PLAYING TIPS for 3 CARD DROP with DRAW POKER
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HOW TO PLAY 3 CARD DROP with DRAW POKER
3 Card Drop with Draw Poker is a simple three card poker game but possess a potentially high risk. There is an initial ante, then each player is dealt 3 down cards, followed by 1 round of betting. Each player may now discard and draw up to 2 cards to his hand. From that point there is no further drawing or betting. Each player must now decide if they wish to stay in the game or drop out. This is done by all players simultaneously declaring play or drop (fold) by means of chips: No chip in hand = drop. One chip in hand = play. Here is what happens after declaration: The best 3 card hand wins with this ranking: high card, pair, flush, straight, trips, straight flush (why is a straight ranked higher than a flush? See the discussion and probabilities table for 3 card poker at the bottom of this page.) 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. Additional versions of 3 Card Drop with Draw are described at the bottom of this page. |
SUMMARY of ACTION:
All players ante. Deal 3 hole cards to each player. Bet Draw Cards (maximum 2 cards) 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 with DRAW POKER
The only way to gauge the strength or weakness of an opponent's hand is by their play before the draw and, if they draw cards at all, the number of cards they draw. You have your cards and now you either play them or not. Non-playable hands should be obvious. How strong a hand you think you need to play 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. If you do not have a hand that meets that minimum strength you should drop out. As the pot grows larger and your risk increases, consider raising your minimum hand strength threshold. Apart from factoring in your own style of play, you also 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 or drawing to various hands, so review the 3 card poker probabilities charts at the bottom of this page.
There are 3 key elements to 3 Card Drop with Draw 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 be 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 or draw a very 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.
The only way to gauge the strength or weakness of an opponent's hand is by their play before the draw and, if they draw cards at all, the number of cards they draw. You have your cards and now you either play them or not. Non-playable hands should be obvious. How strong a hand you think you need to play 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. If you do not have a hand that meets that minimum strength you should drop out. As the pot grows larger and your risk increases, consider raising your minimum hand strength threshold. Apart from factoring in your own style of play, you also 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 or drawing to various hands, so review the 3 card poker probabilities charts at the bottom of this page.
There are 3 key elements to 3 Card Drop with Draw 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 be 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 or draw a very 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.