If you’ve been longing to try out unusual casino table games, then 3 Card Brag is your best shot. Not because it’s super simple, but also because it can be your ticket to more sophisticated table games. Plus, your CasinoChap here just loves this game!
With origins back in the 16 century, this popular British game was first described by ‘the father of Whist’, Edmond Hoyle. Since the game has certain similarities to poker, it is believed that it paved the way for many poker variations. The gambling industry has been referring to this game as ‘fast-paced poker’.
An essential concept of the classic game is the ‘bluffing’ and players use it to deceive their opponents. Gamblers should also be aware that there are variants to the game involving between 4 and 13 cards, some with quite different mechanisms.
Your pal in the gambling world Chap will teach you all about this unique card game. Plus, we’ll help you dive deeper into the gameplay and understand 3 Card Brag rules and betting strategies. Read our comprehensive guide on this super-fun table game and get ready for massive winnings!
What Is 3 Card Brag?
The Three Card Game has become increasingly popular both in land-based and online casinos. Tough the standard deck of 52 playing cards is used, this entertaining card game gives you three-card hands only. The good thing about this is that most game rounds last between five and ten minutes the most.
Before the game starts, cards are shuffled only once, and then the game goes on until it’s finished. Punters aim to beat the other players or the dealer with a better-ranked 3-card hand. In short, players in pursuit of quick, simple, and exciting card action are genuinely going to love this game.
Three Card Poker is pretty the same, it has only a couple of differences. Some of the casinos listed here might not have Three Card Brag, however, they should have 3 Card Poker in that case.
3 Card Brag Rules Explained
If you wondered how to play 3 card brag, CasinoChap has the answer for you. The 52 cards are shuffled, and players place an Ante bet. Then, all game participants receive their three cards. If you believe your hand is solid, proceed with the Play bet that equals the value of the Ante bet. If you fold the cards, the game is over, and you give up your Ante bet.
The Pair Bonus is an optional bet that you win if your hand is a Pair (two cards of the same rank). The upside is that the dealer’s hand doesn’t influence your hand in Pair Plus. You’ll win the Pair Bonus even if you lose the Play bet. Once all cards are shown, you’ll see if your hand wins. The amount of the winnings is established according to the online casino’s paytable.
Hands of a 3 Card Poker. Three Card Brag has two more hands.
3 Card Brag Player and Dealer Actions
The Three Card Brag rules and actions are relatively simple. To join the game, players must put the Ante bet on the table. After cards are dealt, it’s the player’s turn to decide whether to play further depending on the value of the three cards.
Two options are at disposal. You either fold, meaning you surrender the game or you place a Play bet and wait for the cards to open. If the dealer’s hand qualifies and your value is better, you win both bets in line with the hand type.
3 Card Brag Hand Ranking And Payout Size
It’s crucial to be familiar with hand rankings and terminology, since this way you’ll know what’s at stake. Prial or three-of-a-kind is at the top of the scale with a 5:1 payout size and 0.2% probability. Next comes the Running or Straight Flush with 4:1 payout. With Ante Bonus, any Straight or Run (consecutive cards of different suits) outcome will get you a 1:1 payout and the probability is 3.3%.
If you opt for the Pair Plus bet, Prial delivers a 40:1 payout rate. Meaning, for every dollar invested, you’ll earn $41 back if you win. The side bet earns you 30:1 payout for Straight Flush and 6:1 for Straight only. The ratio for Flush is 4:1 and for Pair simply 1:1 with a 16% probability.
There is also a Six Card Bonus that you win depending on the six cards formed by yours and the dealer’s hand. In the case of three-of-a-kind and mini Royal Flush (King, Queen, and Ace of the same suit), you get paid accordingly.
Let Chap share a piece of mind with you, though. Higher payouts on 3 Card Brag Online also come with higher risks. Meaning, your chances of winning such bets aren’t too high.
3 Card Brag Winning Condition
After bets are placed, and cards are dealt, the players decide whether they’ll play or not. If the winner doesn’t qualify, you neither win nor lose and your Ante is paid 1:1.
The best outcome would be for the dealer to qualify but still have a weaker hand than yours. In this case, you win both Ante and Play bets. The opposite situation will mean losing both bets. If it’s a tie, both bets are a push.
Blind Betting Explained
Experienced players go one level higher and select the option of blind betting. In short, you bet without seeing your cards. The upside of blind gameplay is that all your bets are worth double. This is because you put half of the amount you would if seeing your cards.
If you decide to look at the cards before you play or fold, you’ll no longer be considered a blind player. If you want to proceed with the game, you revert to the same betting amount as that of regular players. There are cases when one player does blind betting, and all the others fold. The blind player doesn’t win the pot, but it goes to the next hand.
You can try to play 3 Card Brag online for free. It’s a great way to learn!
3 Card Brag Online
Among various other games, online casinos highlighted by CasinoChap offer 3 Card Brag online, too. These top-notch casinos allow their users to play on desktop and mobile devices. Also, players can download native Android or iOS apps or gamble through their preferred web browser. When testing online casinos for ranking, we also take into account their customer support and live chat options.
Enjoy a low house edge starting from 2.01% to 3.37% and try bonus side bets such as Pair Plus. These bonuses can lead to extra winnings, and often, you are allowed to try a free game round. Our list comprises gambling platforms that are trusted with fast payments.
Punters take resort in this card game because it’s convenient and they can enjoy it from the comfort of their couch. Game graphics is undisputedly awesome, and sounds are true to life. The only downside of online play is that is the bragging aspect is non-viable, and players can’t make use of their bluffing skill potential. Other than that, everything is pretty much the same as playing in a brick-and-mortar casino.
How To Play 3 Card Brag At Online Casinos
The online version of this traditional card game was introduced in the recent past. What is different in the Internet version is that you don’t play against other players, but it’s just you and the dealer. Stick to this concise gaming plan revealed by CasinoChap for our loyal readers only, and stack the odds in your favor.
- Step 1 – Join any of the recommended casinos that offer 3 Card Brag online.
- Step 2 – Register and claim your welcome bonus.
- Step 3 – Go to the game lobby and select a 3 Card Brag game.
- Step 4 – Place your Ante bet on the table and wait for the three cards.
- Step 5 – Decide whether you’ll play or fold.
- Step 6 – If you have a weak hand, you can fold and make no further bets.
- Step 7 – If you have a strong hand, select the Play bet, and win the game!
Live Casino 3 Card Brag
As the interest for live gameplay is rapidly growing, 3 Card Brag online can be played at live casino sites, too. The experience of live gaming is stunning. After all, live croupiers from a TV studio or a land-based casino are dealing the cards in real-time.
The most popular live version is that of Playtech, and the quality of the game is nothing but the best. Easy-to-use-interface with supported side bets and top-notch equipment are some of the perks of this provider. Apart from the seamless experience, the RTP of Playtech’s Live 3 Card Brag is impressive 98.00% for the Ante Bet and 97.86% for the Pair Plus.
The live version of 3 Card Poker powered by Evolution Gaming is also most popular. Packed with the excitement and suspense of poker, this three-card game is fast-paced with multiple scalabilities. Here the RTP reaches 96.63% for the Ante Bet, whereas the Pair Plus gets to 95.51%.
Your CasinoChap loves both options equally. So, you should try each of them and see whichever works for you the most.
3 Card Brag Playing Strategy
To be honest, the game doesn’t involve much strategy. Most of it depends on your luck. The only time when you can make the right decision is the moment when you decide whether to bet or fold. This is where our ideas can come handy.
The best strategy you can follow on 3 Card Brag is simple. Apply the Q-6-4 rule. If your hand is stronger than this value, your odds of winning are higher. This means you should proceed with the Play bet. If your hand is weaker, it’s the smartest to fold. Namely, if your best card is lower than the Queen, you’d most likely lose.
Tips For Winning At 3 Card Brag
CasinoChap has done some meticulous research and consulted a few experts on the topic. Meaning, we prepared the ultimate list of tips to help you grasp the game easier and boost your winning potential. Check them out, and you’re ready to rock.
- Avoid the Pair Plus bet. Big payouts may be tempting with a house edge of 2.3%. In combo with Ante and Play bet, however, it boosts the house edge to 4.49%.
- Claim any available welcome bonuses. You can also make use of free rounds to get the hang of the gameplay.
- Remember the strategic card combination. Meaning, fold all 3 Card Brag hands with a lower value than Q-6-4.
- Set limits to your spending. A good strategy is to start with 1% of your planned bankroll on each wager. This will help you handle losses and still earn some cash.
- Prepare a cheat sheet. Find it online and print it out. It’ll show you the optimum play related to your cards so you can make use of it while playing.
- Choose reliable online casinos. Our team has hand-picked the most reliable online gambling sites. Just sign up and have a blast!
3 Card Brag Winning Odds and House Edge
It’s quite useful to be aware of your odds and winning chances. CasinoChap has summarized the critical aspect of the percentages for your convenience only.
Odds in Three Card Brag range from 5:1 for a Prial, 4:1 for a Running Flush, down to 1:1 for a Run. The Pair Bonus odds for a Prial are 40:1, down to 6:1 for a Run, and 1:1 for a Pair.
The house edge in 3 Card Brag is 3.37% for the Ante and Play bet. The house advantage of 2.32% applies if you select the Pair Plus side bet. However, in combination with the Ante and Play bets, the overall house edge jumps to 4.49%. The house edge amounts to 8.56% for the Six Cards bet and 7.6% for blind betting.
3 Card Brag has one more top hand called “Prial”. However, to chances of catching the one are even smaller.
Difference Between 3 Card Poker And 3 Card Brag
Most rookies confuse these popular games and mistake the 3 Card Poker for the 3 Card Brag. Thus, it is important to compare both and know what makes them different and what makes them alike. Chap will help you avoid the confusion often brought by similar card games.
To begin with, 3 Card Brag is most played in Great Britain and countries such as India and Nepal. Conversely, the poker version is preferred by US players. Moreover, there are plenty of other striking differences between these two card games. This relates to 3 Card Brag hand rankings and betting styles.
In British brag, the highest-ranking is the ‘Prial’ made up of three cards with the same value. Next, comes the Straight Flush, and the Run, that is followed by a Flush, a Pair, and a High Card. Pay attention that the three 3s are considered the highest prial. What follows next are the 3 Aces, 3 Kings, and 3 Queens.
In 3 Card Poker, the highest value lies in a Straight Flush, and only then comes the Three-of-a-Kind hand. What follows is a Straight, a Flush, and a Pair. Once these variances are cleared up in your head, you’ll be able to enjoy and win whatever card game you choose.
Three Card Brag Games
You certainly won’t find many gaming providers that offer 3 Card Brag in their portfolio of online games. By providing the game in its library, Playtech earns high marks. The provider created an exceptional Live 3 Card Brag game in which players must beat the dealer. Though both the player and the dealer get three cards, the dealer must have a Queen or a higher card to qualify. Live Chat is available, and punters can communicate with dealers in real-time.
Ash Gaming-powered 3 Card Brag creates a synergy of both Rummy and Poker. Just click on the chips you’re planning to bet. To select the base game, you should choose the ‘Ante’ button. To make a side bet, simply click on the ‘Pair Bonus’ option. Having a better hand than the dealer means you’re the winner.
Great Alternatives
Though appearing a long time after the 3 Card Brag game, the 3 Card Poker is an online extension of the classic English game. American players know it under the name ‘Tri Poker’. The difference here is that you play against the House.
Three Card Poker by Microgaming is another excellent alternative. Plus, the provider offers a second variant of the game known as the Gold Series set in a more elegant casino environment. The game is easy to navigate and quite realistic. Sounds of the casino actions and the dealer are brought to perfection.
3 Card Rummy by Betsoft is pretty new in its array of table games. As a complete opposite, players must underscore the dealer’s hand to win the game. In short, if your 3-card hand has a lower value than that of the House, cash comes into your hands. High-definition graphics and well-designed interface take the game to a whole new level of life-like gaming.
Watch the legendary scene of Three Card Brag from the movie “Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”.
Where to Play 3 Card Brag?
After having thoroughly described how to play 3 Card Brag, Chap leads your way to the best online casinos too. The displayed online platforms that offer the game in their wide assortments are undoubtedly the safest ones.
Our recommended casinos are reliable, strictly regulated, and powered by leading providers. Plus, their bonuses are generous, and their live dealer platform is trustworthy and secure. So what are you waiting for? Just pick any of the online gambling websites CasinoChap recommends and place your bets.
May luck be on your side!
