Three Card Poker — Play Free Against the Dealer
Three Card Poker is a fast casino card game: you and the dealer each get three cards, and your only decision is whether to Play or Fold. Add the Pair Plus side bet for big payouts on a strong hand. Free virtual credits, no download, no signup.
How to Play
- Bet: place an Ante, and if you like a Pair Plus bet. You can also play Pair Plus on its own.
- Deal: you get three cards face up, the dealer three face down.
- Decide: Play by adding a bet equal to your Ante, or Fold and lose the Ante. Pair Plus is still settled on your hand either way.
- Dealer qualifies with Queen high or better. If not, your Ante pays 1 to 1 and Play comes back.
- Compare: if the dealer qualifies, the better hand wins. Ante and Play each pay 1 to 1; a tie pushes both.
Hand Rankings
| Hand | Example |
|---|---|
| Straight Flush | 8♥ 9♥ 10♥ |
| Three of a Kind | K K K |
| Straight | 4 5 6 |
| Flush | 2♣ 8♣ J♣ |
| Pair | 7 7 A |
| High Card | A J 4 |
Aces are high, except in A‑2‑3, the lowest straight. A‑K‑Q is the highest straight.
Payouts
| Hand | Pair Plus | Ante Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Straight Flush | 40 to 1 | 5 to 1 |
| Three of a Kind | 30 to 1 | 4 to 1 |
| Straight | 6 to 1 | 1 to 1 |
| Flush | 4 to 1 | — |
| Pair | 1 to 1 | — |
The Ante Bonus is paid when you Play, whatever the dealer has. Pair Plus depends only on your own three cards. House edge: 3.37% on Ante and Play with the Q‑6‑4 strategy, 2.32% on Pair Plus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this Three Card Poker game free?
Yes. It runs in your browser with no download, no signup and no real money. You play with free virtual credits, and a top-up appears whenever you run out.
When should I Play and when should I Fold?
The simple rule is Queen‑Six‑Four: Play with Q‑6‑4 or any better hand, and fold anything worse. That is the optimal strategy and it keeps the house edge at 3.37% of your Ante.
Why does a straight beat a flush?
With only three cards a straight is harder to make than a flush — there are 720 straights but 1,096 flushes among the 22,100 possible hands — so the straight ranks higher.
What happens if the dealer doesn't qualify?
The dealer needs Queen high or better. If not, your Ante pays 1 to 1 and your Play bet comes back, whatever your hand. The Ante Bonus and Pair Plus still pay if your hand earns them.
Does my balance save?
Yes. Your credits are stored in your browser and shared with our other games.
