Three Card Poker
Three Card Poker is a casino table game derived from traditional poker variants, in which players are dealt three cards from a standard 52-card deck and wager on the strength of their hand either against the dealer or against a fixed payout schedule based on hand rankings adapted for three cards.[1] The game was invented in 1994 by British poker player and game designer Derek J. Webb, who sought to develop a simplified poker format suitable for casino play that emphasized quick decisions and strategic betting without requiring multiple rounds of community cards.[2] Webb patented the game in the United States on November 11, 1997, under U.S. Patent No. 5,685,774, which outlines the core method of play involving three-card hands, ante and play wagers, and optional side bets for bonus payouts.[3] Invented in the United Kingdom, the game was first introduced to casinos in the United States in the late 1990s after licensing agreements, becoming one of the first proprietary table games to achieve widespread adoption due to its accessibility for novice players and favorable house edge of approximately 3.37% on the ante-play bet when following optimal strategy.[2] In standard gameplay, each player places an mandatory ante bet and may optionally place a Pair Plus bet before the deal. Three cards are then dealt face down to each player and the dealer. Upon reviewing their hand, players choose to fold (losing the ante) or place a play bet equal to the ante to continue. The dealer reveals their hand, which must qualify with at least queen-high; if not, the ante pays 1:1 and the play bet pushes. If the dealer qualifies, hands are compared using poker rankings: straight flush (three consecutive cards of the same suit), three of a kind, straight, flush, pair, or high card (with ace high). Winning play and ante bets pay 1:1, while the Pair Plus bet offers escalating payouts independent of the dealer, such as 40:1 for a straight flush or 1:1 for a pair.[1] Variations exist, including player-banked formats in certain jurisdictions and optional six-card bonus bets combining player and dealer cards into a five-card hand.[4] Three Card Poker has become a staple in casinos globally, ranking as the third most popular poker-based table game in Las Vegas behind pai gow poker and Ultimate Texas Hold'em, with thousands of tables installed worldwide since its commercialization.[5] Its appeal lies in the blend of poker familiarity, rapid rounds lasting under two minutes, and multiple betting options that cater to both casual and skilled players.[2]History
Origins and Patent
Three Card Poker was invented in 1994 by Derek J. Webb, a British poker enthusiast and game designer, who sought to develop a streamlined casino table game that captured the strategic appeal and excitement of traditional poker while enabling faster play and resolution compared to five-card variants, thereby making it more attractive to casino operators aiming to maximize table turnover.[6][7] Webb drew inspiration from the British card game Brag, adapting its three-card format and simple betting structure into a poker-based variant suitable for casino environments, emphasizing quick decisions and reduced dealing time to address the slower pace of games like five-card draw or stud poker.[8][9] Prior to formal patenting, Webb conducted early prototypes and testing of the game in non-casino settings, refining the rules for ante and play betting options, hand rankings, and dealer qualification mechanics to ensure balanced play and player engagement. In spring 1995, he introduced an initial version at the Jackpot, a membership card club in Dublin, Ireland, where it underwent trial play to gauge reception and identify adjustments before broader commercialization efforts.[10] Webb filed a patent application for the game on July 19, 1995, which was granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office on November 11, 1997, as U.S. Patent No. 5,685,774, titled "Method of Playing Card Games." This patent specifically covered the core gameplay mechanics of Three Card Poker, including the dealing of three-card hands to players and the dealer, the optional play bet after viewing the player's hand, and the payout structures based on hand strength against the dealer's qualifying hand (Queen-high or better), establishing intellectual property protection for the game's unique combination of poker elements and simplified wagering.[3]Commercial Introduction and Legal Disputes
Following initial rejections from casinos in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and Reno, Three Card Poker was first adopted by the Grand Casino Gulfport in Mississippi in early 1996, where inventor Derek Webb personally trained the dealers.[10][11][6] This marked the game's entry into the U.S. casino market, driven by the venue's vice president of table games, Barry Morris, who recognized its potential as a fast-paced poker variant suitable for casino floors.[11] In 1999, Shuffle Master Inc. acquired the rights to Three Card Poker for distribution and manufacturing outside the British Isles from Prime Table Games, enabling broader commercialization through its established network of casino equipment suppliers.[12] The company, later acquired by Bally Technologies in 2013 and subsequently by Scientific Games (now Light & Wonder), promoted the game aggressively, contributing to its expansion across U.S. and international casinos.[13] The game's introduction to UK casinos occurred in 2002, following amendments to gambling regulations that permitted new table games like Three Card Poker to enter licensed venues, where it quickly gained traction among players.[8] By the early 2000s, the game had also spread to online platforms, appearing on major casino websites as digital versions capitalized on the rising popularity of internet gambling.[14] Commercialization was complicated by legal disputes over patent rights and royalties. In 2003, amid challenges from Progressive Gaming International Corporation (PGIC) claiming patent infringement, Webb countersued, leading to a 2007 settlement where Progressive paid $20 million to resolve all claims related to Three Card Poker's intellectual property.[15] Further litigation arose in 2008 when Prime Table Games sued Shuffle Master, alleging the company had undisclosed knowledge of PGIC's invalid patents during the 1999 acquisition; this and related patent infringement cases through 2011 resulted in additional settlements exceeding $2 million.[16] These resolutions cleared ongoing uncertainties, solidifying Shuffle Master's control over the game's global distribution. As of 2025, Three Card Poker maintains a stable presence in land-based casinos worldwide, with no major recent developments but continued popularity as a staple table game offering quick play and accessible betting options.[14]Rules and Gameplay
Setup and Betting Options
Three Card Poker utilizes a standard 52-card deck, excluding jokers, for all gameplay.[14] The deck is shuffled either manually by the dealer or automatically via a shuffling machine to ensure randomness before each round begins.[17] The game operates in a heads-up format between each player and the dealer, though casinos typically accommodate multiple players at the table competing independently against the house dealer.[14] The table layout features designated betting areas for each player position, including spots labeled for the Ante wager, the optional Play wager, and the optional Pair Plus side bet.[17] Casinos establish minimum and maximum bet limits for these areas, which vary by venue and jurisdiction to regulate wagering.[14] Chips are placed in these areas to indicate bets, with a drop box for the house to collect fees or wagers as needed.[18] The Ante bet serves as the mandatory initial wager required for a player to participate in the hand against the dealer, representing the player's starting stake in the game.[17] Following the deal, if the player elects to continue competing, they place the Play bet, which must equal the amount of the Ante.[14] The Pair Plus bet is an optional side wager placed before the cards are dealt, focusing solely on the strength of the player's own three-card hand irrespective of the dealer's cards, and pays out for pairs or better according to a fixed schedule.[18] In some casinos, an additional optional 6 Card Bonus bet is available as an add-on, where players wager on the best five-card poker hand formable from their three cards combined with the dealer's three cards.[14]Dealing and Decision Making
In Three Card Poker, the dealing process begins after players have placed their mandatory Ante bets and any optional Pair Plus wagers. Using a standard 52-card deck, the dealer shuffles the cards—often via an automatic shuffler for efficiency—and deals three cards face down to each player, starting from the dealer's left and proceeding clockwise, followed by three cards face down to the dealer. Players then examine their own hands privately without revealing them to others.[14][4] Upon viewing their three-card hand, each player must make a key decision: fold or raise. Folding forfeits the Ante wager and any Pair Plus bet placed, ending the player's participation in the round immediately. Raising requires placing a Play bet equal to the Ante amount, committing the player to continue against the dealer's hand. This decision is made independently by each player without any influence from or interaction with the dealer's cards.[1][19] Once all players at the table have acted—either by folding or placing the Play bet—the dealer reveals their three cards and arranges them into the best possible hand. The resolution then proceeds based on hand comparisons, but the dealing and decision phase emphasizes the game's streamlined structure. Three Card Poker is renowned for its fast-paced gameplay, with most hands resolving in under a minute from deal to conclusion.[14][20]Resolution and Payouts
After the player decides to fold or raise with a Play bet matching the Ante, the dealer's three cards are revealed for comparison. The dealer qualifies only if holding Queen-high or better; otherwise, the hand does not proceed to full comparison.[14][21] If the dealer does not qualify, the Ante bet pays even money (1:1) to the player, while the Play bet pushes and is returned. The Pair Plus bet, if placed, pays according to the player's hand ranking independently of the dealer's qualification.[14][22][21] When the dealer qualifies, the player's hand is compared to the dealer's using standard poker rankings, with the higher-ranking hand prevailing. If the player wins, both the Ante and Play bets pay 1:1; if the dealer wins, both bets are lost; ties result in both bets pushing.[14][21][23] The Pair Plus bet resolves separately based on the player's three-card hand strength, paying out even if the player loses to the dealer or folds, provided the hand qualifies for a payout. Standard payouts are as follows, though casinos may vary slightly (e.g., Flush at 3:1 or 4:1):| Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Straight Flush | 40:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 30:1 |
| Straight | 6:1 |
| Flush | 4:1 |
| Pair | 1:1 |
Hand Rankings
Hierarchy of Hands
In Three Card Poker, the strength of a three-card hand is evaluated based on a specific hierarchy of poker hand rankings, adapted for the game's shorter format. These rankings determine whether a player's hand beats the dealer's during resolution, with ties resulting in a push on the ante and play bets. The total number of possible hands from a standard 52-card deck is 22,100, calculated as the combination C(52,3). Aces rank high in most cases but can play low in the A-2-3 straight, though sequences like 2-A-K do not qualify as straights.[14][24] The hand rankings, from strongest to weakest, are as follows:- Straight Flush: Three consecutive cards of the same suit, such as 5-6-7 of hearts. This is the highest-ranking hand, with ties broken by the highest card (e.g., Q-K-A beats J-Q-K). The A-2-3 straight flush is the lowest.[14][25]
- Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank, such as three queens (Q-Q-Q). Ties are broken by the rank of the three cards.[14][24]
- Straight: Three consecutive cards of mixed suits, such as 4-5-6. The highest straight is A-K-Q, and the lowest is A-2-3; ties are resolved by the highest card in the sequence.[14][1]
- Flush: Three cards of the same suit that do not form a straight, such as 2-8-K of spades. Ties are broken starting with the highest card, then the second highest, and finally the lowest.[14][24]
- Pair: Two cards of the same rank, with the third card as a kicker, such as 9-9-4. Ties are first decided by the pair's rank, then by the highest kicker.[14][25]
- High Card: Any hand that does not qualify as a pair or better, such as A-7-3. The highest card determines the winner, followed by the second highest, then the lowest if needed.[14][1]
Frequencies and Probabilities
In Three Card Poker, the total number of possible three-card hands dealt from a standard 52-card deck is 22,100, determined through combinatorial calculation as \binom{52}{3} = \frac{52 \times 51 \times [50](/page/50)}{3 \times 2 \times 1}.[26] These hands are distributed across the standard poker rankings, with frequencies derived from enumerating all valid combinations excluding overlaps such as straight flushes being counted separately from straights and flushes.[27] The resulting probabilities provide insight into the relative rarity of each hand type, emphasizing the dominance of weaker hands in this abbreviated poker variant. The exact frequencies and probabilities for each hand ranking are summarized in the following table:| Hand | Ways | 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 | 16,440 | 74.39% |