When you break out the 52-card deck and deal a hand of 3-card poker, the first strategy you need is a firm understanding of the rules. It is fairly similar to a popular UK homegame, 3 card brag, although instead of competing against other players, you are competing against the dealer. You need a better hand than the dealer (and at least a pair) to win. Each of you is dealt three cards, and the cards are shuffled after each hand. Because there are fewer ways to make a straight with 3 cards than a flush, straights rank higher. Aces are high or low.
Three card poker is two games in one. The player may bet on either one, both, and in different amounts. Both games are based on hands consisting of three cards. The game is split into two – the Ante and the Pair Plus.
The Ante is the fee charged to you for playing the hand. The Pair Plus is your bet that you will get a hand with a pair or higher. You don’t have to make both bets, but you do at least have to bet the Ante to stay in the game.
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