When is it correct to play and when should a hand be abandoned at the ante stage? If the dealer is only going to play with queen high or better wouldn’t the playing field be evened up by adopting the same strategy? This logical approach does in fact come close to being the optimal strategy for the game. Playing this raise on anything strategy results in a high edge for the house of some 7.65%. In the instances where he has a hand weaker than this he will pay out the ante bet but the play bet will be a push. Remember that the dealer will only pay out on both the ante and play bets if he himself has a hand queen-high or better. So the play wager should always be made right? Well not quite.

That is effectively what the player is doing every time they fold before placing the play wager. Consider how much easier the game would be if the dealer acted first and simply folded his cards when he had a poor hand, paying the player out on their ante bet regardless of what they held. In the basic game the houses edge largely results from the fact that the player must act before the dealer when it comes to playing or folding. Namely whether to post the play bet or to fold and lose only their ante. Basic Game Strategy: It’s as easy as Q-6-4Ĭorrect play in three card poker hinges around the one decision point the player has in each hand. Anyone planning on playing this fast and exciting game will benefit from first familiarising themselves with the right strategy. Both are desirable outcomes, the playing of casino games should primarily be to have fun for as small a cost as possible. Learning to play the correct strategy will both minimise the house edge against the player and as a result of that help to maximise their enjoyment of the game.

However, unlike other casino games, roulette for example, there is a strategic element to the game. First of all, as three card poker is a house edge game, there is no legitimate strategy that can be employed that will switch the odds in favour of the player.

Odds on hand in 3 card poker