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Reason #2 why the Wizard likes Bodog:
No-hassle practice games
Most online casinos spend more effort trying to separate you from your money than they do trying to give you a good experience. They have all kinds of popup windows, they usually make you download their software, and if do they offer play-in-browser games then you have to register an account before you can play. And if you do register then they start sending you emails trying to get you to deposit real money.
But Bodog is different. They have no popup windows at all, and their practice games play right in your browser, with no download, and no registration required. You don't even have to give up your email address. It couldn't be simpler: Just one click and you're playing the game.
I wish all online casinos showed this much respect for their players. Other casinos practically ask for your first born child to play for free. Meanwhile Bodog is patient and does not twist anybody's arm to play for real money. You can play as long as you like for free with no obligation. The real-money games are available if that's your preference, but if not, you can play the free practice games for as long as you like without hassle. (Visit Bodog)
Try free Jacks or Better at Bodog. One click and you're in:
 No popups, no download, no registration, no B.S., just the game.
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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 | |
|