How to Play Tri-Card Poker
If you’re looking for a break from Texas Hold ‘Em, a game with a lot of strategy, bluffing and betting, you should check out Tri-Card Poker. This is a game that still has the poker flavour, but is much easier to get into. You get three cards, and you’re up against the dealer. You just need the better hand.
How to Play Tri-Card
You start by putting a chip into the ante betting circle. Then you’re dealt three cards. If you think they’re good enough to win, you raise. If not, you can fold, losing the ante. If you have a decent hand, you may choose to raise and play. You’ll see the dealer’s hand, and the better hand wins.
However, there are a couple of little intricacies. If the dealer doesn’t have a Queen-high or better, then the dealer is disqualified. In that case, you win your ante bet but push on the raise. If the dealer does have something better, then the hands go head-to-head.
There’s also one other betting option: the Pair Plus. That’s a separate bet where you bet before the cards are dealt if you’re looking to hit some big odds. If it turns out you do have pairs or better in your hand and you bet the Pair Plus, then you cash in based on the payout table that can be found in the game’s guide.
Tri-Card Poker Strategy
- Decide whether to fold or play. This is probably the biggest decision you have to make in the game. You have to decide whether your hand is good enough to keep going or if you’re better off folding.
- Always play pairs or higher. That means if you see a pair, a flush, a straight, three of a kind or a straight flush, make sure you play the dealer. You never want to fold cards like these as they are the most likely to produce a winning hand.
- Consider playing Aces or Kings. If you see your cards and all you have is an Ace or King, you might think that it’s time to fold. However, that’s actually a decent hand in this game. It might seem less obvious, but because there are only three cards and no changes, an Ace- or King-high is decent.
Fold anything lower than a Queen. The dealer has to hit a queen to qualify, so if you’re playing anything below a queen-high, then you’re hoping that the dealer doesn’t qualify. You’ll likely either lose to the dealer or you’ll push on your ante bet. When you don’t have anything better than a queen, it’s time to cut your losses.