PLAYING TIPS for 3 CARD DROP POKER
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HOW TO PLAY 3 CARD DROP POKER (Long Version):
3 Card Drop Poker is a simple three card poker game, but posses a potentially high risk. Each player is dealt 3 down cards. There is an initial ante, but no further betting. There is no draw; there are no common cards. The best 3 card hand wins with this ranking: high card, pair, flush, straight, trips, straight flush (why is straight ranked higher than flush? See the probabilities of 3 card poker at the bottom of this page.) After receiving and looking at cards each player must decide if they wish to drop out or stay in the game. This is done by all players simultaneously declaring play or drop by means of chips: No chip in hand = drop. One chip in hand = play. If only 1 player declares "play" that player wins the pot. If no players declare "play" replay the game. If 2 or more players declare "play" showdown hands. Best 3 card hand wins the pot. Losing hand(s) match the pot. Add this money to the next pot. Other versions of 3 Card Drop are described at the bottom of this page. |
SUMMARY of ACTION:
All players ante. Deal 3 hole cards to each player. Simultaneous declaration: "play" or "drop" If only 1 player declares "play" that player wins the pot. The game is over. If no players declare "play" replay the game. All players ante again. When 2 or more players declare "play" showdown hands. Best 3 card hand wins the pot. Losing hand(s) match the pot. Replay game. All players ante again. |
PLAYING TIPS for 3 CARD DROP POKER
There is not a lot of strategy for playing 3 Card Drop poker. There is no betting, no drawing, no exposed cards. There is nothing to get a read on the strength or weakness of your opponents. You have your cards and you either play them or not. Non-playable hands should be obvious. How strong a hand you think you need to win is your big decision. You should decide what you consider to be the minimum hand you will declare "play" with ahead of time and stick with it. Apart from factoring in your own style of play, you need to know your opponents to help you with that decision. Where are they on the risk-taking scale? Where are you? It then becomes basically a risk to benefit decision. You'll need to know the probabilities of being dealt various hands, so review the 3 card poker probabilities chart at the bottom of this page.
There are 3 key elements to 3 Card Drop that you absolutely must consider beforehand:
1. The game does not end until only one player declares "play".
2. As the game keeps repeating the pot keeps increasing.
3. As the pot keeps increasing your potential loss increases.
There is the potential to create huge pots and win or lose sums well beyond your normal limits or expectations and comfort levels. There is also the potential for a lot of tension and ill-will between players when a losing player must pay an unusually large sum into a pot. This is not a game for the faint of heart and probably not suitable for a "friendly" game of poker. You can limit the pots by reducing the additional antes to a fraction of the initial ante, eliminating re-antes altogether after a few rounds and by exempting a loser from also having to make a re-ante. You may also wish to place a maximum cap on the amount losers must pay.
When there is a lot of money in the pot it may occur to you that the other players will be reluctant to remain in the game and that you will be able to steal the pot with any hand just by having the nerve to declare "play". This is a risky idea! You need to take at least 3 things into consideration: the other players' tendencies, will this same idea occur to them, and will they get dealt a hand that's actually strong enough to play? You only have an idea of the first two factors. Even the timidest player could be dealt a strong hand and if they are you're beaten badly. If you are against another risk taker you might barely beat them, but you may just as easily lose to only a marginally better hand. When the "ghost hand" version of the game is used (see below), additional risk is added making this tactic far less desirable to attempt.
There is not a lot of strategy for playing 3 Card Drop poker. There is no betting, no drawing, no exposed cards. There is nothing to get a read on the strength or weakness of your opponents. You have your cards and you either play them or not. Non-playable hands should be obvious. How strong a hand you think you need to win is your big decision. You should decide what you consider to be the minimum hand you will declare "play" with ahead of time and stick with it. Apart from factoring in your own style of play, you need to know your opponents to help you with that decision. Where are they on the risk-taking scale? Where are you? It then becomes basically a risk to benefit decision. You'll need to know the probabilities of being dealt various hands, so review the 3 card poker probabilities chart at the bottom of this page.
There are 3 key elements to 3 Card Drop that you absolutely must consider beforehand:
1. The game does not end until only one player declares "play".
2. As the game keeps repeating the pot keeps increasing.
3. As the pot keeps increasing your potential loss increases.
There is the potential to create huge pots and win or lose sums well beyond your normal limits or expectations and comfort levels. There is also the potential for a lot of tension and ill-will between players when a losing player must pay an unusually large sum into a pot. This is not a game for the faint of heart and probably not suitable for a "friendly" game of poker. You can limit the pots by reducing the additional antes to a fraction of the initial ante, eliminating re-antes altogether after a few rounds and by exempting a loser from also having to make a re-ante. You may also wish to place a maximum cap on the amount losers must pay.
When there is a lot of money in the pot it may occur to you that the other players will be reluctant to remain in the game and that you will be able to steal the pot with any hand just by having the nerve to declare "play". This is a risky idea! You need to take at least 3 things into consideration: the other players' tendencies, will this same idea occur to them, and will they get dealt a hand that's actually strong enough to play? You only have an idea of the first two factors. Even the timidest player could be dealt a strong hand and if they are you're beaten badly. If you are against another risk taker you might barely beat them, but you may just as easily lose to only a marginally better hand. When the "ghost hand" version of the game is used (see below), additional risk is added making this tactic far less desirable to attempt.