Three Card Poker Calculator: Master the Q-6-4 Rule

Three Card Poker combines fast action with simple strategy. Our calculator shows optimal play/fold decisions and analyzes both Ante and Pair Plus bets, helping you minimize the 3.37% house edge.

What Is Three Card Poker?

Three Card Poker is a casino table game with two separate bets: Ante (play against dealer) and Pair Plus (bet on your hand strength). You receive three cards and decide to play or fold.

Quick Answer: The complete Three Card Poker strategy is one rule: Play Q-6-4 or better, fold everything else. This simple strategy yields a 3.37% house edge on Ante. Pair Plus is a separate bet with 7.28% edge (varies by pay table). Always know which bet you're making.

How to Use Our Three Card Poker Calculator

Use the Three Card Poker Calculator →

Enter your three cards to see optimal play/fold decision.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Enter Your Three Cards: Input your complete hand

2. View Hand Ranking: See what you have

3. Get Decision: Play or fold recommendation

4. Compare to Q-6-4: Understand the threshold

5. See Pair Plus Payout: If applicable

Input Fields Explained

Field	Description	Example
Card 1	First card	Q♠
Card 2	Second card	7♦
Card 3	Third card	3♣
Hand Ranking	Your hand type	Queen High
Decision	Optimal play	Play/Fold
Pair Plus	Side bet payout	N/A (no pair)

Three Card Poker Hand Rankings

Ranking Order (High to Low)

Rank	Hand	Example	Probability
1	Straight Flush	5♠ 6♠ 7♠	0.22%
2	Three of a Kind	8♠ 8♥ 8♦	0.24%
3	Straight	9♣ 10♦ J♠	3.26%
4	Flush	A♥ 7♥ 2♥	4.96%
5	Pair	K♠ K♦ 5♣	16.94%
6	High Card	A♣ J♦ 4♠	74.39%

Note: Unlike regular poker, straight beats flush in Three Card Poker (straights are harder to make with 3 cards).

The Q-6-4 Strategy

The Only Rule You Need

Play if your hand is Q-6-4 or better. Fold everything else.

What "Q-6-4 or Better" Means

Hand	Decision	Why
Any pair	Play	Beats Q-6-4
A-K-2	Play	A-K-x beats Q-x-x
Q-7-2	Play	Q-7-x beats Q-6-x
Q-6-5	Play	Q-6-5 beats Q-6-4
Q-6-4	Play	Minimum threshold
Q-6-3	Fold	Below threshold
Q-5-4	Fold	Q-5-x loses to Q-6-x
J-10-9	Fold	J-x-x loses to Q-x-x

Quick Comparison Method

Compare hands card-by-card:

1. Compare highest card
2. If tied, compare second card
3. If tied, compare third card

Q-6-4 is your benchmark—play if you beat it, fold if you don't.

Ante Bet Details

How Ante Works

1. Place Ante bet
2. Receive 3 cards
3. Decide: Play (add equal bet) or Fold (lose Ante)
4. Dealer reveals cards
5. Dealer must have Q or better to qualify

Ante Outcomes

Scenario	Result
Dealer doesn't qualify	Ante pays 1:1, Play pushes
Dealer qualifies, you win	Both pay 1:1
Dealer qualifies, dealer wins	Lose both bets
Dealer qualifies, tie	Both push

Ante Bonus

Many casinos pay an Ante Bonus regardless of dealer hand:

Hand	Typical Bonus
Straight Flush	5:1
Three of a Kind	4:1
Straight	1:1

Ante Bonus is automatic—no extra bet required.

Pair Plus Bet Details

How Pair Plus Works

Pair Plus is independent of the dealer—you're betting on your hand alone:

Hand	Standard Payout	Alternative
Straight Flush	40:1	35:1
Three of a Kind	30:1	25:1
Straight	6:1	6:1
Flush	3:1	4:1
Pair	1:1	1:1

Pair Plus House Edge

Pay Table	House Edge
40-30-6-3-1 (best)	2.32%
40-30-6-4-1	2.70%
35-25-6-4-1	7.28%
25-20-6-3-1	7.28%

Check the pay table before playing—edges vary dramatically.

House Edge Comparison

Ante vs Pair Plus

Bet	House Edge	Volatility
Ante (with Q-6-4 strategy)	3.37%	Lower
Pair Plus (best table)	2.32%	Higher
Pair Plus (worst table)	7.28%+	Higher

Optimal Play

• Ante: Follow Q-6-4 strategy exactly
• Pair Plus: Only play at favorable pay tables
• Both: You can play both simultaneously

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Clear Play

Your Hand: K♣ 9♥ 2♦

Decision: Play Reasoning: K-9-2 beats Q-6-4 (King > Queen in first position)

Example 2: Clear Fold

Your Hand: J♠ 10♦ 8♣

Decision: Fold Reasoning: J-10-8 loses to Q-6-4 (Jack < Queen in first position)

Example 3: Close Call - Play

Your Hand: Q♥ 7♣ 2♠

Decision: Play Reasoning: Q-7-2 beats Q-6-4 (7 > 6 in second position)

Example 4: Close Call - Fold

Your Hand: Q♦ 5♠ 9♥

Decision: Fold Reasoning: Q-5-9 loses to Q-6-4 (5 < 6 in second position)

Example 5: Pair Plus Winner

Your Hand: 8♠ 8♦ 3♣

Decision: Play (beats Q-6-4), Pair Plus pays 1:1 Total: Win on both bets if dealer qualifies and loses

Optimal Betting Strategy

Bet Sizing Recommendations

Strategy	Ante	Pair Plus	Notes
Conservative	Yes	No	Lower edge
Balanced	Yes	Yes (good table)	More action
Entertainment	Yes	Yes	Higher variance

Bankroll Considerations

Session Length	Recommended Units
1 hour	40-50
2-3 hours	80-100
Extended	150+

Common Three Card Poker Mistakes

1. Playing Below Q-6-4

Mistake: "J-10-9 looks good, it's almost a straight" Reality: J-high loses money long-term Fix: If it doesn't beat Q-6-4, fold it

2. Ignoring Pay Tables

Mistake: Playing Pair Plus without checking odds Reality: House edge ranges from 2.32% to 7%+ Fix: Find 40-30-6-3-1 or 40-30-6-4-1 tables

3. Chasing Losses with Pair Plus

Mistake: Increasing Pair Plus bets to "get even" Reality: Pair Plus is high variance; cold streaks happen Fix: Flat bet or skip Pair Plus

4. Folding Pairs

Mistake: "Deuces can't win against the dealer" Reality: Any pair beats Q-high; always play pairs Fix: Pair = automatic play

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Q-6-4 specifically?

Mathematical analysis shows Q-6-4 is the exact break-even point. Hands slightly worse have negative expected value; hands slightly better have positive EV.

Should I play both bets?

Ante has the lower edge. Pair Plus adds variance and entertainment. Playing both is fine if Pair Plus has a good pay table.

Does the dealer's upcard matter?

No—unlike blackjack, you don't see dealer cards before deciding. You decide based only on your three cards.

Why does straight beat flush?

With only 3 cards, there are fewer straight combinations than flush combinations. The rankings reflect actual probability.

Is card counting possible?

Not effectively. The deck is shuffled after every hand at most tables.

What's the best Three Card Poker strategy?

Q-6-4. That's it. Play Q-6-4 or better, fold everything else. It's one of the simplest optimal strategies in casino gaming.

Advanced Considerations

Variance Analysis

Bet	Std Deviation	Character
Ante only	1.64 units	Moderate
Pair Plus only	2.85 units	High
Both	3.22 units	Higher

Element of Risk

Bet	Element of Risk
Ante	2.01%
Pair Plus	Varies by table

Progressive Side Bets

Some tables offer progressive jackpots for mini-royal (AKQ suited). These typically have 15-25% house edge—avoid them.

Pro Tips for Three Card Poker

• Memorize Q-6-4: One rule covers 100% of decisions

• Check Pair Plus pay table: 40-30-6-3-1 is best

• Don't overthink: Strategy is simpler than blackjack

• Set win/loss limits: 3.37% edge adds up over time

• Skip progressives: Side bet edges are usually terrible

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• Pai Gow Poker Calculator - Split hands
• Casino War Calculator - Simplest game
• Ultimate Texas Hold'em Calculator - Hold'em rules

Conclusion

Three Card Poker offers one of casino gaming's simplest optimal strategies: play Q-6-4 or better, fold everything else. Our calculator confirms optimal decisions instantly and shows Pair Plus payouts. With a 3.37% edge on Ante, it's a reasonable table game choice.

Calculate Your Three Card Poker Hands Now →

Master the Q-6-4 rule in one session, check Pair Plus pay tables before betting, and enjoy the fast-paced action. Three Card Poker rewards simple, disciplined play.