1. The aim of the game
Beat the Bank by having a higher hand and with the best possible combination.
2. Playing the game
3-Card Poker uses a standard deck of 52 cards.
To receive cards, each player must place an initial “ANTE” wager and/or a “PAIR PLUS” wager on the appropriate box. Once the bets are placed, the dealer deals three hole cards to each player and themself (the shuffle and the deal may be different if an electronic “shoe” card dealer is used).
Once the deal is over, each player has the choice between two actions: fold (which is equivalent to abandoning their cards and losing their bets), or raise (which is equivalent to betting).
To bet, the player must place the same amount as their initial “ANTE” bet in the “PLAY” box.
The dealer must have a hand of Queen-high or better to qualify. If this is not the case, the dealer will pay the initial bets and the winning “PAIR PLUS” bets, but will not pay the raises. If the dealer is Queen-high or better, they qualify, compare their hand, and pay the initial and bonus bets, raises, and winning “PAIR PLUS” bets.
3. Pair Plus
The “PAIR PLUS” bet is a separate and winning bet each time the player has a hand with at least a pair. The “PAIR PLUS” bet is paid regardless of the dealer's hand.
4. Bonus on initial bet
There is a bonus on the initial bet, which offers a bonus only for three hands obtained by the player: a Tierce (paid 1 time the initial bet), a three-of-a-kind (paid 4 times the initial bet) and a Tierce Flush (paid 5 times the initial bet). Bonuses on initial bets are always paid regardless of whether the dealer qualifies or not, and regardless of the dealer’s outcome.
Note that, when the dealer does not qualify, the player who believes they have a winning combination, on the ANTE, the BONUS and/or the PAIR PLUS, announces it aloud and only their cards are turned over, for verification, by the dealer.
5. Hand value
In 3-Card Poker, the ranking of hands is slightly different from classic Poker variants, because with three cards a Flush is easier to get than a Straight. Therefore, in 3-Card Poker, the Straight beats the Flush and the ranking of the cards is as follows: Ace (strongest card), King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2. The strongest hand consists of an Ace, King and Queen of the same suit, which is sometimes referred to as a Tierce Royal Flush. If the player and the dealer have the same hand, no chips are lost or won.
6. Ranking of hands
(from weakest to strongest)
| combinations | descriptions | examples |
| no pair | 3 UNMATCHED AND UNCONNECTED CARDS | 7-9-10 |
| pair | 1 SINGLE PAIR | 6-6-8 |
| flush | 3 CARDS OF THE SAME COLOR, NOT CONNECTED | 4-8-9 of spades |
| TIERCe | 3 CONNECTED AND NON-MATCHING CARDS | 3-4-5 |
| THREE OF KIND | 3 CARDS OF THE SAME VALUE | 4-4-4 |
| tierce flush | 3 MATCHED AND CONNECTED CARDS | 7-8-9 of clubs |
| Royal tierce flush | 1 ACE, 1 KING AND 1 QUEEN OF THE SAME SUIT |
ACE-KING-QUEEN OF HEARTS |
7. “PAIR PLUS” payment table
| combinations | payment |
| pair | 1 time the bet |
| flush | 3 time the bet |
| tierce | 6 time the bet |
| three of kind | 30 time the bet |
| tierce flush | 40 time the bet |
