Ante and Play Bets:   To play against the dealer,  place a bet in the  Ante  spot.  Then 3 cards are dealt to everyone,  including the dealer.  Once you’ve seen your hand you may continue in the game by placing a bet in the  Play spot,  equal to your Ante bet.  The dealer must have at least a Queen high to  “qualify.”  (You need a similar hand to avoid losing,  at least Q-6-4 or better.  See the 3 card poker Strategy at the end of the page.)  You may decide to fold after seeing your hand,  and thus forfeit your Ante bet.  Otherwise,  the possible scenarios are as follows:

1. Dealer DOES NOT qualify: Your Ante bet wins even money, 1 to 1.  Your Play bet is considered a push  (returned to you).

2. Dealer DOES qualify,  but your hand beats his:  Both your Ante and Play bets win 1 to 1.

3. Dealer DOES qualify,  and the dealer’s hand beats yours.  Then both your Ante and Play bets lose.

4. Dealer DOES qualify,  and dealer’s hand ties yours.  Your Ante and Play bets are returned.

The value of the hands is as follows,  from highest to lowest:  Straight Flush,  Three of a Kind,  Straight,  Flush,  Pair.  If neither dealer nor player has a pair,  then the hand with the highest card wins.  Aces are highest unless in a straight with 3,2,A.

PairPlus Bets:   To bet on your hand’s value alone,  place a bet in the Pair Plus spot.  Then 3 cards are dealt to each player  (and the poker dealer).  If you have a pair or better,  it wins according to these payouts,  usually:

A  Straight Flush  wins 40 to 1.

Three of a Kind  wins 30 to 1.

A  Straight  wins 6 to 1.

A  Flush  wins 4 to 1.

A  Pair  wins 1 to 1.

Now,  we did say there were 4 ways to win in 3 card poker.  The last way is a  Bonus on your Ante Bet  when you happen to have an excellent hand.  This is based on your hand alone,  and it doesn’t matter what the dealer has.  …If you had a Straight Flush,  you win 5 to 1.  Had Three of a Kind,  you win 4 to 1.  And a Straight wins 1 to 1.

3 CARD POKER STRATEGY:

If you don’t have at least Q-6-4, you should fold.  In computer trials of the game,  it has been seen that this hand is the lowest you can have and more often than not,  limit your losses or actually win.  If you have Q-6-4,  you should play it because statistically your chances are better to play it than to fold.