97.99%Total Bet RTPAs reported by Evolution
96.63%Ante Bet RTP
95.51%Pair Plus RTP
91.44%6 Card Bonus RTP
Q-HighDealer QualifiesMinimum
Introduction
Three Card Poker by Evolution Gaming is a fast-paced three-card poker variant played against the dealer. You place an Ante bet, optionally add Pair Plus and 6 Card Bonus side bets, receive three cards, then decide to Play (equal to Ante) or Fold. The dealer needs at least a Queen-high hand to qualify.
Ante Bet
The required main wager to participate in the round.
Play Bet
Optional second bet equal to Ante placed after seeing your cards. Required to beat the dealer.
Pair Plus Bet
Optional side bet paying when your three-card hand contains a pair or better. Independent of dealer hand.
6 Card Bonus Bet
Optional side bet on the best five-card hand formed from your three cards plus the dealer's three cards.
Dealer Qualification
Dealer must hold Queen-high or better. If not, Ante wins 1:1 and Play bet is returned.
Optimal Strategy
Simple rule: Play Queen-6-4 or better. Fold everything below. Any pair, any King-high, any Ace-high, any straight/flush automatically plays. For Queen-high hands, play if your second and third cards are 6 and 4 or better.
Play/Fold Decision
| Hand | Action |
|---|---|
| Queen-6-4 or better | Play |
| Any pair | Play |
| King-high or better | Play |
| Any straight or straight flush | Play |
| Anything below Queen-6-4 | Fold |
Hand Rankings (Three-Card)
Three-Card Hand Rankings
| Rank | Hand | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mini Royal (AKQ suited) | Ace-King-Queen of same suit -- highest three-card hand | |
| 2 | Straight Flush | Three consecutive cards same suit | |
| 3 | Three of a Kind | Three cards same rank | |
| 4 | Straight | Three consecutive cards mixed suits | |
| 5 | Flush | Three same-suit cards non-sequential | |
| 6 | Pair | Two cards same rank | |
| 7 | High Card | No qualifying combination |
Payouts
Ante Bonus Payouts (on top of 1:1 Ante win)
| Hand | Ante Bonus | |
|---|---|---|
| Straight Flush or better | 5:1 | |
| Three of a Kind | 4:1 | |
| Straight | 1:1 | |
| Below Straight | No bonus |
Pair Plus Payouts (independent of dealer hand)
| Hand | Payout | |
|---|---|---|
| Mini Royal (AKQ suited) | 100:1 | |
| Straight Flush | 40:1 | |
| Three of a Kind | 30:1 | |
| Straight | 5:1 | |
| Flush | 4:1 | |
| Pair | 1:1 | |
| Below Pair | Loss |
6 Card Bonus Payouts (best 5 from 6 cards)
| Hand | Payout | |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 1,000:1 | |
| Straight Flush | 200:1 | |
| Four of a Kind | 100:1 | |
| Full House | 20:1 | |
| Flush | 15:1 | |
| Straight | 10:1 | |
| Three of a Kind | 7:1 | |
| Below Three of a Kind | Loss |
RTP
| Bet | RTP | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Bet (Ante + Play) | 97.99% | |
| Ante Bet | 96.63% | |
| Pair Plus Bet | 95.51% | |
| 6 Card Bonus Bet | 91.44% |
FAQ
What is the optimal strategy in Three Card Poker?
Play any hand of Queen-6-4 or better. Fold everything below. Any pair, King-high, Ace-high, straight, or flush automatically plays.
What does the dealer need to qualify?
Queen-high or better. If the dealer does not qualify, the Ante wins 1:1 and the Play bet is returned as a push.
What is the best RTP bet?
The combined total bet (Ante + Play with correct strategy) has a 97.99% RTP. The 6 Card Bonus carries the lowest RTP at 91.44%.
Does the Pair Plus bet depend on the dealer?
No. Pair Plus pays based solely on your own three-card hand, regardless of the dealer's hand or whether the dealer qualifies.