Live 3 Card Poker – A Twist on the Classic
This poker variant hasn’t been around for all that long, dating to just the mid-90s, but it has garnered success not only in its native US but around the world. There’s plenty of upsides to live 3 Card Poker – one of them being the attractive speed of play mixed with elements of poker. So it’s no wonder that the game took off in popularity shortly after its inception and became fully patented in the late 90s. Take a look at one of our favourites below, matched with a fantastic online casino for getting into real money mode at its live casino suite.
- Catchy Variant for Newbies and Pros
- Award-Winning Evolution Gaming
Our recommended gambling operators have been thoroughly vetted and checked because we want you to have the best online casino experience possible. So doing the hard work and carrying out testing has paid off, and now we’re able to give you the best online gaming spot for 3 Card Poker out there. As with all our casino tests, we look at the game selection, array of bonuses, highlights of the live suites and perks of being a member, such as promotions and specials.
The Live Casino Experience
If you’re an avid player, you might not only appreciate adding 3 Card Poker to your game repertoire, but also the fact that you can play this game in many live suites at online casinos. In fact, since casinos started adding this poker variant to their live tables, the advantage is clear – you don’t have to settle for a plain old RNG-operated game. In fact, playing live may be the preferred choice for many of you thanks to an increased transparency. Let’s face it, there’s no comparison between a RNG and seeing a deck of cards cut and dealt by an experienced dealer. Another perk of playing live online is the chance to tackle several games at the same time with the multi-table option offered on many gaming sites, as well as a live chat functionality which amps up the social element of many live casino tables.
Live 3 Card Poker Game Rules in Short
This poker variant is not player versus player-based, meaning you’re facing off against the dealer, as is the case in many other live casino poker variants, for instance live Caribbean Stud Poker. You start off by placing an ante bet and get dealt three open cards, just like the dealer. You can decide to play or fold depending on how strong your hand is, forfeiting your ante if you choose to fold. If you decide to play, a second bet equal to your ante is placed and the dealer will reveal his or her cards. One thing that sets this game apart is that the dealer qualifies to play only if he or she has a Queen-high or better. If the dealer doesn’t qualify, it’s even money on the ante for you.
The speed of play is what makes this live game attractive to many players – the rounds are fast and the rules are simple. On top of that, the video and audio streaming quality at Evolution Gaming in unparalleled, so we can see why people flock to this live poker variant online! Straight pays outs at 1:1, though ante bonuses pay 5:1 for a Mini Royal and Straight Flush, and 4:1 for Three of a Kind. It’s the side bets here, however, that really make it worth your time, with up to 1000:1 if you’re lucky.
Side Bets: Pair Plus and 6 Card
So let’s take a closer look at the side bets in live 3 Card Poker. The Pair Plus is a good option if you’ve been dealt a pair or a better, with a straight flush paying out 40:1. Increasing the potential returns here is the fact that even if the dealer’s got a better hand than you, this side bet wins as long as you’ve got a pair or better yourself.
A 6 Card Bonus bet is another option if you’re feeling bold. To win up to a 1000:1 payout here, you’ll combine yours and the dealer’s hand in search for the highest 5-card hand. Royal Flush pays the most here, with Three of a Kind giving you a 5:1 reward, and a Full House sitting at a comfortable 25:1. Tread carefully, though – the house edge for this side bet is a whopping 10.23%!
3 Card Poker Live: Operator Table Limits
As with a lot of live dealer games in the best online casinos in the UK, the limits available on live 3 Card Poker vary from operator to operator. Stakes can range anywhere from 50p to a whopping £10,000 per hand for this poker variant. We’d recommend that those looking to play both low and high stakes check out the summary of tables limits for live 3-Card Poker below.
- Ante £1- £3,000
- Pair Plus £1- £500
- 6 Card Bonus£1- £50
- Ante £0.5 – £10,000
- Pair Plus £1- £1,000
- 6 Card Bonus£1- £50
3-Card Poker on Mobile
If there’s one provider that excels at live gambling solutions, it’s Evolution Gaming. So it’s no surprise that portable devices like smartphones and tablets pose absolutely no barriers to Evolution’s ambitions. Donning several awards, this provider has successfully transferred their sleek signature look to mobile platforms of all sizes, without the need to compromise on neither visuals, nor sound. Whether you play on a mobile phone or a tablet, the graphics are crisp and you’ll enjoy a handy version of the navigation toolbar that lets you glide seamlessly between game controls, tables and chat. We’d advise to use a Wi-Fi connection when playing 3 Card Poker live on your mobile, otherwise you might be looking at some hefty data consumption. Nevertheless, freedom and flexibility is the point here, so if you’ve got a sizeable mobile data package, by all means, have at it!
Live 3 Card Poker: Conclusion
If you like poker and love the feel of live gaming, there’s nothing that would speak against playing live 3 Card Poker! This game’s unique yet simple rules as well as the advantages that come with the side bets mentioned above make live 3 Card Poker hard competition for the other poker-based favourites like Casino Hold’em, and the superb quality that comes with the Evolution Gaming package will not disappoint – it’s currently the only live 3 Card Poker product on the online gaming market, but it’s a damn good one! If you’re ready to give it a go, play it for real money at one of our top-rated casinos below!