Popular Card Game Offers Huge Payouts

There is a game in the live action section of most casinos that affords you a chance to collect on your bet even though your hand may be inferior to that of the dealer.

You can actually look down at your cards, happy with the fact that you have drawn, oh say a pair of sevens, and not be disheartened when you find out the dealer has a pair of aces.

This is the game commonly known as three card poker, and if you have made the correct bet, you will win even money on your pair regardless of the fact that the dealer has beaten you.

In the game of Three Card Poker (also known as Tri Card Poker, Brag or Brit Brag) you as the player are given a choice of two bets to make prior to the cards being dealt.



At first glance, the game may appear complicated as the table is covered with an array of circles and squares, and to the novice Tri Card player, it all may seem a bit overwhelming.

It is in truth one of the easiest games to learn and play.

You are after all, only playing with three cards and you really only have to answer one question.

To play or not to play.

Sitting at the table, you will see three circles in front of you.

These are your betting marks.

The first is the ante bet, the second is for a raise bet and the third is a little bet they like to call the pair plus.

You are required to either make the ante bet or the pair plus bet, or you may play both.

Be advised that most casinos have a $5 minimum on their tables, so if you are inclined to play both bets, you will be wagering a minimum of $10.



Sounds expensive, but it can be lucrative if you have the stones to press on.

Let's talk about the ante bet first, the circle closest to you at the table.

Once you have placed your wager on the ante bet the dealing will commence. You will be given three cards simultaneously and then the dealer receives their cards from the remaining deck.

There is an easy rule of thumb to follow here.

Years of scientific research have gone into the study of odds on all poker games and Tri Card is no different.

Once you have looked at your cards it is up to you to decide if you wish to continue.

If you like your cards and want to play on and beat the dealer, you must now place an additional bet in the second circle (the raise bet).

The careful study of the odds tells us that if we have three cards with a value of less than Q-6-4, this hand should be folded.

Any hand with a value of Q-6-4 or better should be played, and therefore raised.

It is that simple.

Follow that rule and let the odds take over.

Should you decide to play your hand, and you have made the proper raise, the dealer now reveals their cards.

Here is where it gets a trifle confusing for the newcomer.

If your hand is better than that of the dealer you win your ante bet and your return is even money.

To win your raise bet, you must of course beat the dealer, but the dealer must at least have a Queen.

Should the dealer not have a Queen, then they are said to "not qualify" and your raise bet is simply returned to you.

What you want to see here is not only a better hand than the dealers, but you also want that dealer to at least have a Queen.

Should that occur, then you have won both bets and collected $10 providing you played the $5 minimum on both the ante and the raise.

There is a chance for you to make better money on the ante bet as most casinos will pay a bonus of 3:1 for a three of a kind or 4:1 for a straight flush.

These bonuses pay out regardless of whether or not you beat the dealer.

The third circle on that table is the pair plus bet.

Again the minimum is $5 but the payouts can be huge.



It is rather simple.

You are betting that you will have at least a pair in your three cards; if you do you win.

If you have something more substantial than a pair you can really rake in some chips as casinos will pay as much as 4:1 for a flush, 6:1 for a straight, 30;1 for a three of a kind and an astounding 40:1 for a straight flush.

The game is straight forward and a good deal of fun to play with a group of boisterous players.

The fun can be infectious, but beware, with $5 minimums and the need to play three bets per hand (most players will tell you that you should be making all the bets) it can get expensive.

But it gives the opportunity for a lot of fun and a nice payout should you get lucky.

So the question is, to play or not to play.