Winning strategies for Three Card Poker

Three Card Poker is simple to learn, however, much of a player’s success in the game is based on luck rather than skill. That said, several strategies exist to make the best use of your odds and allow you to walk away from the table with a win.

Like traditional poker, players begin a round by placing an ante bet. Then the dealer gives the player three cards, all face up. The dealer also gets three cards, but they are face down.

The Queen - Six - Four rule

Poker experts recommend that players follow the Queen - Six - Four rule during a game for the best chance of winning. This is an optimal strategy because you need only keep three cards in mind, and it functions as a good barometer in deciding whether to keep playing once all the cards are dealt.

Experts recommend that players make their decisions to advance betting if they have a hand that is stronger than a Queen - Six - Four. If your hand is higher than that combination, consider raising and placing another bet.

Part of mastering this tactic is to look at each card separately, according to the experts. Let's break this down a little.

First, consider your highest card. If it is lower than a Queen, fold and live to fight another day. If your card is a King or Ace, raise. If you have a Queen high, look at your next card.

The second card could be lower than a Six. If it is, fold. If it is higher, raise. However, look at your third card if you have a Six with your Queen high.

As with the second card, if the third in your hand is lower than a Four, fold and better luck next time. A high card warrants raising.

So now you have the first basic concept down. Now what? It's time to get into the meat and potatoes of optimizing a win.

The Jack - Ten - Eight strategy

This strategy is like the Queen - Six - Four because you are basing your next move on having a hand above these three cards. Experts say this is a tempting one to use because the higher cards can increase your odds, but using this strategy can also maximize your risk.

Experts recommend that you stick to having at least a Queen - Six - Four to place a wager and keep playing.

Practice, practice, practice

The more you can practice, the more confident you can be when visiting the casino or playing Three Card Poker online. A great way to work on your game practice in an online casino is by using a no-cost option.

Even though you won't be able to play live Three Card Poker games for free, there are several online casinos that will allow you to register and take advantage of free demos. Utilizing this tool can greatly increase your skills and build your confidence in the game.

Playing Three-Card Poker using the free demos also gives you a chance to practice in a controlled environment without having to worry about losing any real money.

Learn to manage your bankroll

Making sure you don't bet beyond what you have available in your account is a great way to prevent playing beyond what you can handle. A good tip is to know your betting budget and place your wagers accordingly.

For example, if you have $100 in your account, it might not be wise to place a $20 ante bet. Experts recommend you divide your budget so that you can get 50 out of 100 hands.

Check the pay tables before playing

This can be a big help. It's important to know what is paying out and where because software developers have created their own variants. Not all Three Card Poker games are created equal, even if they share the same name.

For example, Live Three Card Poker might not be the same as games at the other tables. Different variations of games can affect the return to player (RTP), which is the rate that wagers are paid to players during a hand. The RTP is figured as a percentage and represents how much you can win for every dollar you bet.

The higher the RTP, the better. So make sure the tables you visit are offering the best RTP possible, so that you can get the biggest bang for your buck.

Simultaneous play

Poker experts say another way to increase your chances of winning is to play two games at the same time. Simultaneous play can aid you in keeping your win to loss ratio even and your bank account intact.

Should you choose to go this route, make sure you play the Pair Plus and the Ante-Play bets on the same hand. Betting this way can leave you in the black even if you lose one of your bets. Choosing to play two games at once can minimize risk and help prevent large losses that can come from using only one betting option.

Now that we've covered strategies to employ, let's discuss what to avoid.

Wagers to avoid - the six-card bonus

This wager has an RTP of 85.64%. Experts advise to avoid this bonus bet because of the RTP. Should you decide to risk it, you would only walk away with less than $86 for everyone $100 you bet.

No fool-proof scheme

Because there are not many cards in a hand, strategy for Three Card Poker is just as simple as learning the rules. Keep in mind that you are playing against the house and not other players, a major difference between this game and traditional poker.

Again, Three Card Poker does not offer any guarantees. However, implementing these tips into your experience can help you make best use of your odds. Remember, poker is a game of luck, and Three Card Poker is no exception.