Three Card Poker combines straightforward gameplay with several different ways to win. You can play against the dealer using Ante and Play bets, add an optional Pair Plus wager based entirely on the strength of your own hand, and potentially earn an Ante Bonus when you receive certain premium hands. Understanding how each 3 Card Poker payout works makes it much easier to follow the action at the table.
Key takeaways:
The Ante is the initial wager used to play your three-card hand against the dealer.
After receiving your cards, you decide whether to fold or continue. If you fold, you forfeit your Ante. If you want to stay in the hand, you place a Play wager equal to your original Ante bet.
What happens to the Ante then depends on the dealer's hand:
For example, if you wager $10 on the Ante and win at even money, your Ante produces $10 in winnings plus the return of your original $10 wager.
You don't make the Play wager until after you've seen your cards and decided to continue. The Play bet must be equal to your Ante.
If the dealer qualifies and your hand wins, the Play bet pays 1:1, just like the Ante. A $10 winning Play bet therefore earns $10.
The important exception occurs when the dealer does not qualify. In that case, your Ante still wins at 1:1, but the Play bet pushes. You simply receive the Play wager back rather than winning or losing it.
The dealer must have Queen-high or better to qualify in Three Card Poker at Sky Ute Casino Resort.
That rule has an important effect on 3 Card Poker payouts. If the dealer has less than Queen-high, your Ante wins 1:1 and your Play bet is returned as a push.
If the dealer has Queen-high or better, the dealer qualifies and the two hands are compared. If your hand is higher, both your Ante and Play bets pay even money. If the dealer has the stronger hand, you lose both wagers.
The Ante Bonus gives players another opportunity to win when they receive one of the game's stronger hands.
At Sky Ute, an Ante Bonus applies when your three-card hand contains a straight, three-of-a-kind, or a straight flush.
You do not place a separate wager to qualify for the Ante Bonus. The bonus is paid based on your hand itself. You can receive it whether or not the dealer qualifies and whether or not your hand ultimately beats the dealer.
With the Pair Plus side bet, you're betting solely on the strength of the three cards you're dealt. If the hand contains at least a pair, the Pair Plus wager wins. The dealer's hand and whether the dealer qualifies have no effect on the outcome.
Sky Ute's Three Card Poker Pair Plus payouts are:
| Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Straight Flush | 40:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 30:1 |
| Straight | 6:1 |
| Flush | 3:1 |
| Pair | 1:1 |
The tradeoff is that Pair Plus loses whenever your hand does not contain a pair or better.
Visit Sky Ute Casino Resort in Ignacio, Colorado, to take a seat at the poker table, explore our 3 Card Poker payouts, and enjoy live casino action in a friendly Southwest Colorado setting. Sky Ute offers Three Card Poker alongside blackjack, roulette, craps, hundreds of slot machines, and other gaming options.
Visit Sky Ute Casino Resort near Durango and experience Three Card Poker for yourself! Always check the posted rules and paytables before wagering, as table rules and payouts are subject to change.
