If the dealer qualifies and the player’s hand is stronger, both the Ante and Play bets pay out 1 to 1. If the dealer does not qualify, the Ante bet pays out even money (1 to 1) and the Play bet is a push (neither player wins nor loses). The dealer’s hand is then revealed, and they must have a hand of queen-high or better in order to qualify. If they do not think their hand can win, they can push their cards forward along with their Ante bet to signify that they do not want to make the Play bet. Players then have the option to make an additional wager, called the Play bet, that is equal to their Ante bet if they think their hand can beat the dealer’s. The Ante bet is a wager against the dealer’s hand, while the Pair Plus bet is a wager on the strength of the player’s own hand.Įach player and the dealer are dealt three face-down cards. To start the game, players must place a bet in the Ante area, the Pair Plus area, or both. It is usually played on a table that can seat up to seven players, each of whom has three designated betting areas in front of them marked “Ante,” “Play,” and “Pair Plus.”
Find out the rules, house edge and how to win at this popular card game. Three Card Poker is a casino stud-based card game played with a single deck of 52 cards.