Three Card Poker Online – Overview of the Rules & the Best Casinos for 2024
| Best Casinos: | Bonus: | Game: | Bet Limits: | Secure Link: | Terms: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. The Grand Ivy | 100% Up to £300 + 25 Bonus Spins | Live Three Card Poker | £1–£25,000 | www.grandivy.com | Full T&Cs apply. 18+. New players only. One bonus offer per player. Minimum deposit £20. Max bonus bet is £5. Bonus spins on selected games only and must be used within 72 hours. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days otherwise any unused bonus shall be removed. Bonus funds are 100% match up to £300 on your 1st deposit. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 35x wagering the total bonus & cash. Only bonus funds contribute towards any wagering requirements. Terms apply. GambleAware.org |
| 2.Guts Casino | £100 | Live Three Card Poker | £1–£5000 | www.guts.com | Full T&Cs apply. *New customers only. £10 min deposit. Bonus wager 35x in 30 days. Skrill/Neteller/Paysafe excluded. Game weighting and terms apply. Full details below. |
| 3. 666 Casino | £66 + 66 Bonus Spins | Live Three Card Poker | £1–£1000 | www.666casino.com | Full T&Cs apply. 18+. New players only. Min. deposit £20. Max. bonus 100% on 1st deposit. 66 spins on Big Bass Bonanza on 2nd deposit. 35x wagering applies, within 21 days. Max. wins from spins £100. Spins expire after 24 hours. |
| 4. Rizk Casino | 1 Wheel Spin | Live Three Card Poker | £1–£2500 | www.rizk.com | Full T&Cs apply. 18+. £10 Min Deposit. All rewards from the Wheel of Rizk are wager-free. Rewards must be claimed within 7 days of last level up. |
| 5. Fruity King | £100 + 20 Spins | Live Three Card Poker | £10–£3000 | www.fruityking.co.uk | Full T&C's apply. 18+. New Players Only. Wagering occurs from real balance first. 50X wagering the bonus. Contribution may vary per game. Available on selected games only. The wagering requirement is calculated on bonus bets only. Bonus valid 30 Days from receipt. Max conversion: 3 times the bonus amount or from free spins: £20. Min Deposit £20. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits}, #AD and BeGambleAware. |
| 6. 888casino | 200% up to £200 Welcome Bonus | SG Digital Three Card Poker | £0.10–£100 | www.888.com | Full T&Cs Apply. 18+. First-time depositors • Min deposit £10 • Claim within 48 hours • Expires in 90 days • 30X wagering • Valid on selected slots • UK and Ireland only • Full T&Cs apply BeGambleAware |
| 7. Ladbrokes Casino | £30 Welcome Bonus | Three Card Poker Game | £1–£200 | www.ladbrokes.com | Full T&Cs apply. 18+. New Casino players only. Deposit required. Play £10+ on qualifying games. 40x wager reqs (Bonus only) on selected games. Accept Bonus within 14 days. Bonus valid for 30 days. Certain deposit types excluded. Player restrictions and T&Cs apply. GambleAware. |
| 8. Betvictor | Wager £10 Get £30 + 30 Free Spins | Live Three Card Poker | £1–£5000 | www.betvictor.com | Full T&Cs apply. 18+ New customers only. Opt in, deposit, and wager a min of £10 on selected games within 7 days of registration. Get a 3x £10 Casino Bonus Funds for selected games and 30 Free Spins on Fishin' Frenzy. Offer valid until 23:59 UK time on 31.12.24. T&C's Apply, see below. gambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly |
This page contains a complete guide on how to play Three Card Poker online and the best UK sites to do so. You will learn the rules and how to play the game. You will find out about the Three Cards poker payouts and the optimum strategy for increasing your winning chances. There is also an overview of the different variants that you can play online, and the different side bets that are featured. Of course, we will also tell you the best bonuses that await you out there, but first things first – let’s see why we picked up these top 10 sites to play online 3 Card Poker!
Top 10 Sites for Three Card Poker in 2024
- The Grand Ivy Casino (Top-Rated Welcome Bonus)
- Guts Casino (Top Mobile 3 Card Poker Experience)
- 666 Casino (Best for Low-Stakes Players)
- Rizk Casino (Best for Promotional Campaigns)
- Fruity King Casino (Best for Withdrawal Methods)
- 888casino (Best for High Stakes Three Card Poker)
- Ladbrokes (Best for Poker Cash Games)
- BetVictor Casino (UK’s Top-Rated Site for No Wagering Offers)
Three Card Poker Rules – How to Play 3 Card Poker?
When you consider that other casino table games, such as roulette and blackjack have been around for hundreds of years, the Three Card Poker online game is relatively new. It was created by British gambler, Derek Webb in 1994 and patented in 1997. Webb’s aim was to create a game with easy to understand rules, attractive payouts for players and a house edge that would appeal to casino operators. The game is played with a standard 52-card deck, which is shuffled after every round, and you play against the dealer. Down below, we will get to grips with all the Three Card Poker rules.
The ranking of hands in Three Card Poker differs slightly from that of traditional poker. This is because playing with 3 cards, rather than the traditional 5 changes the mathematical probabilities of attaining certain hands. As such, in Three Card Poker, a straight will beat a flush. Here is an overview of the ranking of 3 Card Poker hands:
- Straight Flush (3 suited cards in sequence)
- Three of a Kind (3 cards of the same rank)
- Straight (3 cards in sequence)
- Flush (3 suited cards)
- Pair (2 cards of the same rank)
- High Card
There are two basic ways you can play the game. Ante-Play is played against the dealer, with the aim being to beat the dealer’s hand. The other is Pair Plus. This allows players to bet on whether their hand will contain a pair or a higher-ranking combination. Some variants allow you to play either or both of these options, whereas some versions only allow you to place a Pairs Plus wager in addition to the Ante-Play. There are also variants of Three Card Poker that feature additional side bets.
Ante-Play
The game begins by placing a wager on the Ante, which falls within the table limits. Three cards are then dealt to the player and the dealer, with the player’s cards face up and the dealer’s cards face down. The player can then decide whether to fold or play. If the player opts to fold, they lose the Ante wager and the round is over. To play, another wager, equal to the Ante must be placed. The dealer’s cards are then revealed and compared to the player’s hand.
The dealer’s hand must contain a minimum ranking of queen high in order to qualify. If the dealer’s hand does not qualify, then the players Play wager is returned (push) and the Ante wager pays out 1:1. When the dealer does qualify, their hand will be evaluated compared to the player’s. There are 3 possible outcomes:
- When the dealer’s hand outranks the player’s hand, the Play and Ante bets lose.
- When the dealer’s hand has an identical rank to the player’s hand, the Play and Ante bets will push, returning them to the player.
- When the player’s hand outranks the dealer’s hand, both the Play and Ante bets pay out 1:1.
Ante Bonus
When playing Ante-Play, there are certain hand ranks that will reward the player with a bonus payout. If the hand contains a straight, 3 of a kind or a straight flush, a bonus will be paid, regardless of whether or not the dealer’s hand is higher. The Three Card poker payouts can vary slightly depending on the variant of the game being played, but usually, and according to Webb’s original 3 Card Poker rules, the bonus payments are as follows:
- Straight Flush pays 5 to 1
- Three of a Kind pays 4 to 1
- Straight pays 1 to 1
Pair Plus
Alternatively, or in addition to Ante-Play, players can place a Pair Plus bet. This bet pays out if the player’s hand contains a pair, or a higher-rank. The payout is made for a pair or higher, regardless of whether the dealer’s hand beats the player’s hand. There are different pay tables for Pairs Plus, depending on the variant being played. Some variants include a payout for a Mini Royal, which is a suited ace, king and queen. This table shows the pay table for 3 popular online Three Card Poker variants, and the house edge of each.
| Pair Plus | Microgaming – Three Card Poker | Scientific Games – Three Card Poker | Evolution Gaming- Live Three Card Poker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Royal | – | 200:1 | 100:1 |
| Straight Flush | 40:1 | 40:1 | 40:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 30:1 | 30:1 | 30:1 |
| Straight | 6:1 | 6:1 | 5:1 |
| Flush | 4:1 | 3:1 | 4:1 |
| Pair | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 |
| House edge | 2.32% | 4.38% | 4.49% |
3 Card Poker Game Variants and Side Bets
Popular gambling games with cards are often adapted to offer alternative side bets and game variations. Such alterations to tradition games and rules can offer extra excitement for players. In this section, you will find out about different Three Card Poker variants and the additional side bets which can be found.
Six-Card Bonus Bet
The 6 Card Bonus is a side bet featured in some 3-Card Poker games. It is an optional bet that is placed before the cards are dealt. The bet gives players a shot at bigger payouts than those featured in the Ante-Play and Pairs Plus bets. The 6 Card Bonus combines both the player’s 3 cards and the dealer’s 3 cards to create a traditional 5-card poker hand.
Straights occur more often than flushes with this side bet, the opposite of playing with 3 card hands. As such, the payout for a flush is higher than the payout for a straight in this side bet. As with the Pair Plus bet, the player does not have to beat the dealer to win on this bet. Likewise, the pay tables for the Six Card Bonus vary depending on the casino and game variant. Below, you can see an example of some of the pay tables that are featured for the side bet, along with their house edge.
| Hand | Pay Table 1 | Pay Table 2 | Pay Table 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 1000:1 | 1000:1 | 2000:1 |
| Straight Flush | 200:1 | 200:1 | 200:1 |
| Four of a Kind | 100:1 | 50:1 | 50:1 |
| Full House | 20:1 | 25:1 | 25:1 |
| Flush | 15:1 | 20:1 | 15:1 |
| Straight | 10:1 | 10:1 | 10:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 7:1 | 5:1 | 5:1 |
| House edge | 8.6% | 10.2% | 14.4% |
The five-card Royal Flush, which is an Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10 of the same suit offers the highest possible payout. This usually pays at 1000 to 1, yet there are some variants that offer a 2000 to 1 payout. The house edge is lowest when a three of a kind hand pays at 7 to 1, rather than 5 to 1, as this is the most frequently occurring hand.
Three Card Poker Prime
The Prime side bet offers players the opportunity to bet on the colour of the cards that are dealt. This optional side bet pays out if the player’s 3 cards are the same colour, or if both the player and the dealer’s cards are the same colour. The suit does not matter in this bet, so any combination of hearts and diamonds (all red), or any combo of spades and clubs (all black) will produce a win. When all 3 of the player’s cards match in colour, a payout of 3 to 1 is made. When all 6 cards are the same colour, the payout is 4 to 1. This makes the house edge around 3.6% for this optional side bet.
Live Three Card Poker Online
While playing 3 Card Poker online is fun and exciting, playing the game with a real dealer can take the entertainment to another level. Live Three Card Poker provides an authentic real casino playing experience, with the convenience of online play. The basic rules are the same as playing an RNG game, yet, there is a time limit within which you must make your decisions. As such, you cannot determine the speed at which the game is played. When you play Live Three Card Poker, you can interact with the dealer and other players using the chat function, which offers a fun, social element to the game.
Three Card Poker Strategy and Tips to Improve Your Chances of Winning
A casino game is always more fun when you win, and there are basic strategies you can follow in Three Card Poker to optimise your chances of success. The good news is that learning online 3 Card Poker strategy is incredibly simple and straightforward.
Ante-Play Strategy
In the Ante-Play game, once your cards have been dealt, there is a basic strategy that should always be followed when deciding whether to play or fold. This is to bet when your hand contains queen-6-4 or better. If your hand ranks lower than this, you should fold. As such, you should place a Play bet when your hand contains the following cards:
- A pair or higher rank
- A king or ace high card
- A queen high card with the second high card being a 7 or better
- A queen high card with the second card being 6, and the third card being 4 or better
By playing every hand, regardless of its ranking, the house edge sits at around 7.65%. Yet when following this strategy for playing or folding, the house edge reduces to around 3.37%. These figures apply to games where the Ante Bonus pays the traditional 5 to 1 for a straight flush, 4 to 1 for three of a kind and 1 to 1 for a straight.
Pair Plus Strategy
When it comes to Pair Plus play, there is no specific strategy to improve your winning chances. This is because you do not have to beat the dealer’s hand, so winning simply comes down to luck. Yet, as we saw earlier in this article, there are different payouts available for Pair Plus bets, which impact the house edge.
If you want to play the Pair Plus bet, the best tip is to compare pay tables and opt for a variant which has the highest payouts for the more frequent hands. So, when a straight pays 5 to 1 and a flush pays 4 to 1, the house edge is lower than variants that pay 6 to 1 on straights and 3 to 1 on flushes.
Overall, Ante-Play has a lower house edge than Pair Plus. As such, for the best odds of winning, it is advisable to opt for this bet type. However, it is worth keeping in mind that payouts are smaller for wins than when playing Pair Plus.
Top Tip – Play Three Card Poker for Free
Whichever way you choose to play, another sound piece of advice is to play 3 Card Poker for free online before you play with real money. The best casino sites provide a demo version of Three Card Poker which you can play just for fun. In this way, you can practice playing the game and get to grips with the rules, gameplay and payouts with no risk involved. Free play is a great way to prepare yourself to play Three Card Poker with real money.
Developers of Online 3 Card Poker
There are numerous developers that have created versions of Three Card Poker for online play. Whilst the basic 3 Card Poker rules remain the same across the board, each developer has put their own stamp on their versions of the game. Across different versions of the game, optional side bets may be included, and pay tables can vary for these types of bets, as well as for Pair Plus payouts. Other differences include the graphical quality, multi-hand playing options and table limits. Here you will find out about 3 of the leading developers of the popular casino card game.
- . Microgaming have been delivering software and games to the iGaming industry for over 20 years and are one of the most respected companies in the field of online casino gambling. Their game portfolio comprises hundreds of quality games. Microgaming offer a classic version of Three Card Poker as well as Three Card Poker Gold Series. The main difference between the two versions is that Gold Series has a more modern, updated interface. There are also Multi-Hand versions of each game available, where you can play up to 5 hands per round. The game has an RTP of 98.24%.
- .Scientific Games is a global leader in lottery and gaming industries. SG Digital is the interactive division of the company, which was created by combining SG Interactive and NYX Gaming Group. SG Digital’s online Three Card Poker was developed by the Shuffle Master gaming studio, the same developer of the popular land-based version of the casino poker game. The Pairs Plus bet features a top payout of 200:1 for a Mini Royal, and has an RTP of 95.62%. Ante-Play has an RTP of 97.99%. The game also features the 6 Card Bonus side bet, with a payout of 1000:1 for a Royal Flush, and an RTP of 89.78%.
- .There is no doubting that Evolution Gaming are the leaders in the field of live casino gaming. They boast the most diverse game selection of all live game providers, which are streamed from specialised studios with professional and friendly real dealers. Their Live Three Card Poker game includes the optional 6 Card Bonus bet, which has a top payout of 1000:1 for a Royal Flush. The 6 Card Bonus has an RTP of 91.44%, Ante-Play has an RTP of 96.63% and the Pair Plus bet has an RTP of 95.51%. The table layout is intuitive, and the video is streamed in HD quality, for a truly immersive, real casino playing experience.
Don’t Miss Out – Play Three Card Poker Online!
Of the many poker variants that you can play at an online casino, 3 Card Poker is one of the most popular. The rules are easy to learn and there are simple strategies that you can use to optimise your chances of winning. It offers fast-paced, exciting gameplay with the potential for big payouts. If you are ready to try your hand at this fun game, then you should check out Ladbrokes Casino, where you will find numerous variants of the game, including the option to play Three Card Poker with real dealers. Furthermore, the operator is extremely popular in the UK, so it’s no surprise that it is also present in our list of the best hi-lo game casinos in the UK. Read all you need to know about the operator here. Good luck with your live game adventures!
Three Card Poker – Questions and Answers
Frequently asked questions are the thing that most players value the most so we try to include them on most of our pages. Below you will see the queries that gamblers had when it comes to Three Card poker. Our answers are tight and straight to the point and we strongly hope that you will find them useful and satisfying. Enjoy!