Three Card Poker is also known as Poker Three, Trey Poker, or Tri Card Poker. The game started out as a licensed casino game that fast became so popular among casino players that some casinos began offering it under a different name to avoid paying the royalties. Invented by Derek Webb of the United Kingdom in 1994, Three Card Poker has become the most successful of relatively new, trademarked table games. An initial trial run in Las Vegas brought mixed results, but Three Card Poker then broke through as a popular favorite in the U.S. State of Mississippi.
Three-card poker is a stud poker game offering three exciting ways to play and four different ways to win. In Three Card Poker you may bet against the dealer, bet on the value of your own three-card hand or bet both. You only need three consecutive cards to make a straight and three of a suit to make a flush – and a straight is higher than a flush. You can receive bonus payouts for certain wagers against the dealer.
The object of Three-Card Poker is to get a Three Card Poker hand with a value higher than the Dealer.
Rank of Hands (Highest to Lowest)
Straight Flush | 3 cards of the same suit in consecutive rank |
Three-of-a-kind | 3 cards in the same rank, regardless of suit |
Straight | 3 cards of consecutive rank, regardless of suit |
Flush | 3 cards of same suit, regardless of rank |
Pair | 2 cards of same rank, regardless of suit |
Note: When comparing two hands that are of identical poker hand rank, the hand that contains the highest ranking card shall be considered the highest ranking hand. (If hands are identical after this application, the hand shall be considered a draw.)
Three Card Poker Bets
Bet Against The Dealer's Hand
Place an ANTE wager to play against the dealer ONLY. After you looking at your three cards, you have two options. You can fold, or if you think your hand is high enough to beat the dealer, place an equal wager on the PLAY spot.
Place an ANTE wager to play against the dealer ONLY. After you looking at your three cards, you have two options. You can fold, or if you think your hand is high enough to beat the dealer, place an equal wager on the PLAY spot.
If your hand beats the dealer's qualifying hand of a Queen or better YOU WIN BOTH wagers. If the dealer's hand does not contain a Queen High or Better, your ANTE wager wins 1 to 1 and your play wager is returned. If the dealer's hand does contain a Queen High or Better and the Player's hand beats the dealer's hand, the PLAY wager is paid 1 to 1 and the ANTE wager is paid 1 to 1. In the event of a TIE, then it is a PUSH and the wagers are returned.
Bet On Your Own Hand
Bet just the PAIR PLUS spot to play your hand value only and not against the dealer's hand. Texas holdem poker full tilt. If your hand contains a pair or better, YOU WIN!
Bet just the PAIR PLUS spot to play your hand value only and not against the dealer's hand. Texas holdem poker full tilt. If your hand contains a pair or better, YOU WIN!
Bet Both
Place a PAIR PLUS and ANTE wager to play BOTH against the posted pay out and against the dealer. If a player has placed an ANTE wager and a PAIR PLUS wager but does not make a PLAY wager, the player forfeitsthe ANTE and the PAIR PLUS wagers. (Note: In order to make a Pair Plus wager, a player must have an Ante wager.)
Place a PAIR PLUS and ANTE wager to play BOTH against the posted pay out and against the dealer. If a player has placed an ANTE wager and a PAIR PLUS wager but does not make a PLAY wager, the player forfeitsthe ANTE and the PAIR PLUS wagers. (Note: In order to make a Pair Plus wager, a player must have an Ante wager.)
The pay out for the PAIR PLUS wager shall be as follows:
Pair | 1 to 1 |
Flush | 4 to 1 |
Straight | 6 to 1 |
Three-of-a-kind | 30 to 1 |
Straight flush | 40 to 1 |
A player placing an ANTE wager and a PLAY wager shall be paid an ANTE BONUS if the player's hand consists of the following:
Straight | 1 to 1 |
Three-of-a-kind | 4 to 1 |
Straight flush | 5 to 1 |
** If the player makes a ANTE wager and a PAIR PLUS wager but fails to make a PLAY wager, the player shall forfeit both the ANTE wager and the PAIR PLUS wager.
Basic Rules of Three-Card Poker
Each player must make an 'Ante' wager in order to play. Optional bets such as 'Pairs Plus' and a Progressive Jackpot bet may be made.
Each player and the dealer are dealt three cards face down.
The player will review their hand and must decide whether to fold or 'Play'.
In order to 'Play', the player must place a bet of equal value to the 'Ante'.
After all players have folded or continued to play their hand, the dealer reveals their hand comparing it to each player hand with the higher hand winning.
If the dealer has a higher value hand, both the 'Ante' and Play bet lose. If the player and dealer tie, the 'Ante' and Play bets will push.
If the player has the higher value hand, the 'Play' will be paid even money and the 'Ante' will be paid at even money or at odds depending on the strength of the hand.
Each player and the dealer are dealt three cards face down.
The player will review their hand and must decide whether to fold or 'Play'.
In order to 'Play', the player must place a bet of equal value to the 'Ante'.
After all players have folded or continued to play their hand, the dealer reveals their hand comparing it to each player hand with the higher hand winning.
If the dealer has a higher value hand, both the 'Ante' and Play bet lose. If the player and dealer tie, the 'Ante' and Play bets will push.
If the player has the higher value hand, the 'Play' will be paid even money and the 'Ante' will be paid at even money or at odds depending on the strength of the hand.
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Introduction
Vega$ 3 Poker could loosely be described as a cross between Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em. I first saw the game at the 2019 Global Gaming Expo and shortly after, in December 2019, it began a field trial at Harrah's Las Vegas. The game offers a very low Element of Risk of 0.41%, making it one of the best bets in the casino, if played properly.
Rules
- The game is played with a single 52-card deck.
- The object of the game is to form a higher three-card hand than the dealer.
- Hands are scored as follows,from highest to lowest:
- Straight flush
- Three of a kind
- Straight
- Flush
- Pair
- Ace high or less
- Play starts with the player making an Ante bet. At this time, the player may also make the optional Vegas 3 and Vegas 4 side bets.
- The dealer shall give the player and himself three cards. Dealer cards are dealt face down.
- After checking his card, the player may make a Raise bet equal to two times the Ante or check.
- The dealer shall deal a single community card.
- If the player previously checked, then he may make a raise bet equal to his Ante or fold. If the player already raised, then no further action may be taken.
- The dealer shall reveal his hole cards.
- The dealer needs at least ace-queen to qualify. If the dealer does not qualify, then Ante bets shall automatically push.
- The best Player three-card hand shall be compared to that of the dealer, the higher hand winning.
- If the player has the higher hand, then the Ante (if still on the table) and Raise bets shall pay even money. An exact tie is a push. If the dealer has the higher hand, then the Ante (if still active) and Raise shall lose.
- The Vegas 3 side bet shall pay according to player's three hole cards and a posted pay table.
- The Vegas 4 side bet shall pay according to the poker value of all four of his cards (including the community card) and a posted pay table.
Please click on the following image for a full-size version of the rack card.
Example
In the screenshot above, the player bet $100 on the Ante and $25 each on both side bets. He was dealt a pair of queens as his hole cards. He made the 2x raise at this point. The community card did not help. The dealer revealed a pair of fives, which qualifies, thus the Ante was action. The player's pair beat the dealer's pair, so the Ante and Raise each paid even money.
The player's three-card hand was a pair, which paid even money. The player's four-card was a high pair (jacks or better), which pays 3 to 1. Thus, the total win was $100 + $200 + $25 + 3×$25 = $400. Please note the demo game pays everything on a 'for one' basis, making the money returned $400 + $350 = $750.
Analysis
As of this writing (Dec. 16, 2019) I have not analyzed the game yet. However, AGS, the game distributor, kindly provided me their math report by GLI. This report indicates the house edge (relative to the Ante bet) is 0.88%. It also indicates the average final wager (including the Raise) is 2.1262 units, making the Element of Risk (ratio of expected player loss to total amount bet) equal to 0.88%/2.1262 = 0.41%.
The following table shows the probability and expected return for all possible outcomes of the Vega$ 3 side bet. It is based on the same pay table as found in the Demo game. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 7.28%.
Vega$ 3 Return Table
Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Straight flush | 40 | 48 | 0.002172 | 0.086878 |
Three of a kind | 30 | 52 | 0.002353 | 0.070588 |
Straight | 6 | 720 | 0.032579 | 0.195475 |
Flush | 3 | 1,096 | 0.049593 | 0.148778 |
Pair | 1 | 3,744 | 0.169412 | 0.169412 |
Loser | -1 | 16,440 | 0.743891 | -0.743891 |
Total | 22,100 | 1.000000 | -0.072760 |
The following table shows the probability and expected return for all possible outcomes of the Vega$ 4 side bet. It is based on the same pay table as found in the Demo game. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 5.63%.
Poker starting hand chart. Makes a lot of really good starting hands charts and learning stuff for newbies. I personally started my poker carrier there.(now playing 5.50$ HU SNG) All of these charts are made to help newbies crush microstakes easily.As I searched for Chen formula, this strategy advice to openlimp in early position with some hands and dont care, if these hands play well postflop or not. That is not good strategy, especially at lower limits.
Vega$ 4 Return Table
Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Straight flush | 40 | 48 | 0.002172 | 0.086878 |
Three of a kind | 30 | 52 | 0.002353 | 0.070588 |
Straight | 6 | 720 | 0.032579 | 0.195475 |
Flush | 3 | 1,096 | 0.049593 | 0.148778 |
Pair | 1 | 3,744 | 0.169412 | 0.169412 |
Loser | -1 | 16,440 | 0.743891 | -0.743891 |
Total | 22,100 | 1.000000 | -0.072760 |
Strategy
The following strategy was kindly provided with permission by Wizard of Vegas forum member gordonm888, who wishes to share credit with Charlie Patrick, both of whom I trust to do the math correctly.
Large Raise
Make the large raise (2x) with any of the following, otherwise check
- Pair of 3's or higher
- Pair of 2's and ace high with a straight or flush draw
- K-9 high, or higher, with both a straight and flush draw
Small Raise
In general, make the small raise (1x) with K-Q-x or higher, otherwise fold. However, also with these exceptions:
Las Vegas Casino Poker Rooms
- A-Q-T or higher when an A is the common card
- K-Q-T or higher when a K or Q is the common card
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank:
- AGS, the game distributor, for sharing their math report on the game.
- Gordonm888 and Charlie Patrick for the basic strategy above.
External Links
- Demo game at the AGS web site.
- Discussion about Vega$ 3 Poker in my forum at Wizard of Vegas.