3 Shot Poker

Introduction

3 Shot Poker is a poker variation by Casino Gaming Development. It began a field trial at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno on March 3, 2023. Briefly, the game follows the traditional raise or fold format, where the final cards are revealed after the decision is made.

Rules

1. The games uses a single 52-card deck.
2. Play starts with the player making a 1st Shot wager. The player may make an optional 5 Shot side bet at this time.
3. The dealer shall deal the player two hole cards and three community cards, all face down.
4. After examining his own cards, the player must either raise or fold. If the player folds, he forfeits his 1st Shot wager, but any 5 Shot wager will still have action. If the player raises, he must make both a 2nd Shot and 3rd Shot wagers, both equal to the 1st Shot wager.
5. The dealer shall expose the three community cards.
6. The 1st Shot, 2nd Shot and 3rd Shot wagers shall be based on the poker value of the following three-card poker hands and the pay table below:
   • 1st Shot — Two player hole cards and first community card.
   • 2nd Shot — Two player hole cards and second community card.
   • 3rd Shot — Two player hole cards and third community card.
7. The 5 Shot wager shall be based on the poker value of all five cards, between the player's two hole cards and all three community cards and the pay table below.

The following are the available pay tables for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Shot wagers. Wins are on a "to one" basis. The Grand Sierra is using Pay Table 2.

The following are the available pay tables for the 5 Shot wager. The Grand Sierra is using Pay Table 1.

Example

 

In the image above, I bet $100 on the 1st Shot and $25 on the 5 Shot.  I was dealt a K/A offsuit.  Although the odds favor folding that, I raised anyway, betting aother $100 on each of the 2nd Shot and 3rd Shot. 

The two community cards came up as Q,2,Q.  That formed a straight for the 1st Shot and 3rd Shot, paying 4 to 1 odds for both.  The 2nd Shot was a loser.  The 5 Shot bet was a high pair, which paid 1 to 1.  All things considered, I bet $325 and got back $1050, for a net win of $725. 

Strategy

The player should make the 2nd and 3rd Shot wagers with any of the following hole cards.

• A pair
• Any two suited
• Outside straight draw

Under pay tables 1 and 3, when a straight pays 5 to 1, the player should also make the 2nd and 3rd Shot wagers with an inside straight draw (including A/2 and K/A).

3 Shot Analysis

The following three tables show my analysis of the 3 Shot wager under pay tables 1 to 3. The "weight" column reflects how many hands over which the event can happen. In other words, when the player makes the 2nd Shot and 3rd Shot bet, he can get any given hand in one of three possible hands. However, when he folds, he folds just one hand.

The following table shows my analysis of the base game under pay table 1. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 7.62%.

The following table shows my analysis of the base game under pay table 2. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 6.33%.

The following table shows my analysis of the base game under pay table 3. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 5.18%.

The following table summarizes the house edge and element of risk under all three pay tables. As a reminder, the house edge is defined as the ratio of the expected player loss to the original wager. The element of risk is defined as the ratio of the expected player loss to the average total amount bet.

5 Shot Analysis

The following table shows my analysis of Pay Table 1 of the 5 Shot side bet. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 8.17%.

The following table shows my analysis of Pay Table 2 of the 5 Shot side bet. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 7.68%.

The following table shows my analysis of Pay Table 3 of the 5 Shot side bet. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 5.99%.

External Links

• Discussion about 3 Shot Poker in my forum at Wizard of Vegas.
• Demo game by Casino Gaming Development.

Written by: Michael Shackleford