Three Card Poker, or tri-card poker, is a popular poker variation that requires basic knowledge of poker hands. The game is played with a major deck of 52 cards. The goal of the game is to beat the dealer’s three-card poker hand. In order to begin, the player needs to place the ante bet. After the ante bet is made, the player can be dealt three cards and the dealer will get three cards as well. The player then has the option to fold, if the player's hand is not strong enough to make a play. If the player decides to make a play, they can make an additional Play bet which is equal to twice the size of the ante bet. Once this is done, the dealer's cards can be exposed. The dealer only qualifies with a minimum of a Queen or higher. If the dealer does not qualify, the player wins the ante and play bets.
If the dealer qualifies, the player will win the ante bet if their 3-card poker hand has a higher value than the dealer's hand. The player also wins the Play bet if his 3-card poker hand has a value of a straight, three-of-a-kind, or higher. The odds and payouts for each hand can vary depending on the casino, but the most common payouts are as follows: Straight Flush pays 5 to 1, Three-of-a-Kind pays 4 to 1, Straight pays 1 to 1.