Looking for a new casino game to play at home that’s not the usual online slots, roulette, or blackjack? Well, have you ever tried online Three Card poker? It’s a great option to consider. With this card game, you can have some fun and also put your skills and strategies to the test. By getting to know the rules and practising different playing tactics, you can increase your chances of winning money and have even more fun while playing.
Top-Rated European Online Casinos for 3 Card Poker Players
Slots, European roulette, and blackjack are everywhere online, but finding a good place with many 3 card poker games in 2023 can be a bit of a challenge. The live version of the game is usually offered by one software provider, Evolution Gaming, and by a few others as an RNG version. Fortunately, at Onlinecasinoinfo.eu we identified the top sites for 3 card poker games and they offer it in both live and RNG versions, from multiple software providers.
Bitstarz
⭐ Rating: 4.8/5 | Review
- Max €100 bonus + 180 Spins
- 40x bonus wagering
- €20 deposit minimum
- No withdrawal limits
- Est. payouts within 10 min
- 4,680+ casino games
- 30+ game providers
- Euro and crypto accepted
- 24/7 live chat, email support
- Curaçao licensed (8048/JAZ)
- Established in 2014
Winz Casino
⭐ Rating: 4.8/5 | Review
- Max 300 Free Spins bonus
- No wagering needed
- €20 deposit minimum
- €400,000 m/withdrawal limit
- Est. payouts within 1h
- 5000+ casino games
- 100+ game providers
- Euro and crypto accepted
- 24/7 live chat, email support
- Curaçao licensed (8048/JAZ)
- Established in 2019
CasinoFriday
⭐ Rating: 4.7/5 | Review
- Max €500 bonus + 200 Spins
- 40x bonus wagering
- €10 deposit minimum
- No withdrawal limits
- Est. payouts within 12h
- 4000+ casino games
- 75+ game providers
- Euro and crypto accepted
- 24/7 live chat, email support
- Curaçao/Estonia licensed
- Established in 2020
Mount Gold
⭐ Rating: 4.4/5 | Review
- 10% real money cashback
- No wagering needed
- €20 deposit minimum
- €10,000 daily withdrawal limit
- Est. payouts within 12h
- 3700+ casino games
- 98 game providers
- Accepts fiat payments only
- 24/7 live chat, email support
- Malta (MGA) licensed
- Established in 2020
SlotVibe
⭐ Rating: 4.3/5 | Review
- Max €1000 bonus + 150 Spins
- 40x bonus wagering
- €15 deposit minimum
- €20,000 m/withdrawal limit
- Est. payouts within 12h
- 3500+ casino games
- 30+ game providers
- Euro and crypto accepted
- 24/7 live chat, email support
- Curaçao licensed (8048/JAZ)
- Established in 2021
Fun Casino
⭐ Rating: 4.4/5 | Review
- Up to €123 1st deposit bonus
- 50x bonus wagering
- €10 deposit minimum
- €5000 daily withdrawal limit
- Est. payouts within 12h
- 1000+ casino games
- 30 game providers
- Accepts fiat payments only
- 24/7 live chat, email support
- Malta (MGA) & UKGC licensed
- Established in 2017
Note: When choosing the best online three card poker site, ensure that the casino offers payment methods that are convenient and suitable for your country. Winz is an excellent casino, as it offers a range of fiat and crypto options. On the other hand, casinos like BC Game may be more suitable for those who prefer to use only cryptocurrencies.
How to Play Three Card Poker Online
Now that you’ve decided to try your luck at online three card poker, let’s get down to the basics of how to play and over the game’s objective.
Your objective in this poker game is to beat the dealer with a higher hand. Unlike traditional poker games, you’ll only be playing against the dealer and not other players.
To begin, you’ll need to place your bets. three types of bets are available in Three Card Poker:
- Ante Bonus: The Ante bet is a wager on whether your hand will beat the dealer’s hand and it pays 1 to 1
- Pair Plus: The Pair Plus bet is an optional side bet on whether you’ll get a pair or better in your hand
- 6 Card Bonus: This is also an optional bet based on both your hand and the dealer’s hand
If your hand qualifies for a payout, you win according to the pay table.
Three Card Poker Pay Table
As an example, below you can see the bets and payouts for live dealer three card poker game by Evolution Gaming, a leading casino game provider.
| Ante Bonus | Payout |
|---|---|
| Straight Flush or Higher | 5:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 4:1 |
| Straight | 1:1 |
| Pair Plus | Payout |
| Mini Royal | 100:1 |
| Straight Flush | 40:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 30:1 |
| Straight | 5:1 |
| Flush | 4:1 |
| Pair | 1:1 |
| 6 Card Bonus | Payout |
| Royal Flush | 1000:1 |
| Straight Flush | 200:1 |
| Four of a Kind | 100:1 |
| Full House | 20:1 |
| Flush | 15:1 |
| Straight | 10:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 7:1 |
Gameplay of 3 Card Poker
Once you’ve placed your bets, you’ll receive three cards with face up. You can choose to fold and lose your Ante bet, or you can continue by placing a “Play” bet equal to your Ante bet.
After you’ve made your decision, the dealer will reveal their hand. If the dealer has a Queen high or better, they will qualify to play against your hand. If not, you’ll win even money on your Ante bet, and your Play bet will be returned.
If the dealer qualifies and your hand beats theirs, you’ll win even money on both your Ante and Play bets. If the dealer’s hand is higher, you’ll lose both bets. If there’s a tie, both bets will push.
Three Card Poker Hand Rankings
Understanding the hand rankings is essential in 3 card poker.
Ante Bonus
Let’s start with the Ante Bonus. If you get a Straight Flush or higher, you’ll receive a payout that’s 5 times your original bet. The Three of a Kind is the second-best hand and pays out 4 times your original bet. A Straight hand pays 1 to 1.
Pair Plus
Moving on to the Pair Plus bonus, the highest payout is for a Mini Royal. This means if you get an Ace, King, and Queen of the same suit, you’ll receive 100x of your original bet. The 2nd best hand is a Straight Flush, which pays 40 to 1. Three of a Kind pays out 30 to 1, followed by a Straight hand that pays 5 to 1, a Flush that pays 4 to 1, and a Pair hand that pays 1 to 1.
6 Card Bonus
With the 6 Card Bonus, the Royal Flush brings the highest payout, and it pays out 1000x your original bet. This hand consists of the Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten of the same suit. The 2nd top hand is a Straight Flush, which pays 200 to 1. Four of a Kind is the next highest hand and pays out 100 to 1. And following the table above, a Full House combination pays 20 to 1, a Flush pays 15 to 1, a Straight pays 10 to 1, and Three of a Kind pays 7 to 1.
Possible Hand Combinations
There are 52 cards in a standard deck, and each card can be one of four suits (clubs, diamonds, hearts, or spades). Therefore, the total number of possible three-card combinations is: 52 x 51 x 50 / (3 x 2 x 1) = 22,100.
| Hand | Description | Combinations |
|---|---|---|
| Straight Flush | Three cards of sequential rank, all in the same suit | 48 |
| Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same rank | 52 |
| Straight | Three cards of sequential rank, not all in the same suit | 720 |
| Flush | Three cards of the same suit, not in sequence | 1,096 |
| Pair | Two cards of the same rank, and one card of a different rank | 3,744 |
| High Card | Three cards of different ranks, not in sequence, and not all the same suit | 16,440 |
| Total | – | 22,100 |
- So there are 22,100 possible hand combinations in 3 Card Poker.
Different Types of Online 3-Card Poker Games
With the nowadays technology we have access to two types of online 3-card poker games, such as Random Number Generator (RNG) and Live Casino versions. Let’s discuss the differences between these two versions and help you decide which one is best for you.
Three Card RNG Poker
If you’re looking for a straightforward way to play 3 card poker, you might want to try out the RNG version. With this online version of the casino card game, the Random Number Generator (RNG) determines each hand’s outcome.
What is RNG? The RNG is an algorithm or simply a computer program that generates random numbers to decide which cards you and the dealer will receive. The best part of playing RNG poker is that you get to set your own pace. You don’t have to worry about other players pressuring you or rushing you to make a decision. Plus, you can play it for free or with lower minimum bets compared to the real casino version.
If you’re wondering which casino game providers offer real money 3 card RNG poker, you might want to check out some of these companies: SG Digital (Light & Wonder), Habanero, Betsoft, Wazdan, One Touch, and Evoplay.
Three Card Live Casino Poker
This version of 3 card poker offers a unique twist as it allows you to play with a real dealer, streamed directly from a dedicated studio, usually based in Latvia or Malta (if it’s from Evolution Gaming or Playtech) or a land-based casino in Europe. Playing 3-card poker at live casino online sites with a real dealer can make the experience more immersive and social since you can chat with the dealer and other players while playing the game.
As with any three card poker game, the live dealer version uses a standard 52-card deck and follows the standard objective of having a better three card poker hand than the dealer.
RNG and Live Variations Compared
The best online 3 card poker game depends on how engaged and interactive you want to be. If you’re looking for a more laid-back and easygoing real money gambling experience, then the RNG poker version might be just what you’re looking for. However, if you’re after something more lively, where you can chat with a live dealer and other players, then 3 card live casino poker is definitely worth checking out.
Card Counting and Strategy When Playing
If you’re going to play online 3 Card Poker and wondering if you can count cards, unfortunately, it’s pointless. That’s because card counting relies on keeping track of the ratio of high to low cards in the deck after each hand. But if the deck gets shuffled after every game, then that ratio gets reset, and any information you had from previous hands in your mind won’t be useful anymore. Moreover, online casinos use software that randomly shuffles the deck after each game.
Instead, a potentially profitable 3 card poker playing strategy, could be a progressive betting system. Here’s how you can use it:
- Place a small bet, such as the minimum allowed at the table (0.10 EUR)
- If you win the hand, keep betting the same amount on the next hand
- If you lose the hand, double your bet for the next round
- If you win the second hand, go back to the original small bet for the next hand
- If you lose the second hand, double your bet again for the next round
- Keep following this pattern of doubling your bet after each loss until you finally win a hand
Note: Using progressive betting can be risky and might result in significant losses!
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Three Card poker different from other poker games?
What sets 3 card poker apart from other poker games is that it uses only three cards (not five like traditional poker), and that you play only against the dealer, not other players.
How do you get started playing Three Card poker online?
Pick an online casino that offers the game. Then, create an account and deposit money into your casino account. After that, go to the Three Card poker section, choose the variation you want to play, and start playing.
Can you increase your chances of winning Three Card poker using a strategy?
While there’s no guaranteed strategy to win at three card poker, you can increase your winning odds by playing optimally and managing your bankroll effectively.
What is the optimal strategy for playing Three Card poker online?
The optimal strategy is to play with a Queen-6-4 or higher and fold with a Queen-6-3 or lower.
How do you manage your bankroll effectively while playing?
To manage your bankroll effectively, set limits on how much you’re willing to bet and avoid chasing losses.
What is the house edge for Three Card poker compared to other online casino games?
When we compare it to other online casino games like roulette or slots, Three Card poker in general has a lower house edge. Note however that the specific variation of the game played and the rules set by the game software provider can affect the house edge. On average, the house edge for Three Card poker falls between 1.5% to 4%.
What should you do if you encounter a problem while playing?
If you experience any problems while playing, reach out to the game host via the live chat immediately or the casino’s customer support team.
Are there any specific rules or etiquette to follow while playing Three Card poker online?
Though there aren’t any specific rules or etiquette to follow while playing, it’s always a good idea to be respectful to the dealer and other players when using the live chat feature.
Can you play Three Card poker online with other players?
You can only play against the real dealer or the RNG version, not with other players like in traditional poker games.
Are there any special bonuses available for Three Card poker online players?
Online casino bonuses for table games usually are rare, especially for live dealer games. You may be lucky to be at the right time to get one – check out our recommended casinos above.