Tri-Card poker is a very peculiar and exciting variation of the most popular card game called poker. Nowadays you can get familiar with it in any large US online casinos you like. Probably the key of tri-card poker popularity is in its simplicity. Playing poker you are competing with a virtual dealer instead of other players at the table. Here is the article devoted to the rules of this absorbing table game offered in most US online casinos.
So, the very name of the game tells us that only 3 cards are involved in the gambling process instead of 5. That’s the main difference of tri-card (or also called three-card) poker from all other variations of traditional poker. However, it’s not the only one. Let’s look at the game, its payouts and rules on the example of Realtiming software used in many US online casinos as Rushmore Casino, for instance. This game is located in the section of the table games of Rushmore Casino lobby. You can enjoy it both in download and instant play mode. So, the first thing you see when launching the game is a green table with an area for three cards in the very middle of it. Underneath are three areas for players’ bets saying Pair+, Ante and Raise. To be dealt the cards you are required to make a bet. As the matter of fact, you have two betting options: Pair Plus and Ante Bet that require some explanation.
Ante Bet is the first available betting option. A player places a chip of a certain size on it and is dealt three cards right afterwards. Basing on the cards you have been dealt, you are expected either to fold or to raise your ante bet ( it gets doubled). A dealer ’sitting’ opposite to you is dealt three cards as well. However, he is not able to decide whether to fold or raise as some strict rules are applied. His had can qualify only if he has a card of Queen or higher in it. So, if you suppose that you have quite a weak hand, then you can fold but be aware that you lose your ante bet in this case. If you decide to raise, then your ante bet gets doubled and all the cards on the table are revealed. Your hand is compared to the dealer’s hand. If your hand is higher then you are paid an even amount of money for both your bets. If not, then you lose both bets. In case of a tie that occurs really seldom, a player wins a payout.
By the way, most US online casinos including Rushmore Casino offer Ante Bonus Payouts specified in the payout table. A player is not required to place any side bets to be eligible for the bonus payout. So, if you get such combinations as Straight, 3 of a Kind or Straight Flush you will be paid even if your hand is lower than the dealer’s hand. Ante Bonus Payouts differ significantly from one gambling site to another. Rushmore Casino offers you 1 to 1 for Straight, 2 to 1 for 3 of a Kind and 4 to 1 for Straight Flush. This is quite a tough payout schedule compare to some other US online casinos, where the payout scheme can be 4-3-1 or even 5-4-1.
Pair Plus bet can be placed separately or along with the Ante bet. You can see the payouts for a Pair Plus bet on the payout table as well. Placing a Pair Plus bet you shouldn’t care on whether you hand beats a dealer’s hand or not. It doesn’t matter. The main thing is to have a combination of a pair or better to get some nice payouts. As for the probability of having at least a pair in hand, the odds is about 25%.
So, hope you understood everything concerning the betting options you have. However, as there are only 3 cards involved in the gambling process, the qualifying poker hands in Tri-Card poker are somehow different from traditional hands. They are:
1. High Card or Kicker. That is the highest card in a hand that can determine the outcome of a round.
2. Pair. Two similar cards in hand.
3. Flush. Three cards of the similar suit.
4. Straight. Three consecutive cards of any suits.
5. 3 of a Kind. Three similar cards.
6. Straight Flush. Three consecutive cards of the similar suit (like Jack, Queen and King of Hearts)
So, that’s basically it about the rules of Tri-card poker in US online casinos. Enjoy!
