The game is played with a standard 52 card deck. Cards are distributed to the dealer in groups of three by an automatic shuffling machine. You start play either by placing an ante bet into a diamond-shaped betting area labeled “ante” or by placing a bet in a circle labeled “pair plus.” You can also make both bets. You’re then dealt three cards. There’s no draw, and you’re competing only with the dealer, who also gets three cards. You just need to know that three consecutive cards (like 2-3-4, A-2-3 or Q-K-A, but not 2-A-K) are a straight, three cards in the same suit (like the 2, 5 and 9 of hearts) are a flush and two cards in the same rank (like 4-4) are a pair. The order in which your cards arrive doesn’t matter in determining whether you have a straight. If you pick your cards up and see 7-5-6, you have a straight. Three Card Poker is two games in one. You are usually allowed to play either one or both games at the same time, but some casinos will require you to play both, while others will make only one optional. The two games are “Three Card Ante/Play”, where you compete against the dealer, and “Pair Plus” that has different bonus payouts for Three Card Poker hands of one pair or better. When both games are played at the same time, players may wager different amounts on each game.

*Proprietary game and trademark used under license from SHFL entertainment, Inc.