Understanding Hand Rankings and Chances in Three Card Poker Mini Royal .
- Straight Flush Three of a Kind Different Ante Bonus pay tables exist. The table below presents the known pay tables, detailing their returns and overall contributions.
- Loser .
- Total Most players encounter the standard pay table #1 at numerous venues.
Red Hawk Bonus — Envy Bonus
| Hand | Pays | Combinations | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Probability | 276 | 11 | Return |
 |
Mini Royal in spades | 2 | 3 | Mini Royal |
Straight Flush
- Three of a Kind Loser
- If you're curious, pay tables 5 and 6 can be located at online casinos that utilize Gamesys N.V. software. In table 6, players are subjected to a 10% commission on net winnings for each gaming session.Total .