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Tri-Card Poker or Three-Card Poker is a slimmed down version of the standard five-card game, pitting players’ best poker hand against the dealer. It’s a popular online casino game because of its simple rules and slower pace, which appeals to new players. Here’s a look at how the game is played.
Betting
Just like any other poker game, players at the table must ante up with a minimum bet to begin. Following the ante, players are dealt three cards as is the dealer. Players look at those cards and judge whether they want to play against the dealer. If so, they place what is called the “play” and must be the same amount as the initial ante wager. The dealer then revels their cards and winning wagers are paid out.
Scoring
Due to the fact that the players and dealer have just three cards, making a solid poker hand is much more difficult than in other variations of poker. In order for there to be any action, the dealer must have a poker hand of Queen or higher to play. If not, all “play” bets are refunded and the ante bet is paid even money. Often times a hand of King or Ace high is good enough to beat the dealer.
Bonuses
Tri-Card Poker games have an optional bonus known as the Pair Plus, which wins if the player holds a poker hand of a pair or better and loses if the player doesn’t hold a pair or better. With that said, a player can win a Pair Plus bonus and lose to the dealer or beat the dealer and lose the Pair Plus wager. This bonus is paid on a scale, with a pair paying even money, a flush paying 3/1, straight at 6/1, three of a kind at 30/1, and a straight flush paying out at 40/1 odds.
Some casinos also offer an Ante Bonus for players, in addition to the best signup bonuses, which also uses a pay scale for the rarer poker hands. If a player hold a three-card hand of straight flush they are paid out at 5/1 of their ante. Three of a kind pays 4/1 and a straight pays even money. This bonus pays out regardless of if the dealer has a qualifying hand or if the player wins or loses the hand.