Three Card Poker Online
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3 Card Poker is one of the most popular casino table games that uses poker hand rankings. The strategy for 3-Card Poker is simple, which makes it accessible to new players as well as entertaining for experienced table game fans.
As the name suggests, this game starts with three cards dealt to each player and the dealer. You then make a simple choice, play or fold, based on the strength of your hand. There are two different side bets to enjoy with the potential for big money payouts. Fans of this game consider the “Pairs+” side bet to be an essential part of the game.
There are three ways to enjoy 3 Card Poker in Michigan. You can play at live venues in Detroit, such as Greektown and MGM Grand. You can play on Michigan casino apps against the software, or you can play at live-dealer Michigan casinos, where hands are streamed from a studio in real time.
Rules: How does Three Card Poker work?
Three Card Poker plays a lot like other poker-based table games such as Ultimate Texas Hold’em and Let It Ride. Before a hand is dealt, each player posts a bet known as the ante. When you play live, you’ll find the table minimums are usually around $5. You can usually bet less online, even as little as $0.10.
Players and the dealer will now be dealt three cards each. Your cards will be face up, while the dealer’s cards are face down. Having seen your hand, you must decide whether to ‘play’ or not. If you do, another bet equal to the size of the ante must be placed. If you fold, your ante bet is removed.
If you do “play,” then the dealer’s hand will be revealed and compared to yours. If the dealer’s hand is better (using standard poker hand ranks), you lose both the ante and the play part of your bet. If your hand is the better of the two, you immediately win your ante bet.
For winning hands, there is a dealer qualification rule. If the dealer qualifies with Queen high or better, you get paid on your ‘play’ bet. If the dealer did not qualify, then that bet is a push – the stake is simply returned.
Three Card Poker example hand
You bet $5 as the ante, and you reveal a pair of Aces in your hand. You choose “play” and bet another $5. If the dealer has a qualified hand worse than a pair of aces – for example, A-K-9, you will win both bets and have a total return of $20 (a profit of $10). If the dealer’s hand does not qualify (for example, 7-4-2 of different suits), you win the ante and push the play bet, for a total return of $15 ($5 profit).
3 Card Poker strategy
The strategy for Three Card Poker is easy. Any time you have at least a Queen high, with at least a seven alongside it, you should bet. You can also bet if you hold Q-6-5 or Q-6-4. Any hands lower than that you should simply discard. Any pairs or higher should be played.
Side bets in 3 Card Poker
In addition to the main action, there are two side bets you can place for added action.
Pair+: This side bet is based on the strength of your own 3 cards. You will be paid at the following odds if you land any of these hands:
- Pair — 1-to-1
- Flush — 3-to-1
- Straight — 6-to-1
- Three of a Kind — 30-to-1
- Straight Flush — 40-to-1
- Mini Royal Flush — (A-K-Q suited) 200-to-1
6 Card Bonus: This second side bet is based on the best combined 5-card hand you can make from both your 3 cards and the dealer’s 3 cards. Some sites have progressive jackpots, with the biggest prize for a Royal Flush in diamonds or a 6-card Royal. Here are the payouts:
- Three of a Kind — 5-to-1
- Straight — 10-to-1
- Flush — 20-to-1
- Full House — 25-to-1
- Four of a Kind — 50-to-1
- Straight Flush — 200-to-1
- Royal Flush — 1000-to-1 (or Progressive)
Our How to Play Three Card Poker page offers further details about the rules, side bets, and strategy.
Where can you play 3 Card Poker in Michigan?
3 Card Poker is a popular game across Michigan and can be enjoyed at a large number of live locations around the state. This game is also popular online, with almost all of the currently available sites featuring it. One popular “virtual” version is from the SG Digital studio, which you can try out on the demo game at the top of the page.
You can also enjoy Three Card Poker at live dealer online casinos. Real games are streamed from studios, allowing you to bet remotely. Live Dealer Three Card Poker is played one-to-many – with everyone betting on the same hand. This format is social, with options to (text) chat with the dealer and other players while you gamble. Evolution Gaming is frequently the provider of live dealer poker at MI sites.
Below is a table showing where you can find Three Card Poker at some of our top-recommended Michigan sites. I’ve listed the minimum stakes, which you can see are a little higher for the live dealer version (which is also more commonly offered). Maximum bets are often around $2,500 or $5,000 per hand, depending on the site.
| Live Three Card Poker? | Virtual Three Card Poker? | |
|---|---|---|
| Caesars Palace Online Casino | ✅ (min. $0.50) | ❌ |
| Hard Rock Bet Casino | ✅ (min. $0.50) | ❌ |
| BetMGM Casino | ❌ | ✅ (min. $0.10) |
| DraftKings Casino | ✅ (min. $1) | ✅ (min. $0.10) |
| FanDuel Casino | ✅ (min. $0.50) | ❌ |
| BetRivers Casino | ✅ (min. $0.50) | ❌ |
| Golden Nugget Online Casino | ✅ (min. $1) | ✅ (min. $0.10) |
| Fanatics Casino | ❌ | ❌ |
Give Three Card Poker in Michigan a try
Three Card Poker is one of the most popular table games, which is loosely based on poker hands. The appeal comes from the right balance of simple strategy and big-win potential. Many players bet the main hand and Pair+ side bet, seeing them both as essential parts of the game. The 6-card bonus has a progressive jackpot at the bigger live sites in Michigan.
As noted, there are two ways to play this game at real-money sites. You can play against the software or join a live game via your desktop or mobile device. If you enjoy table games like blackjack that involve a bit of strategy and skill, you should give Three Card Poker a try.
