The goal of Three Card Poker is for the Player’s three-card hand to beat the Dealer’s three-card hand. The hierarchy of hands is similar to that of other poker games, with a Straight Flush the strongest hand and a High Card the weakest. The Dealer must have a Queen or higher to qualify. If this is not the case, Players automatically win.
At the start of the game, Players must make an Ante wager. They may also choose to make an optional side-wager, known as the Pair Plus bet. Players and the Dealer are then dealt three cards each. Once all the cards have been dealt, Players can choose to Fold or Call. By folding, Players surrender their Ante wager. By Calling, Players double their Ante wager with an additional wager equal to the amount of the initial Anet bet.
The Dealer then reveals their cards. If the Dealer does not have a Queen or higher, all Players who Called automatically win, regardless of the strength of their hands. The Dealer’s qualifying hand is compared to each Player’s in order to determine the winner. In the event of a tie, the Ante and Call wagers are returned to the Player. On the other hand, if the Player is pleased with their hand, they can opt to make an additional Wager, known as the ‘Raise’ bet. This is an additional bet equal to the amount of the Ante wager.