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Poker Rules | Three Card Poker

Professional poker player Derek Webb, a talented and ingenious Englishman, came up with the idea for this new game in the mid-l990s. In some way, it is a close relation to the ancient British game previously known as Brag.

Actually it is two games in one. You may play your hand versus the hand of the dealer or you may wager that your hand will be a pair or better.

The game is played with a single deck of cards. Both player and dealer get three cards face down.

There are two separate betting opportunities to be considered

Ante/Play: Here you've decided to play against the dealer's hand.

Pair Plus: This gives you the opportunity to bet on the hand you've been dealt. On the table layout you'll see three betting spots located in front of each player. In the round circle at top is "Pair Plus." Below it is a diamond-shaped area that says "Ante," and below it in a rectangle that says "Play."

Let's look at Pair-Plus first. Again, this option pays only what has been dealt to the player. Payouts are:

• 40 to l on a straight flush
• 30 to l on three-of-a-kind
• 6 to l on a straight
• 4 to l on a flush
• l to l on a pair

You lose on all others

Expert Stanley Ko in his astute study of the game in "Mastering the Game of Three Card Poker" (20 pages, paperbound, $6.95) says "on average you should be dealt a pair or better hand 25.61 percent of the time, or once in every four hands."

Now the Ante/Play proposition. After looking at his cards, a player who has put an Ante up, can choose to fold or decide to call for a "showdown" versus the dealer's hand by putting a bet down (equal to the Ante) in the Play box.

We quickly shift our attention to the dealer's hand. If he doesn't have at least a queen high in the hand he has, you, the player, are a winner and will be paid l-l on the Ante. If the dealer does happen to have a queen high or better hand, but fails to beat your hand, then you receive 1-1 on BOTH the Ante and Play bets. On the other hand, if the dealer's hand beats the player's hand, you will lose both the Ante and the Play wagers.

If you're wondering what the overall House edge is for those who choose to play the Ante/Play angle - it's 3.3%. Author Ko strongly recommends you do not play unless you have a hand of queen-six-four or better.