Free 3 Card Poker / 3 card poker hands
3 card poker hands
From best to worst, the 3 card poker hands are straight flush, three of a kind, straight, flush, pair and high card. The order is different from five-card poker: a straight beats a flush, and three of a kind beats both.
The six hands, best to worst
| # | Hand | Example | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Straight flush | 9♥8♥7♥ | Three cards in a row, all one suit. |
| 2 | Three of a kind | J♣J♦J♠ | Three cards of the same rank. |
| 3 | Straight | 6♣5♦4♠ | Three cards in a row, mixed suits. |
| 4 | Flush | K♦9♦3♦ | Three cards of one suit, not in a row. |
| 5 | Pair | 8♠8♥A♣ | Two cards of the same rank. |
| 6 | High card | A♦10♣4♥ | None of the above. The highest card plays. |
Odds of each hand
There are 22,100 possible three-card hands from a 52-card deck. Here is how many make each hand.
| Hand | Ways to make it | Chance | One in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight flush | 48 | 0.22% | 460 |
| Three of a kind | 52 | 0.24% | 425 |
| Straight | 720 | 3.26% | 31 |
| Flush | 1,096 | 4.96% | 20 |
| Pair | 3,744 | 16.94% | 5.9 |
| High card | 16,440 | 74.39% | 1.3 |
Why a straight beats a flush
In five-card poker a flush beats a straight. With three cards it flips. Only 720 three-card hands are straights, while 1,096 are flushes, because with three cards, matching a suit is easier than building a run. Hands are ranked by how rare they are, so the straight goes higher.
The same logic puts three of a kind above a straight. With only 52 ways to make it, three of a kind is rarer than any hand except a straight flush.
Hands that don't exist with three cards
There is no two pair, full house or four of a kind, because each needs at least four cards. Some tables call A-K-Q of one suit a "mini royal" and pay extra for it on side bets. In the game here it counts as the highest straight flush.
Straights: ace high or low
The ace counts high or low. A-K-Q is the highest straight. A-2-3 is the lowest, counted as 3 high. K-A-2 is not a straight: the ace can't sit in the middle.
When two hands are the same type
- High card and flush: compare the top card, then the second, then the third. A-9-3 beats A-8-7.
- Pair: the higher pair wins. If the pairs match, the third card decides.
- Straight and straight flush: the higher top card wins.
- Three of a kind: the higher rank wins.
Suits never rank. If every rank matches, it is a tie, and in 3 card poker the Ante and Play both push.
What the hands pay
A straight or better earns the Ante Bonus when you play it. A pair or better wins Pair Plus. Against the dealer, any hand can win, as long as it beats the dealer's. All the payouts.
Which hands to play
Every pair or better is a play. High-card hands are played from queen-6-4 up and folded below that. The Q-6-4 rule.
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Questions
Does a straight beat a flush in 3 card poker?
Yes. With three cards a straight is rarer than a flush, 720 hands against 1,096, so the straight ranks higher and pays more.
What is the best hand in 3 card poker?
A straight flush, and A-K-Q of one suit is the highest of them. Three of a kind is next.
Does three of a kind beat a straight in 3 card poker?
Yes. Three of a kind can be made only 52 ways, against 720 for a straight. Only a straight flush beats it.
Is there two pair in 3 card poker?
No. Two pair needs four cards. The hands are straight flush, three of a kind, straight, flush, pair and high card.
Is A-2-3 a straight?
Yes. It is the lowest straight. A-K-Q is the highest.
More: How to play 3 card poker · 3 card poker rules · 3 card poker strategy · 3 card poker payouts · 3 card poker odds · Pair Plus in 3 card poker · The 6 Card Bonus in 3 card poker · How to win at 3 card poker · Practice 3 card poker