Table games
Three Card Poker: Rules, Odds and Q-6-4
5 min read · Updated 2026 · 18+
Three Card Poker is fast, simple and surprisingly strategic. Learn the rules, the two bets, and the one rule - Q-6-4 - that plays it near-perfectly.
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You and the dealer each get three cards; you aim to beat the dealer's three-card hand. With only three cards the rankings shift - crucially, a straight beats a flush, because straights are rarer here.
Rankings
High to low: straight flush, three of a kind, straight, flush, pair, high card. Remember: straight beats flush, the reverse of five-card poker.
The two bets
Ante & Play: ante in, see your cards, then fold or match with a Play bet; the dealer qualifies on Queen-high or better. Pair Plus: a side bet paying on your own hand strength (pair or better), independent of the dealer, with bigger payouts for rarer hands.
Q-6-4 strategy
The whole optimal play fits one line: play any hand of Queen-Six-Four or better, fold worse. Ace or King high - always play. Queen high - play with a 6+ kicker (and a 4+ third card). Follow it and you are near mathematically perfect.
The odds
With Q-6-4, the Ante carries roughly a 3.4% edge; Pair Plus runs ~2.3-7.3% depending on the paytable - always check it. Low stakes, high fun, but the edge still favours the house, so set a budget.
FAQ
Does a straight beat a flush?
Yes, in three-card poker a straight is rarer than a flush, so it ranks higher - opposite to five-card poker.
What is the best strategy?
Q-6-4: place the Play bet on Queen-Six-Four or better, fold everything worse.
Ante or Pair Plus?
Ante & Play is against the dealer; Pair Plus pays on your own hand strength regardless of the dealer.
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