3-Way Action is an alternative version of video poker where players can make up to three wagers for different winning opportunities: (1) on the initial 5-card hand, (2) on the 5-card hand after the draw, and (3) on a 7-card hand that includes the 5-card hand drawn plus two additional cards from the deck. It's important not to confuse this game with the table game of the same name. Three Way Action .
Rules
The first coin wager is allocated to the initial 5-card hand, the second to the 5-card draw, and the third for the 7-card hand. All subsequent bets will follow this pattern. Like many video poker variants, the maximum payouts increase considerably for higher hands when betting max coins. The payout tables below reflect the highest known rates based on maximum bets. Additional payout configurations are mentioned in the Return section.
5-Card Deal Hand Pay Table
Hand
Pays
Royal flush
4000
Straight flush
500
Four aces + 2-4
1000
Four 2-4 + A-4
400
Four aces
400
Four 2-4
200
Four 5-K
100
Full house
25
Flush
15
Straight
9
Three of a kind
5
Two pair
4
Pair J-A
2
Pair 3-10
1
Nonpaying hand
0
5-Card Draw Hand Pay Table
Hand
Pays
Royal Flush
800
Straight Flush
100
Four aces + 2-4
400
Four 2-4 + A-4
160
Four aces
160
Four 2-4
80
Four 5-K
50
Full House
9
Flush
6
Straight
4
Three of a kind
3
Two pair
1
Jacks or better
1
Nonpaying hand
0
7-Card Hand Pay Table
Hand
Pays
Four aces + three 2-4
4000
Four 2-4 + Three A-4
2000
7-card straight flush
800
Four of a kind + three of a kind
400
Royal Flush
160
Straight Flush
25
Four aces
40
Four 2-4
20
Four 5-K
10
Full House
4
Flush
3
Straight
2
Three of a kind
1
Two pair J-A up
1
Nonpaying hand
0
Return
I have identified five unique payout structures listed below in terms of overall return based on the three different bets. All payout tables for the 5-card and 7-card draws are based on optimal strategies.
99.291%
I've come across this payout table at both the Oasis in Mesquite and the Santa Fe Station in Las Vegas. However, exercise caution as the Santa Fe Station features numerous 3-Way Action machines and not all adhere to this payout structure.
5-Card Deal Hand Pay Table
Hand
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
Royal flush
4000
4
0.000002
0.006156
Straight flush
500
36
0.000014
0.006926
Four aces + 2-4
1000
12
0.000005
0.004617
Four 2-4 + A-4
400
36
0.000014
0.005541
Four aces
400
36
0.000014
0.005541
Four 2-4
200
108
0.000042
0.008311
Four 5-K
100
432
0.000166
0.016622
Full house
25
3744
0.001441
0.036014
Flush
15
5108
0.001965
0.029481
Straight
9
10200
0.003925
0.035322
Three of a kind
5
54912
0.021128
0.105642
Two pair
4
123552
0.047539
0.190156
Pair J-A
2
337920
0.130021
0.260042
Pair 3-10
1
675840
0.260042
0.260042
Other
0
1387020
0.533683
0
Total
2598960
1
0.970414
5-Card Draw Hand Pay Table
Hand
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
Royal Flush
800
455864388
0.000023
0.018296
Straight Flush
100
2924754012
0.000147
0.014673
Four aces + 2-4
400
1054172592
0.000053
0.021154
Four 2-4 + A-4
160
2848458900
0.000143
0.022864
Four aces
160
2864959896
0.000144
0.022996
Four 2-4
80
7616190864
0.000382
0.030567
Four 5-K
50
31176229800
0.001564
0.078202
Full House
9
220034894868
0.011039
0.099347
Flush
6
371536113900
0.018639
0.111834
Straight
4
252148866336
0.01265
0.050599
Three of a kind
3
1407242194968
0.070598
0.211793
Two pair
1
2447297042832
0.122775
0.122775
Jacks or better
1
3525969101724
0.176889
0.176889
Nonpaying hand
0
11660061672120
0.584956
0
Total
19933230517200
1
0.981989
7-Card Hand Pay Table
Hand
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
Four aces + three 2-4
4000
4681016040
0.000001
0.003273
Four 2-4 + Three A-4
2000
12980386932
0.000002
0.004538
7-card straight flush
800
14516920940
0.000003
0.00203
Four of a kind + three of a kind
400
200524463808
0.000035
0.014021
Royal Flush
160
945488968584
0.000165
0.026443
Straight Flush
25
5711953578324
0.000998
0.024961
Four aces
40
3427971195392
0.000599
0.023968
Four 2-4
20
8572402413276
0.001498
0.029969
Four 5-K
10
26081911438768
0.004559
0.045591
Full House
4
367933126611288
0.064315
0.257258
Flush
3
446552121004000
0.078057
0.234171
Straight
2
285165922600112
0.049847
0.099694
Three of a kind
1
468239964753232
0.081848
0.081848
Two pair J-A up
1
1021573023895800
0.178571
0.178571
Nonpaying hand
0
3086400569189906
0.539502
0
Total
5720837158436400
1
1.026337
Total Return by Bet
Bet
Return
5-card deal
97.041%
5-card draw
98.199%
7-card draw
102.634%
Combined
99.291%
97.533%
5-Card Deal Hand Pay Table
Hand
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
Royal flush
4000
4
0.000002
0.006156
Straight flush
500
36
0.000014
0.006926
Four aces + 2-4
1000
12
0.000005
0.004617
Four 2-4 + A-4
400
36
0.000014
0.005541
Four aces
400
36
0.000014
0.005541
Four 2-4
200
108
0.000042
0.008311
Four 5-K
100
432
0.000166
0.016622
Full house
16
3744
0.001441
0.023049
Flush
12
5108
0.001965
0.023585
Straight
8
10200
0.003925
0.031397
Three of a kind
5
54912
0.021128
0.105642
Two pair
4
123552
0.047539
0.190156
Pair J-A
2
337920
0.130021
0.260042
Pair 3-10
1
675840
0.260042
0.260042
Other
0
1387020
0.533683
0
Total
2598960
1
0.947628
5-Card Draw Hand Pay Table
Hand
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
Royal Flush
800
470448636
0.000024
0.018881
Straight Flush
100
2951680848
0.000148
0.014808
Four aces + 2-4
400
1133663064
0.000057
0.022749
Four 2-4 + A-4
160
2853100872
0.000143
0.022901
Four aces
160
3089906328
0.000155
0.024802
Four 2-4
80
7628213628
0.000383
0.030615
Four 5-K
50
31206155220
0.001566
0.078277
Full House
9
211623404760
0.010617
0.09555
Flush
5
367429623216
0.018433
0.092165
Straight
4
283507091172
0.014223
0.056891
Three of a kind
3
1417755074436
0.071125
0.213376
Two pair
1
2353652942940
0.118077
0.118077
Jacks or better
1
3417934399920
0.171469
0.171469
Nonpaying hand
0
11831994812160
0.593581
0
Total
19933230517200
1
0.960561
7-Card Hand Pay Table
Hand
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
Four aces + three 2-4
4000
4902348360
0.000001
0.003428
Four 2-4 + Three A-4
2000
13127277552
0.000002
0.004589
7-card straight flush
800
14532875676
0.000003
0.002032
Four of a kind + three of a kind
400
193497507888
0.000034
0.013529
Royal Flush
160
937410577784
0.000164
0.026217
Straight Flush
25
5795889647772
0.001013
0.025328
Four aces
80
3619545377732
0.000633
0.050616
Four 2-4
40
8611680080084
0.001505
0.060213
Four 5-K
20
25958350489536
0.004538
0.09075
Full House
5
362387343671040
0.063345
0.316726
Flush
3
445303154285688
0.077839
0.233516
Straight
2
310385265719608
0.054255
0.10851
Three of a kind
1
471013321377908
0.082333
0.082333
Nonpaying hand
0
4086599137199772
0.714336
0
Total
5720837158436400
1
1.017788
Total Return by Bet
Bet
Return
5-card deal
94.763%
5-card draw
96.056%
7-card draw
101.779%
Combined
97.533%
97.288%
5-Card Deal Hand Pay Table
Hand
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
Royal flush
4000
4
0.000002
0.006156
Straight flush
500
36
0.000014
0.006926
Four aces + 2-4
1000
12
0.000005
0.004617
Four 2-4 + A-4
400
36
0.000014
0.005541
Four aces
400
36
0.000014
0.005541
Four 2-4
200
108
0.000042
0.008311
Four 5-K
100
432
0.000166
0.016622
Full house
16
3744
0.001441
0.023049
Flush
10
5108
0.001965
0.019654
Straight
7
10200
0.003925
0.027473
Three of a kind
5
54912
0.021128
0.105642
Two pair
4
123552
0.047539
0.190156
Pair J-A
2
337920
0.130021
0.260042
Pair 3-10
1
675840
0.260042
0.260042
Other
0
1387020
0.533683
0
Total
2598960
1
0.939773
5-Card Draw Hand Pay Table
Hand
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
Royal Flush
800
475546284
0.000024
0.019086
Straight Flush
100
2949023136
0.000148
0.014795
Four aces + 2-4
400
1058864052
0.000053
0.021248
Four 2-4 + A-4
160
2849013120
0.000143
0.022868
Four aces
160
2880444552
0.000145
0.023121
Four 2-4
80
7618809012
0.000382
0.030577
Four 5-K
50
31182344400
0.001564
0.078217
Full House
8
220112902944
0.011043
0.08834
Flush
5
363280894980
0.018225
0.091124
Straight
4
258813730788
0.012984
0.051936
Three of a kind
3
1407926665128
0.070632
0.211896
Two pair
1
2447405889768
0.12278
0.12278
Jacks or better
1
3540751824636
0.177631
0.177631
Nonpaying hand
0
11645924564400
0.584247
0
Total
19933230517200
1
0.95362
7-Card Hand Pay Table
Hand
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
Four aces + three 2-4
4000
4690215180
0.000001
0.003279
Four 2-4 + Three A-4
2000
12984926712
0.000002
0.00454
7-card straight flush
800
14371446168
0.000003
0.00201
Four of a kind + three of a kind
400
200590676748
0.000035
0.014025
Royal Flush
160
959759193260
0.000168
0.026842
Straight Flush
25
5680521558444
0.000993
0.024824
Four aces
40
3447640529276
0.000603
0.024106
Four 2-4
20
8568894314828
0.001498
0.029957
Four 5-K
10
26083562233272
0.004559
0.045594
Full House
4
367999697065776
0.064326
0.257305
Flush
3
439410059102556
0.076809
0.230426
Straight
2
290446718221108
0.05077
0.10154
Three of a kind
1
468400665006428
0.081876
0.081876
Two pair J-A up
1
1023592314695412
0.178924
0.178924
Nonpaying hand
0
3086014689251232
0.539434
0
Total
5720837158436400
1
1.025247
Total Return by Bet
Bet
Return
5-card deal
93.977%
5-card draw
95.362%
7-card draw
102.525%
Combined
97.288%
96.917%
5-Card Deal Hand Pay Table
Hand
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
Royal flush
4000
4
0.000002
0.006156
Straight flush
500
36
0.000014
0.006926
Four aces + 2-4
1000
12
0.000005
0.004617
Four 2-4 + A-4
400
36
0.000014
0.005541
Four aces
400
36
0.000014
0.005541
Four 2-4
200
108
0.000042
0.008311
Four 5-K
100
432
0.000166
0.016622
Full house
16
3744
0.001441
0.023049
Flush
10
5108
0.001965
0.019654
Straight
7
10200
0.003925
0.027473
Three of a kind
5
54912
0.021128
0.105642
Two pair
4
123552
0.047539
0.190156
Pair J-A
2
337920
0.130021
0.260042
Pair 3-10
1
675840
0.260042
0.260042
Other
0
1387020
0.533683
0
Total
2598960
1
0.939773
5-Card Draw Hand Pay Table
Hand
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
Royal Flush
800
470265456
0.000024
0.018874
Straight Flush
100
2953226784
0.000148
0.014816
Four aces + 2-4
400
1133479368
0.000057
0.022746
Four 2-4 + A-4
160
2853037404
0.000143
0.022901
Four aces
160
3089313960
0.000155
0.024797
Four 2-4
80
7628137260
0.000383
0.030615
Four 5-K
50
31197239772
0.001565
0.078254
Full House
8
211584953988
0.010615
0.084917
Flush
5
367614887340
0.018442
0.092212
Straight
4
283867481568
0.014241
0.056964
Three of a kind
3
1417337250660
0.071104
0.213313
Two pair
1
2353048340580
0.118047
0.118047
Jacks or better
1
3416666795352
0.171406
0.171406
Nonpaying hand
0
11833786107708
0.593671
0
Total
19933230517200
1
0.949859
7-Card Hand Pay Table
Hand
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
Four aces + three 2-4
4000
4901575920
0.000001
0.003427
Four 2-4 + Three A-4
2000
13126955292
0.000002
0.004589
7-card straight flush
800
14539119156
0.000003
0.002033
Four of a kind + three of a kind
400
193459318848
0.000034
0.013527
Royal Flush
160
936955409888
0.000164
0.026205
Straight Flush
25
5798927264628
0.001014
0.025341
Four aces
80
3618345921584
0.000632
0.050599
Four 2-4
40
8611880141552
0.001505
0.060214
Four 5-K
20
25949798433852
0.004536
0.09072
Full House
5
362300821945368
0.06333
0.31665
Flush
3
445544471072988
0.077881
0.233643
Straight
2
310674733231792
0.054306
0.108612
Three of a kind
1
470903758316108
0.082314
0.082314
Nonpaying hand
0
4086271439729424
0.714279
0
Total
5720837158436400
1
1.017874
Total Return by Bet
Bet
Return
5-card deal
93.977%
5-card draw
94.986%
7-card draw
101.787%
Combined
96.917%
94.713%
5-Card Deal Hand Pay Table
Hand
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
Royal flush
4000
4
0.000002
0.006156
Straight flush
500
36
0.000014
0.006926
Four aces + 2-4
1000
12
0.000005
0.004617
Four 2-4 + A-4
400
36
0.000014
0.005541
Four aces
400
36
0.000014
0.005541
Four 2-4
200
108
0.000042
0.008311
Four 5-K
100
432
0.000166
0.016622
Full house
15
3744
0.001441
0.021609
Flush
9
5108
0.001965
0.017689
Straight
6
10200
0.003925
0.023548
Three of a kind
5
54912
0.021128
0.105642
Two pair
4
123552
0.047539
0.190156
Pair J-A
2
337920
0.130021
0.260042
Pair 3-10
1
675840
0.260042
0.260042
Other
0
1387020
0.533683
0
Total
2598960
1
0.932442
5-Card Draw Hand Pay Table
Hand
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
Royal Flush
800
475546284
0.000024
0.019086
Straight Flush
100
2949023136
0.000148
0.014795
Four aces + 2-4
400
1058864052
0.000053
0.021248
Four 2-4 + A-4
160
2849013120
0.000143
0.022868
Four aces
160
2880444552
0.000145
0.023121
Four 2-4
80
7618809012
0.000382
0.030577
Four 5-K
50
31182344400
0.001564
0.078217
Full House
8
220112902944
0.011043
0.08834
Flush
5
363280894980
0.018225
0.091124
Straight
4
258813730788
0.012984
0.051936
Three of a kind
3
1407926665128
0.070632
0.211896
Two pair
1
2447405889768
0.12278
0.12278
Jacks or better
1
3540751824636
0.177631
0.177631
Nonpaying hand
0
11645924564400
0.584247
0
Total
19933230517200
1
0.95362
7-Card Hand Pay Table
Hand
Pays
Combinations
Probability
Return
Four aces + three 2-4
4000
4893527520
0.000001
0.003422
Four 2-4 + Three A-4
2000
13121248812
0.000002
0.004587
7-card straight flush
800
14620858284
0.000003
0.002045
Four of a kind + three of a kind
400
193012594884
0.000034
0.013495
Royal Flush
160
935099549672
0.000163
0.026153
Straight Flush
25
5824832414268
0.001018
0.025454
Four aces
80
3606975937844
0.00063
0.05044
Four 2-4
40
8611914393584
0.001505
0.060214
Four 5-K
20
25873458282972
0.004523
0.090453
Full House
4
361367209535904
0.063167
0.252667
Flush
3
446851355039256
0.078109
0.234328
Straight
2
314468408942860
0.054969
0.109938
Three of a kind
1
469892097374240
0.082137
0.082137
Nonpaying hand
0
4083180158736300
0.713738
0
Total
5720837158436400
1
0.955334
Total Return by Bet
Bet
Return
5-card deal
93.244%
5-card draw
95.362%
7-card draw
95.533%
Combined
94.713%
Strategy
The strategy presented here is derived from a game with a combined return of 99.291% and is not the most efficient. My system produced an optimal strategy encompassing 76,045 lines, which I have sought to streamline. Some moves may appear unconventional to experienced video poker players, such as three cards towards a flush, three towards a straight, two to a straight flush, and a single 4 or 10. Certain standard video poker terms are used throughout; if you're unfamiliar with them, please refer to the glossary. Jacks or Better optimal strategy .
Pat royal
Four aces + 2-4
Four aces + 5-K
Four 2-4 + A-4
Pat straight flush
Four 2-4 + 5-K
Four 5-K
Four to a royal
Full house with no 5-K
Three of a kind aces
Full house, with at least one 5-K
Three of a kind 2-4
Four to an outside straight flush
Flush
Three of a kind 5-K
Straight
Four to an inside straight flush
Two pair
Pair of aces
Three to a royal
Four to a flush
Pair J-K
9/10/J suited
Three to a straight flush +0, -1
Pair 2-4
Four to an outside straight
Three to a flush with two high cards
Pair 5-K
Two suited high cards
Three to a straight flush -2
Three to a flush with one high card
Four cards towards an inside straight with two or three high cards.
Two to a royal 10 low
Four cards towards an inside straight with a single high card.
Three to a flush with zero high cards
Two high cards
One high card
Three cards towards a straight with two high cards present.
Four cards towards an inside straight with no high cards.
Two to a straight flush
Three consecutive cards, zero high
Ten
Four
Toss everything
Methodology
I've been experimenting with this particular game since my initial encounter in 2001. One of the challenges is that there are over 3 trillion possible results for any given hand. The earlier programs I developed would have required years to process all combinations. But by 2005, I had refined my methods enough to reduce the analysis time to just 80 days. After four years of intermittent experimentation and nearly three months of computing, I ultimately deciphered the game in August 2005. While this section may not captivate everyone, it's among my greatest achievements.