3 Card Poker Payouts
Three Card Poker is two gambling games in one. You are usually allowed to play either one or both games at the same time, but some casinos will require you to play both. The two games are 'ante/play', where you compete against the dealer, and 'pair plus' that has different bonus payouts for hands of one pair or better. When both games are played at the same time, players may wager different amounts on each game.
Another variation is 'six card bonus', in which the players are given a payout based on the best five-card poker hand that can be made using any combination of the player's three cards and the dealer's three cards. Payoff ranges from 5 to 1 for three of a kind to 1000 to 1 for royal flush. Payoffs are paid regardless of whether any other bets pay. Three Card Poker Basics. The first action in a Three Card Poker hand is a mandatory bet known as the Ante. This wager must be made for a player to take a hand. After making the ante bet (along with the Pair Plus and other side bets, which will be explained below) players receive three cards, as does the dealer. It wasn’t until 1997 that the game was patented. The main selling point of 3 Card Poker is that it is easy to grasp, although other elements such as it being able to offer both high payouts to players and a decent house edge for casinos to be interested in offering it were also critical.
How To Play 3 Card Poker To start, the player places an ante wager and/or a pair plus wager, betting that they will have a hand of at least a pair or better. Three cards are then dealt face down to each player and to the dealer. You are only playing the dealer and not other players at the table.
The games are played with a standard 52 card deck. The cards are distributed to the dealer in groups of three by an automatic shuffling machine. The player's table layout is shown at the right. The rules are also printed on the table at each player spot, just like this: (note :) The rules listed below are FULL PAY. Always look for these!
- Play MUST EQUAL Ante
- Dealer Plays With QUEEN High or Better - At some casinos dealers play with a King High or Better. The result is a much higher house advantage.
- When Dealer Does Not Play:
- Play Pays: PUSH
- Ante Pays: 1 to 1
- When Dealer Plays:
- Play Pays: 1 to 1
- Ante Pays: 1 to 1
3 card hand values: The first thing you will probably notice from the hand rankings list below is that a straight has a higher ranking than a flush. That's simply because there are fewer ways to make a 3 card straight than a 3 card flush. As in most poker games, aces play both high and low to a straight. An ace high straight flush is the highest hand you can get and some casinos have also added a mini-royal flush to the ante bonus and pair plus pay table.
Rules - Ante/Play & Pair Plus
This game starts with the players placing bets in the 'ante', 'pair plus' or both spots on the table layouts. The ante and pair plus wagers can be any amount within the posted table limits. The players and the dealer all get three cards, face down. The players all look at their hands and either fold by giving their cards back and losing their ante bet, or play by placing a bet, equal to the ante, in the 'play' spot on the layout. Note that even if the player folds, pair plus wagers are still paid on any pair or better.
| Hand Rankings | Full Pay Pair Plus Table | Full Pay Ante Bonus Table |
|---|---|---|
| Mini-Royal | - | - |
| Straight Flush | 40 to 1 | 5 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 30 to 1 | 4 to 1 |
| Straight | 6 to 1 | 1 to 1 |
| Flush | 4 to 1 | - |
| Pair | 1 to 1 | - |
| High Card | - | - |
The dealer then turns over his cards. If he does not have queen high or better, he doesn't 'qualify' to play and pays the active players even money on their ante bets and those with a straight or better are paid the additional ante bonus shown above. These players get a 'push' on their play bets. If he does have a qualifying hand, those who cannot beat it lose their antes and their play bets, but can still win the ante bonus with a straight or higher. Those who can beat the dealer win even money on their ante and play bets plus the ante bonus, if any.
Strategy - Ante/Play
In Three Card Poker ante/play, the only thing the expert player needs to know is how high his or her hand should be to produce the best possible long term results, if played. The answer to that question is Q-6-4 or higher.
High card hands between Q-6-4 through K-Q-10 are loss limit plays. These are hands with negative expectations. They will lose less if played than they will in ante forfeiture losses if they are not played. Ace high hands and better have positive expectations. The house advantage for ante/play, against the optimal strategy shown below is a comfortable 3.37%. Not too bad for the player.*
Optimal Three Card Poker Strategy
- Always play Q-6-4 or higher
- Never play anything lower
* Note: The house advantage percentages referred to are based on the full pay schedules shown above. Be aware that lower payouts, especially in pair plus, are used in many places that double and triple the house advantage against the player. Avoid games with a pair plus payout of only 3-1 for a flush instead of 4-1 etc. and look for full pay games.
Pair Plus 'Non-Strategy' and Unequal Bets Play
Since the only decision the player has to make in pair plus is how much to bet, there is no optimal strategy involved. However, at full pay the low house advantage of 2.3% makes it about as attractive as any table poker game you can find. You can't bet five dollars and win a house here, but the payouts are very generous and you should get a pay hand of some sort about 25% of the time. This is a good game but you want to remember that the win/loss swings are much more volatile in pair plus than in ante/play.
| Poker Hand | AB1 | AB2 | AB3 | PP1 | PP2 | PP3 | PP4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Flush | 5 | 5 | 4 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| Three of a Kind | 4 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 25 | 30 | 30 |
| Straight | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Flush | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | |||
| Pair | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
| House Advantage | 3.37% | 3.61% | 3.83% | 2.3% | 3.5% | 5.6% | 7.3% |
| AB = Ante Bonus, PP = Pair Plus | |||||||
Most places allow you to make unequal bets on the two games. A conservative bet would be two units on ante/play and one unit on pair plus, or equal bets. A more aggressive approach is to place more on pair plus than on ante/play. Many good players prefer to keep their pair plus to ante play ratio on the conservative side and try to get a little ahead before they get aggressive and load up on the pair plus.
6 Card Bonus
The 6 card bonus side bet is an optional wager that gives players one more chance to win. To play, place a bet within table limits inside the 6 card bonus betting circle. Depending on the casino you may also be required to place a wager on the ante and/or pair plus betting spots. You then combine your three card hand with the dealer's three card hand to form the best five card hand. A 6 card bonus winning hand is paid regardless of the outcome on the ante/play bet. Some of the more popular pay tables are listed below and will vary by casino.
| Poker Hand | Pay Table 1 | Pay Table 2 | Pay Table 3 | Pay Table 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 1,000 to 1 | 1,000 to 1 | 1,000 to 1 | 1,000 to 1 |
| Straight Flush | 200 to 1 | 200 to 1 | 200 to 1 | 200 to 1 |
| Four of a Kind | 100 to 1 | 100 to 1 | 50 to 1 | 50 to 1 |
| Full House | 20 to 1 | 20 to 1 | 25 to 1 | 25 to 1 |
| Flush | 15 to 1 | 15 to 1 | 20 to 1 | 15 to 1 |
| Straight | 9 to 1 | 10 to 1 | 10 to 1 | 10 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 8 to 1 | 7 to 1 | 5 to 1 | 5 to 1 |
| House Advantage | 6.74% | 8.56% | 10.23% | 15.28% |
| Hit frequency | 7.2798% | 7.2798% | 7.2798% | 7.2798% |
Even the best pay table gives the house a larger than acceptable advantage of 6.74%, which makes the 6 card bonus side bet a bad gamble.
Progressive
The progressive side bet, developed by Shuffle Master in 2008, adds a jackpot element that is popular with many players. The rules are simple: Place a bet, within table limits, on the progressive betting sensor and play your hand as usual. If your hand is a mini-royal AKQ of spades, you win the jackpot. The pay tables below show typical payouts and house edge numbers.
| Poker Hand | Pay Table 1 | Pay Table 2 | Envy |
|---|---|---|---|
| AKQ Spades | 100% | 100% | $100 |
| AKQ Hearts/Diamonds/Clubs | 500 for 1 | 500 for 1 | $25 |
| Straight Flush | 70 for 1 | 100 for 1 | |
| Three of a Kind | 60 for 1 | 90 for 1 | |
| Straight | 6 for 1 | - | |
| Seed Amount | $1,000 | $1,000 | |
| House Advantage | 22.33% | 22.85% | |
| Hit Frequency | 3.72% | .45% | |
| Probability of top payout | 22,100 to 1 | 22,100 to 1 | |
| Top payout average ($1 wager) | $4,000 | $5,000 |
Note that the payouts are listed as odds-for-1 which means the original wager is not returned. With a house advantage of 22% you should stay far away from this game unless the jackpot is very, very high.
Envy Bonus Payout
If you place a wager on the progressive side bet and another player seated at the table has AKQ suited (a mini-royal), you are eligible for the envy bonus payout. Here are a few rules to be aware of:
- Players with AKQ suited are paid according to the pay table and are not eligible to receive their own envy bonus.
- Dealer with AKQ suited does not trigger the envy bonus.
- If you are playing multiple hands and hit a mini royal, the other hands are eligible for the envy bonus. (the hands are considered independent of each other)
Prime
Prime is an optional side bet that was invented by Derek Webb, the same man who invented three card poker. To play you must put a wager on the prime betting spot, ante/play and/or pair plus as required by the casino. If all three of your cards are the same color or your cards and the dealer's cards are all the same color, you win.
| Hand | Pay Table 1 |
|---|---|
| Your three cards and the dealer's three cards are all the same color | 4 to 1 |
| Your three card hand is the same color | 3 to 1 |
| House Advantage | 3.62% |
If your three cards are not the same color, the prime bet is lost and collected by the dealer. The ante/play and pair plus games are played out as usual.
The house advantage on prime is 3.62%... not too bad for a side bet.
| Rank | Casino | Sign Up Bonus | Bonus Code | Full Pay Games | Visit Casino |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% up to $/€/£ 250 | Ante/Play Pair Plus | ||||
| €200 Free or 200 Free Spins | Ante/Play Pair Plus |
Three-Card Poker is all the rage on GTA Online. But if you’ve been struggling to play it, we’re here to help. It’s easy to play, and once you become good at it, you could exploit your skills in online casinos and play the game for real money. But before then, here’s how to play it.
A Bit of Context
Three-Card Poker arrived on GTA online in July this year after Rockstar officially opened the Diamond Casino & Resort establishment. If you haven’t relished GTA for months, you can remember the casino with a sign that always read “Opening Soon.”
It’s now open and equipped with casino games offered in real-life gambling establishments. What’s more, you can play the games using a new currency introduced at the same time as the casino. When you visit the joint, you must purchase playing credits before you can begin to play any games.
The starter’s pack costs GTA$500 and awards you 5000 casino chips. You purchase them through a few commands on the on-screen prompt. Alternatively, you can visit the cashier booth on the ground floor to acquire bonuses or purchase more chips.
Similar to regular casinos, there are limits on how many chips purchase you can purchase per day. The game sets its limits at 20,000 chips. There’s also a VIP membership, but you need to buy a penthouse to join the prestigious program.
Where to find 3 Card Poker
Three Card Poker looks complicated to beginners. And compared to most casino games on GTA online, it takes some time before you can comprehend it. On the bright side, it’s one of the best gambling games in the casino. Even with minimal skills, you can quickly make one million dollars within an hour.
So, how’s the game played?
Whether you play against the dealer or fellow players, three-card poker is played with one deck. In GTA, you compete against a dealer who stands in front of a customized table. Rockstar did an incredible job of replicating a real casino.
The card poker table is elegantly designed and features logos and features you find in Las Vegas casinos. You can also view the minimum bet on a card displayed next to the dealer. You can also increase the bet size if you’re in a mood to splurge your loot in the game.
When it comes to rules, 3-card poker is slightly different from most online poker games. Unlike Texas Hold’em where flushes rank higher than straights, the opposite is true in 3-card poker. So, when you land a straight in the game, make sure you up your ante to the maximum.
To be more specific, a straight hand ranks above the flush, pair, and high card. You won’t find the two-pair hand in this game, though. Surprisingly, three of a kind ranks higher than a straight. In fact, it’s the next best hand just below a straight flush. Don’t expect to get a full house or a royal flush also, as the hands don’t exist in the game.
Two Ways of Winning 3-Card Poker
You can play the game using the ante-play method or the pair plus option. That applies to all casinos, including the Diamond Casino in GTA Online. To play the first option, all you need to do is place a bet in the ante-play icon. To play using the pair plus option; wager in the respective space.
With both methods, the dealer hands out all players around the table three cards. With the ante-play, you can fold or up your bet as you wait for the next round. It’s a different case with pair plus, though, since you only go to the next round if no one wins.
Settling Payments
When it comes to settling payments, you win in ante-play when you produce a better hand than the dealer. There’s one exception, though. In case the dealer gets a hand of Jack or lower-value cards, you win and get paid even money.
With pair plus, you don’t need to beat the dealer to earn the pot. Producing a pair or a better hand will usually make you the winner. But because they’re different kinds of tables, the payout can be different. If you get a flush, you get paid 3-1. A win with a pair earns you a payout of 1-1. A three of a kind win gets you 30-1 while a straight flush lets you keep 40 times your bet size.
Supplementing your 3 Card Poker Income
3 Card Poker Pay
If you get bored playing three card poker or you don’t seem to be winning anything, there are alternative ways to earn money. In the same Diamond Casino establishment, you can play slot machines, bet on horse races or relish other table games like roulette and blackjack.
Slots are the easiest games to play in any casino, and that applies to GTA Online too. The games have a payout of 98.7% in the Diamond Casino, which is impressive by all standards.
With horse racing, there’s an event every five minutes. There’s not enough data to help you analyze the jockeys in the game, but you can follow the odds given. Horses with low odds have the highest chances of winning. But they also pay out the least amount of money.
3 Card Poker Rules
If you choose to play roulette, note that you’ll be playing the standard American roulette game. It features an extra pocket, for the uninitiated, which makes its house edge a tad bit bigger than European roulette. Nonetheless, it’s an enjoyable game, and you won’t be using real money, anyways.
Blackjack is arguably the most popular card game in GTA Online. That’s because it’s easy to play and features straightforward rules. Produce cards whose total value is closest to or equal to 21. And if your hand is better than that of the dealer, you win.
Casino 3 Card Poker Payouts
Three Card Poker Bonus Payout
To Conclude
If you’ve heard people talk about 3-card poker in GTA Online, now you know how to play it. The game is relatively easy to play and offers some of the most impressive payouts in the Diamond Casino. So, if you want to accrue your GTA dollars, head to the casino and try the game.