Crazy 4 Poker Calculator: Mastering Four-Card Strategy

Crazy 4 Poker deals five cards but only uses your best four—creating unique hand rankings where four of a kind beats everything. Our calculator reveals optimal raise strategy and why the Queens Up side bet is one of the better wagers in casino poker.

What Is Crazy 4 Poker?

Crazy 4 Poker is a casino table game where you receive five cards and make your best four-card hand. The dealer also gets six cards for their best four. You can raise 1x to 3x your Ante based on hand strength. Four-card hand rankings differ from standard poker.

Quick Answer: Crazy 4 Poker = 5 cards, use best 4. Raise 3x with pair of aces+. Raise 1x with K-Q-8-4+. Fold worse. Four of a kind is best (no fifth card for full house). Queens Up side bet: 7% edge (decent). House edge: 3.4% on Ante. Dealer qualifies with King high.

How to Use Our Calculator

Use the Crazy 4 Poker Calculator →

Calculate optimal decisions for any four-card hand.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Enter Five Cards: Your dealt hand

2. View Best Four: Optimal selection

3. See Hand Rank: Four-card ranking

4. Get Raise Decision: 1x, 3x, or fold

5. Calculate EV: Expected value

Input Fields Explained

Field	Description	Example
Dealt Cards	Five cards	A♠ K♦ Q♣ 7♥ 3♠
Best Four	Optimal use	A♠ K♦ Q♣ 7♥
Hand Rank	Four-card	Ace high
Raise Decision	Action	1x Raise
Win Probability	Beat dealer	48%
Expected Value	Bet EV	-0.12

Four-Card Hand Rankings

Unique Ranking Order

From best to worst:

1. Four of a Kind
2. Straight Flush
3. Three of a Kind
4. Flush
5. Straight
6. Two Pair
7. One Pair
8. High Card

Note: No full house possible!
Only 4 cards = no 3+2 combination

Ranking Differences

vs Standard 5-card poker:

Four of a kind beats straight flush!
(No fifth card means 4oak is rarer)

Three of a kind beats flush!
(Four-card flushes more common)

Two pair exists
But ranks lower than standard

Probability Comparison

Four-card hand frequencies:

Four of a Kind: 0.02%
Straight Flush: 0.02%
Three of a Kind: 0.24%
Flush: 1.1%
Straight: 2.6%
Two Pair: 2.6%
One Pair: 30%
High Card: 63%

Most hands are high card or pair

Betting Structure

Required Bets

Initial wagers:

Ante: Required
Super Bonus: Required (equal to Ante)
Queens Up: Optional side bet

Example:
Ante: $25
Super Bonus: $25
Queens Up: $10 (optional)

Must make both Ante and Super Bonus

Raise Options

After seeing five cards:

Fold: Lose Ante and Super Bonus
Raise 1x: Minimum play bet
Raise 3x: With pair of aces or better

3x raise requires strong hand
1x is standard continuation

Payout Structure

Ante: 1:1 vs dealer (if qualify)

Super Bonus (always pays):
Straight Flush: 200:1
Four of a Kind: 30:1
Three of a Kind: 2:1
Flush: 1.5:1
Straight: 1:1

Dealer qualifies with King high

Optimal Strategy

When to Raise 3x

3x raise hands:

Pair of Aces or better
That's it!

This includes:
- Pair of Aces
- Two Pair
- Three of a Kind
- Straight
- Flush
- Straight Flush
- Four of a Kind

Anything AA+ = max raise

When to Raise 1x

1x raise threshold:

K-Q-8-4 or better

This means:
King high, Queen second
8 and 4 as third/fourth cards

Examples that qualify:
K-Q-8-4: Minimum
K-Q-J-3: Yes (better)
K-J-10-9: No (Q missing)

When to Fold

Fold with:

Worse than K-Q-8-4 high

Examples:
K-J-10-5: Fold
Q-J-10-9: Fold (no K)
K-Q-7-6: Fold (8 missing)

These hands lose too often
Save the raise bet

Side Bet Analysis

Queens Up Payout

Queens Up pays on pair of queens+:

Four of a Kind: 50:1
Straight Flush: 30:1
Three of a Kind: 9:1
Flush: 4:1
Straight: 3:1
Two Pair: 2:1
Pair Queens-Aces: 1:1

House edge: ~7%
Decent for side bet

Super Bonus Details

Super Bonus is required:

Always paid based on your hand
Not affected by dealer result
Even if you fold!

This offsets some losses
Built-in hand bonus

Should You Bet Queens Up?

Mathematical view:

House edge: ~7%
Compare to:
- Three Card Pair Plus: 7.3%
- Caribbean Stud bonus: 5.2%
- Most side bets: 10%+

Queens Up is acceptable
For entertainment value
Keep bet small

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Easy 3x Raise

Pair of aces:

Dealt: A♠ A♦ 7♣ 5♥ 2♠

Best four: A♠ A♦ 7♣ 5♥
Hand: Pair of Aces

Action: RAISE 3x

Pair of aces = automatic 3x
Clear threshold hand
Maximum confidence

Example 2: 1x Raise

Strong high cards:

Dealt: K♠ Q♦ 9♣ 6♥ 3♠

Best four: K♠ Q♦ 9♣ 6♥
Hand: K-Q-9-6 high

Action: RAISE 1x

K-Q beats K-Q-8-4 minimum
Raise but not 3x
No pair = 1x maximum

Example 3: Borderline Fold

Just below threshold:

Dealt: K♠ Q♦ 7♣ 5♥ 2♠

Best four: K♠ Q♦ 7♣ 5♥
Hand: K-Q-7-5 high

Action: FOLD

K-Q-7-5 < K-Q-8-4 minimum
Third card too weak
Cut losses here

Example 4: Making Best Four

Choosing cards wisely:

Dealt: A♠ K♦ Q♣ Q♥ 2♠

Best four: A♠ Q♣ Q♥ K♦
Hand: Pair of Queens

NOT: A♠ K♦ Q♣ 2♠ (ace high)

Action: RAISE 3x

Pair beats high cards
Use the queens!
3x for pair

House Edge Analysis

Main Game Edge

Optimal play house edge:

Ante bet: 3.4%
Super Bonus: Variable (helps player)
Combined: ~3.4%

Reasonable for table game
Better than Caribbean Stud
Worse than blackjack

Edge Comparison

vs Other casino poker:

Crazy 4 Poker: 3.4%
Three Card Poker: 3.4%
Caribbean Stud: 5.2%
Let It Ride: 3.5%
Pai Gow Poker: 2.8%

Middle of the pack
Competitive casino poker

Dealer Qualification

King High Requirement

Dealer must have:

King high or better to qualify

If dealer doesn't qualify:
Ante pushes (no win/loss)
Play bet still pays 1:1
Super Bonus still pays

Lower threshold than most games
Dealer qualifies often

Impact on Strategy

Qualification effects:

Dealer qualifies ~75% of time
King high is common
Don't count on pushes
Play for wins, not pushes

Common Mistakes

1. Raising 3x Without Aces

Mistake: 3x with kings or lower pair Problem: 3x only correct with AA+ Fix: 1x with pairs below aces

2. Wrong Fold Threshold

Mistake: Playing any king high Problem: K-Q-8-4 is specific minimum Fix: Memorize the threshold

3. Ignoring Best Four

Mistake: Not evaluating all options Problem: Might miss pair or better hand Fix: Check all 5-choose-4 combinations

4. Large Queens Up Bets

Mistake: Matching Ante on side bet Problem: 7% edge compounds Fix: Small entertainment bet only

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does four of a kind beat straight flush?

With only four cards, four of a kind is mathematically rarer than four-card straight flush. Rankings reflect actual probabilities.

When exactly should I raise 3x?

Only with pair of aces or better. Any pair below aces = 1x raise. This is the strict mathematical cutoff.

What's the K-Q-8-4 rule?

Minimum hand for 1x raise. Your four cards must be king-queen with at least 8 as third card and 4 as fourth.

Is Queens Up a good bet?

7% edge is reasonable for a side bet. Small bet for entertainment is fine. Don't make it significant.

How often does dealer qualify?

About 75% of hands. King high is common in four-card format.

Should I play Crazy 4 or Three Card?

Similar house edge (~3.4%). Crazy 4 has more strategic decisions. Three Card is simpler. Personal preference.

Pro Tips

• AA+ = 3x: Strict threshold

• K-Q-8-4 minimum: Memorize it

• Check all four-card options: Don't miss pairs

• Queens Up = small bet: Entertainment only

• Super Bonus helps: Built-in bonus offsets edge

Related Calculators

• Three Card Poker Calculator - Simpler game
• Four Card Poker Calculator - Similar game
• Caribbean Stud Calculator - Five cards
• House Edge Calculator - Compare games
• Expected Value Calculator - Bet analysis

Conclusion

Crazy 4 Poker rewards precise strategy—3x with aces or better, 1x down to K-Q-8-4, fold everything else. Our calculator reveals why four-card hand rankings differ from standard poker and how the Queens Up side bet offers reasonable entertainment value at 7% edge.

Calculate Crazy 4 Poker Odds Now →

Your pair of jacks warrants a 1x raise, not 3x—save the maximum bet for aces or better. Our calculator shows the exact thresholds that minimize the 3.4% house edge in this four-card variant.