Three Card Poker Odds Calculator: Ante-Play Strategy Analysis (2026)
Three Card Poker Odds Calculator: Beating the House with Strategy
Three Card Poker offers two distinct bets—Ante-Play and Pair Plus—each with different strategies and house edges. Our calculator reveals optimal play, explains the Q-6-4 folding rule, and shows why the ante bonus makes this game more appealing than raw odds suggest.
What Is Three Card Poker?
Three Card Poker is a casino table game where you receive three cards and decide to play or fold against the dealer. The Ante-Play bet requires strategy (play Q-6-4 or better). Pair Plus is a separate bet paying for pairs or better regardless of dealer's hand.
Quick Answer: Three Card Poker has two bets. Ante-Play: 3.37% edge with optimal strategy (Q-6-4 rule). Pair Plus: 7.28% edge (higher but no decisions). Play with Q-6-4 or better, fold worse. Ante bonus pays for straights+ regardless of dealer. Pair Plus pays 1:1 to 40:1 for hands. Straights beat flushes (only 3 cards).
How to Use Our Calculator
Use the Three Card Poker Calculator →
Calculate optimal decisions and expected value.
Step-by-Step Instructions
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Enter Your Hand: Three cards dealt
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See Play/Fold Decision: Optimal choice
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View Hand Ranking: Where you stand
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Calculate Ante Bonus: If applicable
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Check Pair Plus Value: Side bet analysis
Input Fields Explained
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Your Hand | Three cards | Q♥7♦4♠ |
| Hand Rank | Category | High Card |
| Decision | Play or Fold | Play |
| Ante-Play Edge | Combined | 3.37% |
| Pair Plus Edge | Side bet | 7.28% |
| Ante Bonus | Straight+ | 1:1 to 5:1 |
Hand Rankings (Three Cards)
Three Card Poker Rankings
Ranking order (highest to lowest):
1. Straight Flush (0.22%)
2. Three of a Kind (0.24%)
3. Straight (3.26%)
4. Flush (4.96%)
5. Pair (16.94%)
6. High Card (74.39%)
Note: Straight beats flush
(Harder with only 3 cards)
Probability Distribution
Hand | Combos | Probability
-------------------|---------|------------
Straight Flush | 48 | 0.22%
Three of a Kind | 52 | 0.24%
Straight | 720 | 3.26%
Flush | 1,096 | 4.96%
Pair | 3,744 | 16.94%
High Card (ace) | 16,440 | 74.39%
Total | 22,100 | 100%
Why Straights Beat Flushes
Three-card logic:
Flush: Any 3 cards same suit
13C3 = 286 per suit × 4 = 1,144
Straight: Consecutive ranks
Only 12 possible straights
× 64 suit combos = 720
Straights rarer with 3 cards
Order reversed from 5-card poker
The Q-6-4 Strategy
Optimal Play Threshold
Play with Q-6-4 or better
Fold with Q-6-3 or worse
Q-6-4 meaning:
Queen high
6 as second card
4 as third card
Compare cards in order:
First compare high card
Then second, then third
How to Apply
Examples:
K-3-2: Play (King > Queen)
Q-7-2: Play (7 > 6)
Q-6-5: Play (5 > 4)
Q-6-4: Play (exactly threshold)
Q-6-3: Fold (3 < 4)
Q-5-4: Fold (5 < 6)
J-10-9: Fold (Jack < Queen)
Why Q-6-4?
Mathematical derivation:
At Q-6-4, EV of playing ≈ EV of folding
Below: Folding saves money
Above: Playing has positive EV
Slight simplification:
True threshold is Q-6-4 suited
But Q-6-4 offsuit is close enough
Same practical advice
Ante-Play Bet Analysis
How It Works
Ante bet structure:
1. Bet ante
2. Receive 3 cards
3. Play (match ante) or Fold (lose ante)
4. Dealer reveals
5. Dealer qualifies with Q-high or better
6. Compare hands
Payouts:
Win vs qualifying dealer: 1:1 on both
Win vs non-qualifying: 1:1 on ante, push play
Lose: Lose both bets
Expected Value
Optimal strategy EV:
Play all Q-6-4 or better: 48.6% of hands
Fold remainder: 51.4% of hands
Combined house edge: 3.37%
If always play: ~5% edge
If always fold: ~100% edge (lose ante)
Ante Bonus
Bonus pays regardless of dealer:
Straight: 1:1
Three of Kind: 4:1
Straight Flush: 5:1
Adds ~+0.40% to player
Reduces effective edge
Makes ante bet more attractive
Pair Plus Bet Analysis
Payout Schedule
Standard Pair Plus payouts:
Pair: 1:1
Flush: 4:1
Straight: 6:1
Three of Kind: 30:1
Straight Flush: 40:1
No decision required
Just need pair or better
Expected Value
Pair Plus calculation:
Pair: 16.94% × 1:1 = 16.94%
Flush: 4.96% × 4:1 = 19.84%
Straight: 3.26% × 6:1 = 19.56%
Trips: 0.24% × 30:1 = 7.20%
SF: 0.22% × 40:1 = 8.80%
Total return: 72.34%
House edge: 7.28%
Wait—let me recalculate properly:
Return = Σ(prob × payout × bet)
Edge = 1 - Return
~7.28% edge confirmed
Pair Plus Variations
Some casinos offer better pay:
Mini Royal (AKQ suited): 50:1
Straight Flush: 40:1
Three of Kind: 30:1
Straight: 6:1
Flush: 3:1
Pair: 1:1
Check pay tables
Edge varies 2.3% to 7.3%
Real-World Examples
Example 1: Clear Play Decision
Hand: K♠9♦5♣
Ranking: High card King
Compare to Q-6-4: K > Q
Decision: PLAY
King high always plays
No calculation needed
Example 2: Close Fold Decision
Hand: Q♥5♠4♦
Ranking: High card Queen
Compare to Q-6-4:
Q = Q (continue)
5 < 6 (fold threshold)
Decision: FOLD
Second card determines
Q-5-X always folds
Example 3: Ante Bonus Win
Hand: 7♠8♠9♠
Ranking: Straight Flush!
Ante bonus: 5:1 (automatic)
Play bet: 1:1 if win
$10 ante, $10 play:
Ante bonus: $50
If dealer qualifies and you win:
Additional $20
Total possible: $70 + original
Example 4: Session Analysis
100 hands at $10 ante:
Hands played (~49): $490 in play bets
Total wagered: ~$735
Ante-Play edge: 3.37%
Expected loss: ~$25
Pair Plus side ($5 each):
100 × $5 = $500
Edge: 7.28%
Expected loss: ~$36
Combined: ~$61 expected loss
Strategy Comparison
Ante-Play Strategy
Pros:
- Lower edge (3.37%)
- Player decisions matter
- Ante bonus sweetener
- Skill element
Cons:
- Must make decisions
- Can make errors
- Slower play
Pair Plus Strategy
Pros:
- No decisions needed
- Higher payouts possible
- Simple and fast
Cons:
- Higher edge (7.28%)
- No skill involved
- Pure luck
Both Bets Together
Many players make both:
$10 ante + $10 Pair Plus
Combined experience
Not mathematically optimal
But more entertainment
Common Mistakes
1. Playing Everything
Mistake: Never folding Problem: 5%+ edge vs 3.37% Fix: Fold below Q-6-4
2. Folding Good Hands
Mistake: Folding pairs Problem: Pairs should always play Fix: Know hand rankings
3. Ignoring Ante Bonus
Mistake: Not considering bonus value Problem: Undervaluing ante bet Fix: Factor in bonus when comparing
4. Bad Pair Plus Tables
Mistake: Not checking payouts Problem: Edge varies significantly Fix: Seek best pay tables
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the Q-6-4 rule?
Play any hand of Q-6-4 or better (comparing cards high to low). Fold hands worse than Q-6-4. This minimizes the house edge to 3.37%.
Is Pair Plus better than Ante?
No for house edge (7.28% vs 3.37%). Yes for simplicity (no decisions). Personal preference determines which suits your style.
Does the dealer qualify often?
About 66% of the time. Non-qualifying means your play bet pushes (no win/loss) even when you have a better hand.
Should I play both bets?
Mathematically, just ante-play is optimal. But many enjoy both for entertainment. Pair Plus adds excitement without strategy.
Why do straights beat flushes?
With only 3 cards, straights are rarer. Five-card poker rankings don't apply. Three-card poker has its own hierarchy.
What's a typical session loss?
At $10 ante with optimal play: ~$3.37 per hand edge × 30 hands/hour = ~$100/hour expected. Actual results vary widely.
Pro Tips
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Memorize Q-6-4: Critical threshold
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Always play pairs+: Never fold any pair
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Check Pair Plus pays: Tables vary
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Ante bonus helps: Reduces effective edge
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Skill matters: Unlike most casino games
Related Calculators
- Poker Odds Calculator - Five-card poker
- Casino Hold'em Calculator - Another poker variant
- Caribbean Stud Calculator - Similar game
- House Edge Calculator - Compare games
- Expected Value Calculator - Bet analysis
Conclusion
Three Card Poker combines strategy (ante-play with Q-6-4 rule) and pure luck (Pair Plus bet). Our calculator shows optimal decisions, reveals the true cost of each bet type, and proves why memorizing one threshold—Q-6-4—is all you need to minimize the house edge.
Calculate Three Card Poker Odds Now →
Your Q-5-4 looks like a reasonable hand, but it's just below the Q-6-4 threshold—folding saves money long-term. Our calculator reveals why that one-card difference determines optimal strategy.
