Live Three Card Poker

Live casino games have become enormously popular in the online casino world over the last decade. Increasing access to high-speed internet means that there are fewer and fewer barriers to entry into the market and it is now unusual to find a casino site that doesn’t have a live casino section.

Here we’ll look at live three card poker casinos and how they work and we’ll look at live three card poker games, one of the most popular live casino games and one that can offer good value to players. We’ll also advise you on how to play safely and find safe, legitimate sites.

Poker is one of the most exciting and popular gambling games, but most live casinos offer something different from the game you’ve seen in the movies and you need to understand the game before you sit down and play it.

This guide will give you a good start.

Top Casinos for Live Three Card Poker

What is live three card poker?

Live casino games in this article are live casino games played online.

They work by allowing players to use an internet connection and a website with an interface to control actions in a real-world environment where real people (sometimes machines as well) play a casino game.

Players use the interface to communicate their choices to dealers, croupiers, and other casino staff, who deal cards, distribute chips, and spin wheels according to their instructions. Money is paid into the players virtual account should they win.

For years casino games were available as RNG games. An RNG game uses a random number generator to deliver the random evens needed to run gambling games.

This new generation of games, which go back to the future by delivering what can be found in traditional bricks and mortar casinos, have been made possible by universal access to faster internet speeds and by the globalisation of the world economy. Differentials in the value of labour allow casino companies to set up filmed studio games in remote locations.

However, there are differences between live games and RNG games beyond the merely aesthetic. The involvement of real people means that the games are very rarely offered on a free-play or demo basis. Be aware of this.

You should also know that the starting betting on most live games is higher than on comparable RNG games.

Casino companies use attractive staff to attract customers, and they try to create a colourful, sophisticated, social atmosphere around their games.

Be aware of these marketing gimmicks and make sure that you are spending only money that you can afford to lose and that you are making gambling decisions for the right reasons only. And we always remind our readers that casino staff should always be treated with the respect with which you would like to be treated.

Let’s take a look at live three-card poker.

Live Poker Games

Poker is in some ways the archetypal gambling game. But when most of us picture it we picture the game that was used as a classic trope in so many movies: a group of people sitting around a table, with a pile of chips in the centre, all playing against each other.

There is a very healthy poker culture online. It is usually built around poker rooms.

Here we are talking about a different beast. Casino poker is usually played by players, acting as individuals, who sit around a table facing a dealer, against whose hand they play.

Tables are usually dedicated to just one variant of the game and most have seating limits on them. They will usually be delineated by betting levels.

Three card poker is one variant. Among the other popular dealer poker games are variants of Hold’em and Texas Hold’em and Caribbean Stud. There are many more, and games may have a long antecedence or simply be invented for a particular brand.

Make sure you read the rules of the game you’re playing and you understand the game you’re playing. If you can, you should try to play an RNG or simulation version on demo mode first so you don’t have to learn during a live situation.

What is Three Card Poker?

Three card poker is a relatively new, branded poker variant. It was first dealt in 1994, and its inventor Derek Webb patented his game in 1997. The aim of the game was to produce a poker variant that went as fast as other casino table card games.

Webb set up a business to market the game, relying on its speed, ease of play, big prizes, and a decent house edge to sell it to casinos. The game first took off in the US and came to the UK early in the 21^st Century.

How do you Play Three Card Poker?

This is a face-up or head-up table card game, pitching each player’s hand against a single dealer’s hand.

• Players first place an ante bet to buy in.
• Then three cards are dealt to each player and to the dealer.
• Players can fold after this initial deal or bet the same amount as their ante – this is called the play bet – and carry on.
• The hands are then revealed and bets settled.

How to Bet on Three-Card Poker

The lowest hand that can score for the dealer is Queen-high.

• If the dealer’s hand does not clear this hurdle then ante wagers only are paid: 1 to 1;
• If the dealer qualifies to play then their hand is compared against each player’s hand in turn;
• In case the dealer wins he collects all bets for the house;
• If the player wins then their ante bet and play bet are paid out at evens;
• If both hands tie then the bets are returned.

There can be side bets on three-card poker games.

A Pair Plus bet is a bet against the player’s hand only and will pay out regardless of the result of the contest between hands. Players bet that their hand will contain a pair or better-valued hand and win if they meet this requirement.

Ante Bonus bets may be offered that pay out on high-value hands, again regardless of whether or not the hand wins the battle between the hands.

These hands get a pay out from a pay table that may vary from game to game. An example might reward a straight flush at 5 to 1, a three of a kind at 4 to 1, and a straight at evens.

How are hands ranked in Three-Card Poker?

There are six winning combinations in three-card poker. They are:

Straight flush (three cards of the same suit and in sequence), three of a kind (three matched-value cards), straight (three sequenced cards regardless of suit), flush (three cards of the same suit), pair (a pair of matched cards), high card (the single highest value card in a hand with no other matching cards).

What are the Odds in Three Card Poker?

Odds in dealer poker games may vary from game to game and will depend on the number of cards in play.

The odds we have are:

• Straight flushes have a frequency of 48 and have a probability of 0.22%.
• Three of a kind have a frequency rating of 52 and a probability of 0.24%.
• Straights have a frequency of 720 and a probability of 3.26%.
• Flushes have a frequency of 1,096 and a probability of 4.96%.
• Pairs have a frequency of 3,744 and a probability of 16.94%.
• High cards should occur 74.39% of the time, with a frequency of 16,440. With a rank of queen or higher, it is 69.59%.

What three card poker variants are there?

There are a lot of variants on three-card poker that can be found around the web.

Some may be branded games available at only one site or family or sites.

Common variants include the Prime Wager, in Prime three Card Poker.

In this game, players can place a Prime Bet before the deal wagering on which colour the cards will be. If they get three matching cards and they guess right they will be paid at 3 to 1, which doubles if the dealer’s hand also has matching cards of the same colour.

Six card bonus games allow players to bet on the best hand that can be made from a combination of the player’s and dealer’s cards with payments being made from a pay table that can go as high as 1,000 to 1 for a Royal Flush.

What is the best strategy for live three card poker?

Our advice is that players should play on and place a play bet if they are dealt a hand with a queen, a six and a four, or anything higher than that. Fold everything below that value.

The house edge in three-card poker is usually around 2%, although different house rules and pay tables will change this from venue to venue. You should be able to read this figure somewhere on any site that you use.

This compares favourably with, for example, slot games, and is around the same as many of the best bets in other table card games, which often have wildly varying house edges depending on what the player does.

As is often the case, the house edge at American casinos (in real life) is much higher in parts of the game and can be as high as 7.8%.

How do I play live three card poker correctly?

Three-card poker is a very simple game. There is a single deal and then the player makes a decision. There is no changing of cards and the betting is also simple, with two betting rounds that must both be of the same amount.

In real life, you are expected to arrange your hand with the cards ordered from lowest to highest ranking with the “play” bet on the top of them.

When you want to stop at the ante you simply put your hands towards the dealer.

In a real casino, you also tip your dealer when you win.

Have you checked the rules?

Almost every casino site has its own rules for every game. You need to get into the habit of reading the rules of each table you sit down at to make sure you know what you’re doing.

Some casinos let players play more than one hand at once, others don’t. Some allow multiple players on a single hand.

The betting rounds may not always follow the same pattern. It is usually: ante – deal – play bet. Others may jiggle this sequence around.

How to play live three card poker safely

Three-card poker is a gambling game. Like all gambling games, there are risks to playing it.

First of all, you should make sure that you are playing at a safe site. Safe sites will be licensed and legal for you to play in the jurisdiction you are in. You should also make sure that you are legally entitled to play at this site.

You also need to make sure that you are playing safely personally. This means learning how to gamble safely, learning how to spot dangerous behaviours and knowing that you can reach out for help if you need to.

Most good gambling sites in regulated jurisdictions have good quality advice on safe gambling included as part of the deal. Make sure you do at least some reading on the subject before you start gambling. Check out tools like time and spending limits and learn how to use them.

Always make sure you are playing only with money that you can afford to lose. And stop if it stops being fun.

You should take safe gambling at least as seriously as any game advice.

Be wary of sites that offer you guaranteed winning schemes and never ever pay for gambling advice.

Live Three Card Poker FAQ

Is it safe to play live three card poker?

Yes. If you play at safe sites then you should be able to play safely. Check that the sites you use follow the laws where you live and look for good quality sites that give you a good experience. We’ve covered some of the advice to keep you safe in this guide – please seek out more of your own – and that includes being aware of the extra dangers of live sites. Learning the rules is a great start too.

What are the rules of live three card poker?

If you check up this page you’ll find a full guide, but there aren’t many simpler games than three-card poker. You’re dealt a three-card hand, face down. Every other player and the dealer are dealt a hand too. You choose whether you want to play or not and if you do you’re in a contest to beat the dealer’s hand.

Can you win big money on live three card poker?

Most of the betting in three-card poker pays out at a relatively low level. If you want big prizes you’ll need to look for games with side bets with generous pay tables or maybe even progressive prizes. It’s worth shopping around with this game.

What is the best bet in three card poker?

Three-card poker is so simple that there is really only one bet. The ante and the play bet are usually the same amounts. The best bet is going to be the safest for you at the time you’re playing, so make sure your account can cover the losses and that you’re playing for the right reasons and with money that you can afford to lose. Side bets come with a different set of pay-outs and because they’re independent of the dealer’s hands the Pairs Plus bet is attractive.

What is the best strategy for three card poker?

We stick by our advice that you should play if you have a queen, a six and a four or higher and fold if you have anything lower than that.

What is the house edge for three card poker?

House edge is the amount of money that the house – the casino site – expects to make from a game over its lifetime. Its obverse is the theoretical return to the player or the RTP and that is more often printed because, frankly, it looks more attractive. The house edge on casino games will change depending on the game’s exact rules, including side bets. These are long-term measures and they are not to be treated as predictions. The house edge for three card poker is usually around 2%, but you should read the house rules on the table you’re playing at.

What is the highest pay-out in three card poker?

Three card’s poker biggest paying is a straight flush at 40/1.

What is the highest bet on three card poker?

Most live casino games divide tables by bet size. In three-card poker you will be asked to make two identical bets, so you should remember to double the initial bet to work out what your total cost will be. You can bet any amount you choose on the pair plus or side bets.