How To Play Three Card Poker

Knowing how to play three card poker will enable you to play what has become a very popular casino game.  Despite what the name implies, it bears little resemblance to most other forms of poker since you are playing against the house rather than a group of players.  As a result, it is much easier to play than other forms of poker, but you are also always at a slight disadvantage since the house will always have the edge three card poker.  Here are the steps to knowing how to play three card poker:

1. Post the ante.  This is how much money you are betting against the house.
2. Decide on the "Pair or Better" Button.  In addition to the ante you can make another wager by placing a bet on the "Pair or Better" button.  You never have to make this bet, but, if you do decide to make it, most casinos will require you to bet at least as much as the ante.  You can usually bet more than the ante if you choose to.  This button is a side bet in which the casino will pay you a bonus for having a hand that contains a pair, a flush, a straight, three of a kind, or a straight flush.  The bonus is higher depending on which of these hands you have (the stronger the hand the higher the bonus).
3. Look at your cards.  Once all of the bets have been placed, the dealer will deal each player and himself three cards.  You will not get to see the dealer's cards at this point.  The goal of three card poker is to have a hand that is better than the dealer's.  The best hand is a straight flush, followed by three of a kind, straight, flush, pair, and then high card.
4. Decide whether or not you want to play.  At this point you have to decide if you want to "call."  To do so, you must make another bet for the amount of your initial ante.  If you have made a bet on the "Pair or Better" button and you have a pair, a flush, a straight, three of a kind, or a straight flush, then you should always play because you will win the bonus regardless of the outcome of the hand.  If you don't have one of these hands, then you will lose the bet you placed on the "Pair or Better" button regardless of the outcome of the hand.
5. Call or fold.  There will be a place in front of you for you to place your cards.  If you decide to fold, simply place your cards there, or push them slightly forward.  The dealer will collect them and any bets that you've placed, and that is the end of your three card poker hand.  If you decide to play, place the cards in the space in front of you and place your calling bet on top of the cards.
6. Determine the winner.  If you decide to play, then the dealer will show his cards and determine the final payouts, if any.  First, the dealer will determine if the house "plays" its hand.  If the house has a queen or better, then it plays, otherwise it does not.  If the house doesn't play, then it will pay out the amount of your initial ante, but not the amount of your call.  If the dealer has a queen or better, then the house does play.  In this scenario, if you have a better hand than the dealer then the house will pay out the amount of your ante and the amount of your call.  If the house has a better hand than you then you will lose both your ante and your call.
7. Determine the "Pair or Better" outcome.  If you placed a bet on the "Pair or Better" button and you have a hand that qualified for the bonus, the dealer will pay you that bonus.  If you don't have at least a pair, then you lose your "Pair or Better" bet.  You do not have to have a better hand than the dealer to win the "Pair or Better" bonus, but you have to have called.