Staple games at most online casinos include video poker, slots, progressive slots, blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat. As a result, no matter what online casino you visit, or which gaming software system you use, there’s bound to be a game that you like to play. After these options, however, there are a number of lesser known casino games, some of which are quite enjoyable and fast paced. One such game is 3 Card Poker (also known as Tri Card Poker).

3 Card Poker is a faster paced game compared to Caribbean Stud Poker, although the betting procedure of both games are essentially the same. Additionally, much like Caribbean Stud Poker, the dealer must “qualify”, or attain a certain minimum hand (usually Queen high or better), in order to go against the player’s hand. The one notable difference between the two games is the progressive bonus jackpot: In Caribbean Stud Poker, players can bet $1, for example, per hand in hopes of winning an accumulating Royal Flush jackpot; whereas in 3 Card Poker one must bet on the “Pair Plus” option in order to qualify for a bonus should the player be dealt at least one pair or better. Alternatively, some casinos run a Tri Card Poker Progressive game, with set payout figures in dollars, opposed to ratios.

The following is the order of hands in 3 Card Poker:

  1. Straight Flush
  2. Three of A Kind
  3. Straight
  4. Flush
  5. Pair
  6. Ace High or less

Play 3 Card Poker at: Da Vinci’s Gold Casino – Rival Gaming – USA and International Players Accepted

The following is the order of hands and Payouts for “PairPlus” Betting, with the “Mini Royal” payout available:

  1. Mini Royal – Pays 50:1
  2. Straight Flush – Pays 40:1
  3. Three of a Kind – Pays 30:1
  4. Straight – Pays 6:1
  5. Flush – Pays 3:1
  6. Pair – Pays 1:1

It’s also worth noting that some casinos may run a 3 Card Poker Progressive Jackpot, although this is not common with online casinos. If you do encounter a Tri Card Poker game with a Progressive Jackpot, the Payout is usually the following:

Tri Card Poker Progressive Payout $1 Bet

  1. Mini Royal in Spades – Jackpot
  2. Mini Royal, Subordinate Suits – $500
  3. Straight Flush – $100
  4. Three of a Kind – $90

3 Card Poker strategy basically hinges on when to bet your hand based on the cards you’ve been dealt. Given the fact that the dealer only qualifies with a Queen high or better, it’s advisable that the player bet his or her hand when holding a Queen/6/4 (ie. Queen of Hearts, 6 of clubs, 4 of diamonds) or better (This information from Wizard of Odds 3 Card Poker Page – Click Here). Otherwise, the house edge increases should the player choose to bet a lesser hand. In the event of a tie or push, the player gets his bets back. At some casinos, a push may mean the player wins, but again, this is a special rule variant found at offline casinos and is not commonly found online.

You can play 3 card poker (or Tri Card Poker) at casinos with RTG (Real Time Gaming), Microgaming, Cassava.net, or Rival Gaming Software. The following is a brief list of casinos that use these software platforms:

Good Luck and Have Fun Playing 3 Card Poker at Online Casinos!