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How to Play: Live Three Card Poker Tips

Poker is one of the most played casino games in the USA. The versions of poker played at live dealer casinos is somewhat different than what you might be used to, though. Usually played as 3-Card Poker and Caribbean Stud Poker, it was adapted to the casino format. Let's take look at some Three Card Poker tips and tricks for rookies.

Its 3-card version was invented in 1994, so it’s safe to say that it is a relatively new casino game, considering how some casino games have ancient roots. Regardless, 3-Card Poker is fast becoming a popular live game across live casinos. Just like some other new poker-derived games, both 3-Card Poker and the Caribbean Stud poker are games where the pressure from playing against other players is relieved because all you do is compete against the house. On one hand, this limits how useful being skilled can be. On the other, you can play 3-Card Poker or other variants anywhere, any time. It's also more forgiving to newbies.

With that in mind, let's dive into our top tips for playing poker at casinos online.

Don’t get distracted by the fact that Casino Poker is relatively a simple and easy game to play. A little effort goes a long way in making your bankroll last longer.

Table of Contents

Live Casinos Best Tips for Live Casino Poker

Keep in mind that live casino poker variants can be quite different from one another. The casino poker tips posted here are useful for all of them, but you should look up specific game strategies to get the best results. Our live casino game reviews always feature useful strategy tips.

Find a casino poker variant that suits you best
Find an optimal strategy
Know when t fold and when to call
Use live casino bonuses
Avoid playing any side bets

1. Find a Casino Poker Variant that Suits You

Poker is one of the most diverse games you can play at an online casino. For example, our live casino poker tutorial describes two main ways to play poker online at a casino – Three Card Poker and Caribbean Stud Poker. These two classic rulesets are fundamentally poker, but they do have important differences you need to know. Using three cards or using five cards to make your hands is no small matter, after all.

But the differences don’t end there. Both have different casino poker strategy charts – certain points at which you should fold or call. They also have different RTP rates, betting options, house advantage, and so on. Consider all of these before you pick a table.

Moreover, Casino Hold’em is another live dealer game type poker fans might be interested in. There’s a wealth of options out there – don’t rush into anything because there might be a better choice just around the corner.

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2. Find an Optimal Strategy

Many poker fans enjoy the game because of its high skill ceiling. Besides statistics and other usual card-related skills, classic poker is a game that’s more about playing people than cards.

Granted, casino poker variants such as 3-Card Poker and Caribbean Stud Poker don’t have quite the same level of interactivity. The odds are stacked in the house’s favor, which is the nature of casino games. That doesn’t mean there is no point to knowing at least some basic strategy tips for casino poker, though.

The problem with optimal poker strategies is that there is no simple chart or accurate guide to tell you what, when, and how to play. In contrast, a blackjack basic strategy can quickly and easily set you on the right track. That’s impossible for poker because there are too many variables.

If you want to get good at playing casino poker, you need practice and experience. For better or worse, there is no real way to avoid this.

Note

You will find that correct strategies will make you last as longest as possible. However, they can never really allow you to overcome the house advantage.

3. Know When To Call and When to Fold

Knowing when to fold and when to call is not easy because of the variables we just mentioned. One of these variables is which type of casino poker you decided to play. This choice can profoundly affect your decision.

We’ll start with some general tips on when to call in casino poker:

Call if you have a Pair or stronger. That much is obvious if you know anything about how poker hands work.
In Three Card Poker, Call whenever you are dealt a queen, a six, and a four (or greater). This gives you statistically the best chances of success. Fold on weaker hands.
Caribbean Stud Poker, always fold if you have less than the dealer’s qualifying hand (typically Ace + Kind High)

This last tip is a good approach to have with any casino poker game. If you can’t beat the dealer’s qualifying hand, you can’t really expect to beat them.

Unfortunately, that’s about the extent of “clear-cut” 3-Card Poker moves. For all other cases, you have to take into consideration all possible hands and the dealer’s up-card (where applicable.) You should understand by now why we said you need practice and experience to become good at poker.

4. Use Live Casino Bonuses

It is largely impossible to overcome casino advantage through in-game strategies alone. However, there’s a way to “circumvent” this issue, so to speak.

For starters, it’s important to understand that winning at a casino doesn’t necessarily mean winning as many rounds as possible. The goal of any live casino poker strategy is to win money, after all. And while we always stress that you should treat gambling as entertainment and not a way to make money, no one likes losing. We’re here to win.

That’s how casino bonuses can help you win, and why they are so important. You won’t win any more money in-game, but you can end up walking away with a profit anyway. Casino bonuses essentially increase your bankroll for free. They come with wagering requirements, however, which means you have to play through the bonus funds multiple times before you can withdraw them as actual money.

With careful strategy and by listening to our live casino poker tips, you can ensure enough of the bonus survives this process for you to make a profit. However, you’ll need a good bonus first – and here are some suggestions.

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5. Avoid Playing the Side Bets

Side bets are fine to play only if you have a large bankroll and luck on your side. Apart from that, side bets are there to make a profit to the live casino. These are the ones that make the money because they have a higher house edge. The payouts for side bets are huge, for example, if you hit Mini Royal with the Pairs Plus side bet, you are paid 100 to 1. However, if you are serious in surviving the game and maintaining a healthy bankroll, don’t play them.

This is largely true for any side bet in any casino game out there. We have never seen a casino poker side bet better than the main bet. Most of them have a house edge of over 5%.

Find the Best Casinos to Play 3 Card Poker and Caribbean Stud Poker

No matter which game you’re playing, one trick is always important – find the best casino for your needs. Not many casinos these days focus all that much on 3 Card Poker or Caribbean Stud, though. These games are a niche compared to the big classics like roulette.

This doesn’t mean there aren’t any top-notch casinos with the best live poker offers out there. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

4.7/5

December 2022

There is no denying that 888 live casino features an ever-expanding choice of beloved table games and the most professional live dealers you will ever have the pleasure of interacting with. The high-stakes offering is most flexible and VIP surroundings will make you feel like a whale even if you aren’t quite there yet.

4.6/5

December 2022

Bovada is a great example of a brand that was forced to fall back and then rise up again. A phoenix of the online gambling industry! Looking strictly at how Bovada stands in terms of live casino, there is some room for improvement, although the platform is inviting and enjoyable. Make sure to stop by if you are looking to try the best of Visionary iGaming.

FAQ

Is 3 Card Poker profitable?

It compares quite well to most casino table games out there. It has a relatively narrow house edge and a proper strategy can be quite profitable. However, you can never truly, reliable overcome a casino house advantage in most games, 3-Card Poker included.

Is 3 Card Poker fair?

Every casino game ever made favors the casino over the players. In a sense, no form of gambling is “fair.” However, Three Card Poker has a house edge of around 3.40%, which is not the worst in the world. It’s an alright game compared to other live dealer casino games and is excellent compared to slots and other forms of gambling.

What is straight flush 3 Card Poker?

A hand containing three consecutive cards of the same suit is called a Straight Flush in Three Card Poker. For example, if you have a Jack, 10, and 9 of Clubs, you have a Jack-high Straight Flush. The strongest possible hand in 3 Card Poker is an Ace-high Straight Flush.

Do casinos still have Caribbean Stud Poker?

The popularity of Caribbean Stud Poker has dropped significantly in the past decade or so. Many big live dealer software providers, such as Evolution, seemingly do not host tables anymore. However, you can still find it in plenty of top live online casino sites.

Live Casino Editor

Our Chief Editor is a live casino aficionado with years of playing casino games online under his belt. His vast knowledge of the industry’s ins and outs makes him a great leader of our LC team, while his penchant for learning new things has made him a great strategist. This has come particularly handy with our in-depth articles and editorials, where his expertise can shine to the fullest.