California Three Card Poker
Last update: Jan. 5, 2009
Introduction
California Three Card Poker is a variation of traditional Three Card Poker, played in some of the poker casinos of Los Angeles County. The game is still titled "Three Card Poker", but I add the "California" to distinguish it from the standard rules. The rules are the same as played in Nevada, except as follows.
- One dealer card is dealt face up.
- If the dealer doesn't qualify, then the player must still beat or tie the dealer to win the ante.
- There are no ante bonuses.
- There is a fee to play, usually 1% of the amount bet, rounded UP to the nearest dollar.
Here are the rules in their entirity.
Rules
- A single 52-card deck is used.
Hards are scored accoring to poker rules, except the rank of hands is as follows.
Straight flush
Three of a kind
Straight
Flush
Pair
Ace high or less
- Player makes an ante wager.
- The player and dealer each receive three cards. One of the dealer's cards is dealt face up, and two face down. The player's cards are dealt face down, which the player may examine.
- The player may either fold or raise.
- If the player folds, then he forfeits his cards and ante wager.
- If the player raises, then he must make a raise wager equal to his ante wager.
- The dealer will turn over his cards.
- The dealer needs at least a queen high to qualify.
- If the dealer does not qualify, and the player's hand beats or ties the dealer's hand, then the player's ante will pay 1 to 1, and the raise will push.
- If the dealer does not qualify, and the dealer's hand beats the player's hand, then the player's ante and raise will push.
- If the dealer does qualify, and the player's hand beats the dealer's hand, the the player's ante and raise will pay 1 to 1.
- If the dealer does qualify, and the dealer's hand beats the player's hand, then the player's ante and raise will lose.
- If the dealer does qualify, and the player's hand ties the dealer's hand, then the player's ante and raise will push.
Strategy
The following table shows the optimal strategy according to the player's hand (down) by the dealer's up card (across). Obviously, if the player has a flush he should always raise.
| California Three Card Poker Strategy |
| Player |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
T |
J |
Q |
K |
A |
| A,9,2 and higher: Always raise |
| A,8,7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| A,8,6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| A,8,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| A,8,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| A,8,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| A,8,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| A,7,6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| A,7,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| A,7,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| A,7,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| A,7,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| A,6,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| A,6,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| A,6,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| A,6,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| A,5,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| A,5,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| A,5,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| A,4,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| A,4,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| A,3,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| K,Q,J | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| K,Q,T | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,Q,9 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,Q,8 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,Q,7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,Q,6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,Q,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,Q,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,Q,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,Q,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,J,T | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,J,9 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,J,8 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,J,7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,J,6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,J,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,J,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,J,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,J,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,T,9 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,T,8 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,T,7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,T,6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,T,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,T,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,T,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,T,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,9,8 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,9,7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,9,6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,9,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,9,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,9,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,9,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F |
| K,8,7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| K,8,6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| K,8,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| K,8,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| K,8,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| K,8,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| K,7,6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| K,7,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| K,7,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| K,7,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| K,7,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| K,6,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| K,6,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| K,6,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| K,6,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| K,5,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| K,5,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| K,5,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| K,4,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| K,4,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| K,3,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,J,T | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Q,J,9 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,J,8 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,J,7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,J,6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,J,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,J,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,J,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,J,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,T,9 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,T,8 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,T,7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,T,6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,T,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,T,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,T,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,T,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,9,8 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,9,7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,9,6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,9,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,9,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,9,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,9,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F |
| Q,8,7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| Q,8,6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| Q,8,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| Q,8,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| Q,8,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| Q,8,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| Q,7,6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| Q,7,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| Q,7,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| Q,7,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| Q,7,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| Q,6,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| Q,6,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| Q,6,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| Q,6,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| Q,5,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| Q,5,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| Q,5,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| Q,4,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| Q,4,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| Q,3,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,T,9 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| J,T,8 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,T,7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,T,6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,T,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,T,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,T,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,T,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,9,8 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,9,7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,9,6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,9,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,9,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,9,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,9,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,8,7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,8,6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,8,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,8,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,8,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,8,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F |
| J,7,6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | 2 | F | F | F |
| J,7,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| J,7,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| J,7,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| J,7,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| J,6,5 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| J,6,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| J,6,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| J,6,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| J,5,4 | R | R | R | R | R | R | 1 | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| J,5,3 | R | R | R | R | R | R | 1 | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| J,5,2 | R | R | R | R | R | R | 1 | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| J,4,3 | R | R | R | R | R | 1 | 1 | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| J,4,2 | R | R | R | R | R | 1 | 1 | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| J,3,2 | R | R | R | R | 1 | 1 | 1 | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| T,9,8 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| T,9,7 | R | R | 2 | 1 | 1 | R | R | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| T,9,6 | R | R | 1 | 1 | R | 1 | R | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| T,9,5 | R | R | 1 | R | 1 | 1 | R | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| T,9,4 | R | R | R | 1 | 2 | 2 | R | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| T,9,3 | R | R | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | R | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| T,9,2 | R | R | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | R | R | R | F | F | F | F |
| T,8,7 | R | R | 2 | 2 | 1 | R | R | 2 | R | F | F | F | F |
| T,8,6 | R | R | 2 | 1 | R | 1 | R | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| T,8,5 | R | R | 1 | R | 1 | 1 | R | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| T,8,4 | R | R | R | 2 | 2 | 2 | R | F | R | F | F | F | F |
| T,8,3 | R | R | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | R | F | 1 | F | F | F | F |
| T,8,2 | R | R | 2 | F | 2 | 2 | R | F | 2 | F | F | F | F |
| T,7,6 | R | 1 | F | 1 | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| T,7,5 | R | R | 2 | R | 1 | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| T,7,4 | R | R | R | 2 | 2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| T,7,3 | R | R | F | F | F | 1 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| T,7,2 | R | 1 | F | F | F | 2 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| T,6,5 | R | 1 | 2 | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| T,6,4 | R | R | R | 2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| T,6,3 | R | R | F | F | 1 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| T,6,2 | R | 1 | F | F | 2 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| T,5,4 | R | R | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| T,5,3 | R | R | F | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| T,5,2 | R | 1 | F | 2 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| T,4,3 | R | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| T,4,2 | R | 1 | 1 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| T,3,2 | R | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9,8,7 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| 9,8,6 | 2 | F | F | F | F | F | 1 | R | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9,8,5 | 2 | F | F | F | F | F | 2 | 1 | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9,8,4 | 1 | F | F | F | F | F | F | 2 | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9,8,3 | 1 | 1 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9,8,2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9,7,6 | F | F | F | F | F | 1 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9,7,5 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9,7,4 | 2 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9,7,3 | 2 | 1 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9,7,2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9,6,5 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9,6,4 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9,6,3 | F | 2 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9,6,2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9,5,4 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9,5,3 | F | 2 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9,5,2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9,4,3 | F | 2 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9,4,2 | R | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 9,3,2 | 1 | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F | F |
| 8,7,6 | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| 8,7,5 and lower: Always fold |
F = Always fold
R = Always raise
1 = Raise if dealer's suit matches that of one or more of player's cards
2 = Raise if dealer's suit matches that of two or more of player's cards
House Edge
The following table shows the probability and return of all possible events, assuming optimal player strategy. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 4.30%. The player will raise 49.5% of the time, for an average wager of 1.495 units. The element of risk is thus 4.30%/1.495 = 2.87%.
| California Three Card Poker Return |
| Event |
Pays |
Combinations |
Probability |
Return |
| Dealer qualifies, player wins | 2 | 290810508 | 0.238074 | 0.476149 |
| Dealer doesn't qulaify, player wins or ties | 1 | 300919236 | 0.24635 | 0.24635 |
| Dealer doesn't qualify, dealer wins | 0 | 7303548 | 0.005979 | 0 |
| Dealer qualifies, player and dealer push | 0 | 745032 | 0.00061 | 0 |
| Player folds | -1 | 308444832 | 0.252511 | -0.252511 |
| Dealer qualifies and dealer wins | -2 | 313288044 | 0.256476 | -0.512952 |
| Total | | 1221511200 | 1 | -0.042964 |
Three Card Poker rules at the Hollywood Park Casino.
Oceanside Rules
The Oceans 11 casino in Oceanside CA offers the rules above, but does not require the player to beat or tie the dealer to win the ante bet if the dealer doesn't qualify.
This rule is worth 2.49% in the player's favor, lowering the house edge from 4.30% to 1.80%.
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