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Three Card Poker Progressive

Complete Advantage Play Strategy Guide

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Specialty Games

Quick Stats

Expected Edge

Positive when jackpot > $13,822

Bankroll Required

Medium ($1,000-2,000)

Time to Learn

3 days

Additional Metrics

progressive Breakeven
$13,822
envy Bonus
Subtract $175 per player
cycle Length
22,100 hands
base Game Edge
3.37%

Overview

A simple poker variant with an optional progressive jackpot that can reach positive EV when the meter gets high enough. Great for players who don't want to count cards.

Strategy

Play Q-6-4 or better. Raise with Q-6-4 or higher, fold anything less. Make the $1 progressive bet only when the jackpot exceeds the breakeven threshold. The envy bonuses add value when tables are full.

What to Look For

  • Progressive meter above $13,822 for +EV
  • Subtract $175 for each additional player (envy bonuses)
  • Full tables maximize envy bonus value
  • Casinos that let meter build high before resetting
  • Royal flush in spades pays 100% of jackpot

Risks & Considerations

  • Extremely high variance (22,100 hand cycle)
  • Takes 500+ table hours average to hit royal
  • Base game has 3.37% house edge on ante
  • Progressive must be very high for overall +EV

Pro Tip

Always start with proper bankroll management. Even with an edge, variance can be brutal. Never risk more than 1-2% of your total bankroll on a single session, and ensure you have at least 20-30 buy-ins for your chosen stakes.

Three Card Poker Strategy Charts

Ante & Play Decision

✓ RAISE (Play) with:

  • Q-6-4 or Better (Queen-Six-Four)
  • • Any Pair (Including 2-2-x)
  • • Any hand with Queen-High and 6-4 kickers or better

✗ FOLD with:

  • • Anything less than Q-6-4
  • • Queen-high with kickers lower than 6-4 (e.g., Q-6-3, Q-5-4)
  • • Jack-high or worse

Pair Plus Strategy

The Pair Plus bet is independent of the dealer's hand:

House Edge: ~2.3% (standard pay table)

Strategy: No decision needed - bet is resolved automatically

Recommendation: Make this bet for entertainment; adds variance

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