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Three Card Brag is a card game with a rich history dating back to the 16th Century. It's widely considered to be the first British card game to use the concept of 'bluffing,' thus paving the way for the poker variants we know and love today. The house edge for Ante & Play in Three Card Poker is 3.37%. However, this jumps to 4.49% when you consider the Pair Plus side bet. The takeaway is that the 3 Card Poker payouts for a pair or better don't make the side bet worth the risk. Jacks or better poker game. Check the Side Bet Payouts. Not every version of Three Card Poker online is the same. The same rules are Three Card Brag apply but players receive four cards as opposed to three. Players who look at their hands may dispose of one card to make the best three card hand they can. If there is a tie between two hands, the fourth card is the decider of the winning hand- high card wins.
If you are looking for an easy casino card game to play, then you must learn how to play 3 card Brag. This fast-paced poker variant is a great option - especially after Playtech launched it online.
Three-card Brag is a simple poker game to play at card rooms around the world or at your favourite online casino. You only need to know the game's rules and how to play before you start.
Don't let this put you off. Learning how to play three-card Brag isn't difficult at all, and this guide for beginners covers all you need to know about the game.
Here's everything you'll find on this article about the 3-card Brag game.
1. What is Three-Card Brag?
While you might not have heard a lot about this game, 3-card Brag is not a new entry in the gambling world.
The game of 3-card Brag has been around since the 18th century when it was considered to be one of the most popular British card games.
According to 'The Hand-Book of Games, a book published in London in 1867 by H.G. Bohn, three-card Brag was the third most played card game in Great Britain.
The version of Brag we play today (three-card Brag) is a modern evolution of the traditional game that comes with a simplified set of rules and gameplay.
In the original game, which is slightly different from the one you find online today, players played 3-card Brag against each other.
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2. How to Play Three-Card Brag
When a game of 3-card Brag begins, each player in the hand receives three cards face-down (hence the name) and needs to bet or fold based on the quality of their hand.
The betting continues until only two players remain. When this happens, the game ends in a showdown with the player holding the best hand winning the pot.
If you are wondering where the 'brag' part of the game's name comes from, that's because you probably haven't played it yet.
Bluffing is a crucial part of a game of three-card Brag.
While a good hand is the easiest way to secure a victory, a good way to play three-card Brag is to bluff all the way to the showdown and mislead the other players into thinking that you have better cards than you actually do.
As a poker player would put it, 'if you can't hold'em…get them to fold'em.'
Setting Up a Game
The classic gameplay changes a bit when the game moves to casinos — especially if you approach it at any of the gaming sites that offer three-card Brag online.
At the casino, you no longer play with other players but you engage in a solitary battle against the dealer.
This limits your possibility to bluff your way to a big win and influences the range of poker hands you should consider to invest your money on.
On the flip side, playing three-card Brag with the dealer means you won't be bluffed by other players. Dealers never bluff.
But you won't be able to bluff your way out of a bad hand.
3 Card Brag Rules
To play a game of three-card Brag you need only one standard 52-card deck of French cards.
The Ante Bet
As the game begins, all the players who want to be included in the hand need to place an initial bet on the table. This bet is called the 'Ante.'
- How much is the Ante bet? The size of the Ante bet is always specified in the table's rules. If you are uncertain, always ask the dealer before you sit to play.
The Deal
As soon as it's clear who is in the hand and who is playing, the dealer distributes three cards to each player.
The Betting
At this point you have two options to continue:
- Play
- Fold
Only choose to play when you think your hand is good enough to give you some good winning chances.
When you continue to play the hand, you need to place a bet of the same size as your Ante. If your Ante was $1, your play bet will be again $1. Pretty kitty games.
If don't think your hand is strong enough to win, you should fold and leave the hand. In this case, you do not need to invest more money in the game — you only lose your Ante bet.
The Showdown
The official rules of three-card Brag include only one betting round - so you need to decide if you want to play only once.
If you placed your 'play' bet to continue the game, you then access the showdown and see the dealer's cards.
Here's when you find out if your hand holds and leads you to a win — of if you need to hand all your chips to the dealer.
The Dealer's Hand
Like in most casino poker games (e.g. Caribbean poker and Casino Hold'em), for the game to play out the dealer needs to qualify.
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In 3-card Brag, the dealer qualifies only with a Queen high or better. Keeping this in mind, your 'play' bet can lead to four different scenarios.
The table below is a simple way to remember how to play three-card Brag when you get to the showdown.
| Dealer qualifies | Strongest Hand | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| No | Unimportant | It's a 'push' - you get your money back and your ante is paid 1-to-1 |
| Yes | Your hand wins | You win both the ante and the play bets |
| Yes | Dealer's hand wins | You lose both the ante and the play bets |
| Yes | You have the same hand | Both your play and ante bets are a push |
3. Hand Ranks and Payouts
Having a better hand than the dealer's is crucial to beating the game, but what does it mean to have a higher hand in 3 card Brag?
In layman's terms, your hand needs to be higher in rank than your opponent's hand.
To simplify this even further here's are all the 3 card Brag hands in order of strength - from the best ones to the lowest in value:
| Hand | Example |
|---|---|
| Prial (Three-of-a-Kind) | |
| Running Flush (Straight Flush) | |
| Run (Straight) | |
| Flush | |
| Pair | |
| High |
Wondering what are the differences between three-card poker and 3-ard brag?
Look at the hands ranking and the names of the hands. The best hand in three-card Brag is the Prial, not the Straight Flush.
As you can see from the hand ranking, the points in three-card Brag are calculated like in most poker games. The biggest difference, here, concerns your odds of building a winning hand.
Since you get only three cards, your chances to hit a flush or a three-of-a-kind are completely different from, say, a game of Texas hold'em poker.
Also, the names of the hands change, too.
When you landed , you don't have a straight — you have a 'Run'.
And the same happens when the three consecutive cards are of the same suit, as what you are used to calling 'straight flush' is a 'running flush'.
As you might have noticed, also the three-of-a-kind comes under a different name, as the best hand in three-card Brag is called 'Prial.'
- is the Highest Prial, the best combination you can have in a game of three-card Brag
- The second-best Prial is
The Payouts
How does it all payout?
In the vast majority of games, the 'Ante' and the 'Play' bets pay 1-to-1.
In some circumstances, however, you can win more than that and bring home some chips even if you lose the play bet.
If you are lucky enough to hold one of the top hands in the game (a Run or better), you can win an extra bonus for your ante bet even if your hand is lower than the dealers.
Here's how it works:
| Your Hand | Ante Bonus Payout |
|---|---|
| Prial | 5 to 1 |
| Running Flush | 4 to 1 |
| Run | 1 to 1 |
The Pair Bonus Side Bet
Generally speaking, side bets in casino games are never a good choice.
They come with piss-poor winning odds and no proper gambler would consider investing their chips on them.
But we have all been there, and when the Ante is low is hard not to be seduced by the temptation of a side bet.
Lake charles la gambling. When you play a game of three-card Brag, you can invest your chips also on a Pair Bonus side bet.
This optional bet gives you an extra win if your hand is a pair or better. Since the bet isn't connected to the dealer's hand, you can win the Pair Bonus even if you lose your play bet.
When it comes to the official payouts, here's how much you can win off a successful Pair Bonus bet.
| Your Hand | Pair Bonus Payout |
|---|---|
| Prial | 40 to 1 |
| Running Flush | 30 to 1 |
| Run | 6 to 1 |
| Flush | 4 to 1 |
| Pair | 1 to 1 |
4. How to Get Better Chances to Win at 3 Card Brag Games
Ask experienced gamblers how to win at casino games and get ready to hear the same answer all over again:
'To become a winning player, you need to have a good strategy and you need to practice your games a lot before you play with big bets or real money.'
To win at three-card Brag, you need luck.
You need to:
- Learn the basic 3-card Brag strategy (it's super easy)
- Practice games for free to learn how to play 3 Card Brag
- Get some bonuses to test your first real money games
- Get super lucky
There's no other way to succeed.
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3 Card Brag Strategy
The best strategy to have better chances to win at three-card Brag is so simple that you only need to remember one hand: - .
If your hand is equal or higher, always place the play bet. If it is not, always fold.
How does it work?
The game plays out only when the dealer qualifies. And that happens only if they have at least a .
Naturally, you wouldn't win if you have anything less.
Why the extra and ? With that or higher you have the highest chances to beat the dealer's Queen high or tie with it.
5. Sites to Practice 3 Card Brag Online (FREE)
3-card Brag may be one of the oldest casino games and poker variant out there — but that doesn't mean it did not find its way through to land in the world of online casinos.
Back in January 2019, Playtech released an exceptionally good version of the game - bringing back Britain's most popular card game.
All the gaming sites listed below offer games of three-card Brag online. If you really want to learn how to play 3-card Brag, check them out.
You can play three-card Brag for free (by far the best way to begin with this game) or you can use one of the bonuses you see to play for real money.
The promotion presented on this page was available at the time of writing. With some Casino promotions changing on daily basis, we suggest you to check on the site if it still available. Also, please do not forget to read the terms and conditions in full before you accept a bonus.Similar to the classic English card game of Brag, 3-Card Poker is a popular casino game where players take on the dealer.
Where Caribbean Stud is played like poker, with the best 5-card poker hand winning, 3-card Poker is played with just three cards. The aim is to beat the dealer's hand. Even better, if you beat the dealer when he holds a 'qualifying hand' of queen-high or better.
There's little strategy but players simply have to beat the dealer's 3-card poker hand. With online versions of the game there are added bonuses which can pay extra winnings. Even better, you can try the game for free to test out a few plays and strategies.
Find top free 3-Card Poker games in 2016:
- Enjoy classic 3-card games for free without risking your bankroll
- Test out online casino software
- Gamble on 3-card poker and work off a casino bonus
History of Online 3-Card Poker
If you grew up gambling on cards in the UK, you've probably come across 3-card Brag. A simple game, players are dealt three cards and have to bet against other players. The showdown takes place when all betting has finished.
Casino 3-card Poker just takes things up a notch and pits the player against the House. There's not too much strategy involved: you get dealt your hand and must make a decision to bet or fold. The rest is down to luck.
3-Card Poker first appeared in the mid 1990s as an online extension of Brag. It's sometimes played in the US under the name, 'Tri Poker'.
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How to Play 3-Card Poker Online
3-Card Poker is a fast game played against the House.
There are three areas to drag chips onto: ANTE, PLAY, and PAIR PLUS. Games are typically played with just one deck which is shuffled after every hand.
Placing Bets: Players place an initial bet, called an ante, plus an optional side bet wager. The Dealer and Player are dealt three cards. You then make a decision to equal the ante or fold your hand. If you want to play on, you match your ante in the PLAY area of the table.
After making a decision, the Dealer reveals his hand. If your hand beats his, you win. The Dealer's hand must be queen-high or higher to qualify.
Ranking of hands follows poker rankings, altered slightly due to the three cards. Unlike 3-card Brag, three-of-a-kind (prial) isn't the best hand, but a Straight does beat a Flush:
- Straight Flush
- Three of a Kind
- Straight
- Flush
- One Pair
- High Card
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3-Card Poker Payouts: To win, you must beat the Dealer's hand. But your payout also depends on whether the Dealer qualifies with a queen-high:
Player's Winning Hand (if Dealer qualifies):
- Ante: 1/1
- Play: 1/1
Player's Winning Hand (if Dealer doesn't qualify):
- Ante: 1/1
- Play: Push (a draw)
Tied Hand (if Dealer qualifies):
Ante and Play bet returned
In the event of a Push, your bet carries forward to the next game.
Ante Bonus: You will secure certain bonus payouts on top of your ante bet if your hand wins:
- Pair: No bonus
- Flush: No bonus
- Straight: 1/1
- Three of a kind: 4/1
- Straight Flush: 5/1
Pair Plus Bonus: The side bet is called the 'Pair Plus Bonus'. You'll see the bet area clearly displayed on the table. A Pair Plus pays out even-money (1/1) if you win with a Pair. You'll also win bigger bonuses if you hit certain hands:
- Pair: 1/1
- Flush: 4/1
- Straight: 6/1
- Three of a Kind: 30/1
- Straight Flush: 40/1
These bets pay out based on the value of your hand, regardless of what the dealer is holding.
The 'Mini Royal'
Although not too common online, some casinos add an extra bonus called the 'Mini Royal'. With this, if you hit a hand holding a suited A-K-Q you'll bag 80/1 your money.
Live 3-Card Poker
Like many casino games in the last few years, 3-Card Poker can now be played at online casinos against a human croupier.
Live 3-card Poker pits you against a human dealer streamed in from a TV studio or land-based casino. The cards are fitted with special chips which are picked up by sensors in the table. The cards are then transmitted to the player's casino page. Bets continue as normal, with winnings paid out at the end of the hand.
3-Card Poker Progressive
Some casinos run a variant of 3-Card Poker which award special payouts if you hit a certain hand. Usually, an extra bet is made at the start of the hand, and progressive games are linked across multiple casinos. If you hit a Mini Royal in spades, you'll bag the special progressive jackpot.
'Prime' 3-Card Poker
Usually found in UK land-based casinos, Prime 3-Card Poker requires players to make an option bet before the cards are dealt out. Payouts are made depending on the colour of the player's cards. You'll win 3/1 your bet if the cards are the same colour. If both your AND the dealer's cards are all the same colour you get paid 4/1. The house edge is a rather mean 3.62 percent.
Online 3-Card Poker Top Tips
1 - Know Your House Edge
There's not too much skill involved in 3-card Poker. However, you should be aware of the house edges when placing bets. An online cheat sheet can help you know the probabilities of hitting certain hands. A high card is hit just over 74 percent of the time, while a pair hits around 16-17 percent of the time. A flush comes around 4.96 percent, and a straight 3.26 percent. A straight flush hits 0.22 percent of the time.
The house edge of 3-card Poker online runs around 2.32-2.7 percent.
2 - Making Optimum 'Play' Wagers
Smart 3-card Poker betting come in making the right move against the dealer. If you have Q-6-4 or better that's the time to bet the 'Play' against the dealer. Generally, however, there is no real proper strategy that can help you beat the house edge. The 'Pair Plus' bets, while attractive, are generally seen as for fools only.
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3 - Print Out a Cheat Sheet
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There are many 'cheat sheets' available online. These show the optimum play depending upon your cards and are good to print out and have by your keyboard while you play.
3-Card Poker Glossary
3 Card Brag
Ante - Enforced bet by the player
Ante Bonus - Special payouts for players betting the ante
Bet - Wager
Bonus Hands - Special 3-card hands that are awarded extra payouts
Croupier - Dealer who handles the action
Deal - Player's and dealer's cards distributed
Even-Money Bet - Bet that is paid 1/1
Fold - Discard your hand
Hand - Three cards dealt to the player at the start of the game
Live 3-card Poker / Live Dealer 3-card Poker - Online 3-card Poker game featuring a human croupier and real cards
Pair Plus Bonus - Extra payouts based on hitting special hands
Play - Make a further bet by matching your ante
Prime - Version of 3-card poker with a special payout for getting matching colours
Qualifying Hand - A dealer has a hand of queen-high or better
Tied Hand - Player and dealer get dealt same value hand
Wager - Bet placed on a hand
