Rules of Play
The object of this game is for the players to form a three-card poker hand that ranks higher than the player-dealer's three card poker hand, according to the rankings below. Three Card Poker 6 Card Bonus is played using a single deck, automatic card shuffling device that uses two alternating decks, with backs of the same design, and no jokers. The game shall be played on a standard blackjack table that accommodates up to seven players and a players-dealer position for a total of eight seated positions. Furthermore, any player may wager on available betting spots. Within each betting area for each seated player, there shall be four separate betting spaces specifically designated for four separate wagers; the Ante wager, the Play wager, the Pair Plus wager, and the 6 Card Bonus wager. Each position at the table shall have a fixed amount for wagering limits defining the minimum and maximum amount that may be wagered in each position. Players must bet at least the table minimum for the base game. Backline betting is permitted on all wagers.
No action button will be utilized. All action shall begin with the player to the left of the player-dealer position, moving clockwise around the table. Wagers will be settled in the following order from player to player: The Ante wager, then the Play wager, then the Pair Plus wager (if placed), then the 6 Card Bonus wager (if placed).
Card Values and Hand Rankings
The rank of each card used in Three Card Poker 6 Card Bonus, in order of highest to lowest rank, shall be: ace, king, queen, jack, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, and two. All suits shall be considered equal in rank. The ranking of hands for Three Card Poker, in order from highest to lowest rank, shall be:
Three Card Hand Dealt
Hand Requirements
Mini Royal Flush
A hand that consists of an ace, king, and queen of the same suit.
Straight Flush
A hand that consists of three cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking. King, queen, and jack are the highest ranked straight flush and 4, 3 and 2 is the lowest ranked straight flush.
Three of a Kind
A hand that consists of three cards of the same rank. Three aces is the highest ranked three of a kind and three 2's is the lowest ranked three of a kind.
Straight
A hand that consists of three cards that are in consecutive ranking, but that are not the same suit. Ace, king, and queen are the highest ranked straight and 4, 3, and 2 is the lowest ranked straight.
Flush
A hand that consists of three cards of the same suit, but that are not in consecutive ranking. An ace, king, and jack is the highest ranked flush and a 5, 3, and 2 is the lowest ranked flush.
One Pair
A hand that consists of two cards of the same rank. Two aces is the highest ranked pair and two 2's is the lowest ranked pair.
High Card
A hand that consists of three cards that do not make any of the hands listed above. An ace, king, and 9 is the highest ranked high card hand and 5, 3, and 2 is the lowest ranked high card hand.
Round of Play
At the start of a game a player is offered the player-dealer position. Once a player-dealer position has been established for that game, the house dealer shall wait for each player to make their wager in accordance with the table limits.
Each player then has the following option(s) when placing their wager(s):
Place an Ante wager which pays 1 to 1;
If a player has placed an Ante wager, they may place a wager on the Pair Plus, which pays according to the table below;
If a player has placed an Ante wager, they may place a wager on the 6 Card Bonus, which pays according to the table below.
All wagers shall be made by placing gaming chips on the appropriate betting areas of the table layout, keeping in mind the table minimum and maximum wagering limits. All wager shall be placed prior to any cards being dealt. No bets shall be made, increased, or withdrawn after the house dealer has begun dealing. The house dealer shall shuffle the cards through the use of a shuffle machine, which shall deal cards in stacks of three face-down. The first stack of three cards shall be dealt to the player to the left of the player-dealer position, face-down. The remaining stacks of cards shall be distributed in a clockwise manner to each remaining player, face down. The player-dealer shall receive their cards last, which shall be placed face-down in front of the house dealer, except for the third card, which shall be dealt face-up. The remaining cards in the deck shall be placed in the discard pile.
Once all cards have been dealt, the house dealer, beginning with the player to the left of the player-dealer position and moving clockwise around the table, shall give each player the following two options:
Fold their hand and forfeit their Ante wager. If a player has placed a Pair Plus wager, and fold their hands, the wager shall be forfeited. If a player has placed a 6 Card Bonus wager, and folds their hand, this wager is still in play.
Stay in the game by placing a Play wager. This wager must be equal to the amount wagered for the Ante.
How Wagers are Paid, Collected and Pushed
After each player has either forfeited their Ante wager and their hand, or placed a Play wager to continue playing, the house dealer shall reveal the player-dealer's remaining cards and begin comparing each player's three card hand against the player-dealer's three card hand, starting with the player to the left of the player-dealer continuing around the table in a clockwise direction. The following shall apply for each possible outcome when determining the winner, loser, and how wagers may be pushed. The player-dealer will pay and collect all wagers accordingly:
The player-dealer must qualify to play with a minimum of queen-high. If the player-dealer's hand does not qualify, the following shall occur for each wager:
The Ante wager shall receive action. The player-dealer will automatically pay each Ante, not surrendered by folding, even money regardless of whether the player's hand ranks higher the player-dealer's or not.
The Play wager shall not receive action and shall be immediately refunded to each player that did not fold their hand and forfeit their Ante wager.
The Pair Plus wager, if placed, shall receive action according to the rules described below.
The 6 Card Bonus wager, if placed, shall receive action according to the rules described below.
The player-dealer must qualify to play with a minimum of queen-high. If the player-dealer's hand does qualify, the following shall occur for each wager:
If the player's three card hand ranks higher than the player-dealer's three card hand, the player wins and shall be paid even money for their Ante and Play wagers.
If the player-dealer's three card hand ranks higher than the player's three card hand, the player loses and their Ante and Play wagers shall be collected by the player-dealer.
If the player's three card hand and the player-dealer's three card hand are equal in rank and value, the hand is considered a tie and the Ante and Play wagers shall push and be returned to the player.
Pair Plus
For each seated position, there shall be one separate and specifically designated area for the placement of a Pair Plus wager. A player may only place a Pair Plus wager if they have also placed an Ante wager prior to the initial deal.
Seated players as well as back-line bettors may place a Pair Plus wager.
The Pair Plus wager may be less than, equal to, or exceed the Ante wager, and it must be within the minimum and maximum table limits.
The Pair Plus wager takes into account the three cards initially dealt to the player's hand. In the event that the first three cards dealt to a player that placed a Pair Plus wager is a pre-determined and designated qualifying hand, as shown below, the Pair Plus wager shall win. The player shall then receive a monetary payout based on the bonus hand that the player has received and the pay table, as shown below. Any other combination of the first three cards dealt will lose.
The Pair Plus wager may win or lose regardless of the outcome of the controlled game wager. However, the bonus bet wager shall be forfeited if the player folds their hand and does not place a Play wager.
Winning Pair Plus wagers shall be paid according to the pay table, as shown below:
Pair Plus Wager Pay Table
3-Card Hand Dealt to the Player
Payout Odds
200 to 1
40 to 1
30 to 1
6 to 1
3 to 1
1 to 1
6 Card Bonus
For each seated position, there shall be one separate and specifically designated area for the placement of a 6 Card Bonus wager. A player may only place a 6 Card Bonus wager if they have also placed an Ante wager prior to the initial deal.
Seated players as well as back-line bettors may place a 6 Card Bonus wager.
The 6 Card Bonus wager may be less than or equal to, but may not exceed the Ante wager, and it must be within the minimum and maximum table limits.
The 6 Card Bonus wager takes into account the three cards dealt to the player's hand and the three cards dealt to the player-dealer's hand. A player then uses any of those six cards, regardless of the number of cards used from their hand or the player-dealers hand, to make the best five card poker hand. In the event that those five cards make one of the pre-determined and designated qualifying hands, as shown below, the 6 Card Bonus wager shall win. The player shall then receive a monetary payout based on the bonus hand that the player received and the pay table, as shown below. Any other combination of the six cards shall lose.
The 6 Card Bonus wager may win or lose regardless of the outcome of the Ante wager. The 6 Card Bonus wager shall not be forfeited if the player folds their hand and does not place a Play wager.
Winning 6 Card Bonus wagers shall be paid according to the pay table, as shown below:
6 Card Bonus Wager Pay Table
5-Card Hand Dealt to the Player
Royal Flush
1,000 to 1
Four of a Kind
100 to 1
Full House
20 to 1
15 to 1
9 to 1
8 to 1
California Game
Three Card Poker 6 Card Bonus utilizes a player-dealer position and is a California game. The position shall be offered systematically and continuously in a clockwise manner around the table after every two hands. The player-dealer shall collect all losing wagers, pay all wining wagers, and may not win or lose more than the original amount wagered. Once the player-dealer's wager has been exhausted, the wagers not covered by the player-dealer shall be returned to the respective players. The gambling establishment does not participate in the actual play of the game and has not interest in the outcome of the play.
Three Card Poker 6 Card Bonus is the property of Shuffle Master, Inc. All rights reserved.