3 Card Lowball Poker

Michael Shackleford: Hello, I’m Mike Shackleford known as the Wizard of Odds, and I’m here at the 2016 Cutting Edge Table Game Show hosted at The Flamingo in Las Vegas. Joining me today is my esteemed colleague and assistant, Heather Ferris. You might recognize her name, as she has worked with me as a videographer for many of my previous videos and manages my social media platforms. This time, however, she's taken the spotlight in front of the camera. Additionally, a happy birthday to you, Heather!

Heather Ferris: Thank you so much, I truly appreciate it!

Michael: It’s my pleasure. Today, on her birthday, Heather will be talking about a fascinating game known as Three Card Lowball Poker. Can you elaborate on that?

Heather: Absolutely, Three Card Lowball Poker is an exciting game. Players must make two obligatory bets: the ante and the bonus, with both bets needing to be of equal value. The main goal is to achieve the lowest possible poker hand against the dealer since players are only competing against the dealer; other players do not factor into the game. Players receive three cards, after which they can decide to keep them or discard some. You can discard either one or two cards, but you cannot get rid of all three. Typically, players will discard cards that rank eight or higher or will break pairs, straights, or flushes.

After discarding, players receive two new cards, completing their final hand. Then it’s the dealer’s turn, and they will follow the same process. If the dealer holds a ten or a higher card, they will discard those and draw replacements. The winner is determined by who has the lowest-ranking poker hand. It’s also worth mentioning that in this game, an Ace counts as one, making it the lowest card. Lastly, the house edge stands at 3.7%.

Michael: Got it! So, to clarify, it’s essentially a twist on traditional Three Card Poker, where the focus shifts to achieving the lowest hand rather than the highest. Both players and dealers have the option to discard cards as they see fit, and there are two required bets—correct? The bets are designed so that beating the dealer is essential for winning, with one bet paying even money while the other uses a pay table for payout.

Heather: Exactly! The ante pays at a one-to-one ratio, while the bonus payout is contingent upon the player's hand. You must win the ante to qualify for the bonus. This variation is a fantastic addition next to traditional Three Card Poker. For players who might be on a losing streak, they can switch to this game without leaving the casino, and low cards that might typically be losers in other games end up being winning cards here, encouraging folks to stay and play longer.

Michael: That sounds great! Would you mind demonstrating a few sample hands to illustrate how it works?

Heather: I would be delighted! In this game, players will make the mandatory ante and bonus bets of equal amounts. The objective is to achieve the lowest possible poker hand ranking. Each player is dealt three cards, just like the dealer. Players can choose to discard one or two cards if they wish, or they can opt to keep all of them.

After discarding, players receive their replacement cards and can choose to look at them or not. Once the player is done, the dealer will reveal their cards and can also choose to discard cards. If the dealer has a ten or above, those cards will be discarded for new ones. For instance, I might have an eight high while the dealer has a five high, which means the dealer wins in this scenario. The dealer will receive a one-to-one payout on the ante and a three-to-one payout on the bonus for holding a five high. That wraps up the hand.

Michael: Thanks for those clear examples, Heather.

Heather: Thank you.

Michael: And that, everyone, is the game of Three Card Lowball Poker.

[00:05:07] [END OF AUDIO]

Written by: Michael Shackleford