Observation at a 3 Card Poker table

[Automatic Monkey]

When you say they, are you referring to the casino or the "smart players?" If I'm not mistaken, don't the smart players usually avoid the Pair Plus at all costs?

Oh, I mean the casino! Some places allow you to only play the sidebet, which was a surprisingly good way to clear online bonuses at one point. Turning Stone in NY forces you to play the sidebet if you want to play at all, which is probably illegal but they are a fake Indian reservation so there's nothing you can do about it.

 

[Sonny]

I almost always play 2 hands by myself, but they have to be played separately to prevent card swapping.

They don't make you play the second hand blind?

-Sonny-

 

[Sucker]

They don't make you play the second hand blind?

-Sonny-

Some places let you play both hands unencumbered. Some places force you to play the 2nd hand blind. Some places will only ALLOW you to play one hand. The last time I was at the Taj, they allowed you to do it the first way.

 

[SWFL Blackjack]

2 hands

I have played two hands at a couple different casinos. The one casino allows you to play two hands unless a person who isn't playing wants to play that spot. They deal the hands, and cover the second hand with a plastic "waffle" as they call it. Once you look at your first hand and bet or fold, they then move the waffle and you are allowed to look and bet on your second hand.

The other casino's 3 Card Poker game is dealt pitch. After the cards are dealt, you can look at one hand, bet, then look at the other. This is a very laid back casino, and they don't say anything as long as you don't appear to be trying to touch both hands simultaneously.

 

[pit15]

Oh, I mean the casino! Some places allow you to only play the sidebet, which was a surprisingly good way to clear online bonuses at one point. Turning Stone in NY forces you to play the sidebet if you want to play at all, which is probably illegal but they are a fake Indian reservation so there's nothing you can do about it.

Actually the casino makes good money on both bets.

House edge for ante (with perfect strategy): 3.37%
Pair plus: Anywhere from 2.xx% - 7.xx% depending on pay table

If you play blind every hand on the ante, the house edge goes up to 7 and change as well.
Very few people play the optimal Q64 strategy as well, so I wouldn't say the house makes most of their money on the pair plus. The house makes good money on both bets.

I've seen civilians folding things like K high, and that's just the way they played (there was no AP going on).

 

[WRX]

Turning Stone in NY forces you to play the sidebet if you want to play at all, which is probably illegal but they are a fake Indian reservation so there's nothing you can do about it.

Harrah's Reno forces you to play the side bet if you want to play at all, but Nevada is a fake state so there's nothing you can do about it.

 

[pit15]

Harrah's Reno forces you to play the side bet if you want to play at all, but Nevada is a fake state so there's nothing you can do about it.

Do they make you put the same amount on both the pair plus and ante?

If not you can bet table min on the pair+ and a large amount on the ante.

 

[WRX]

Do they make you put the same amount on both the pair plus and ante?

No. You can play the table minimum on pair plus, and whatever you want on ante.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

Harrah's Reno forces you to play the side bet if you want to play at all, but Nevada is a fake state so there's nothing you can do about it.

I'm surprised Gaming lets them get away with dealing the game contrary to the published rules. What next, forcing BJ players to take insurance?

 

[pit15]

I'm surprised Gaming lets them get away with dealing the game contrary to the published rules. What next, forcing BJ players to take insurance?

Well, if someone goes there and makes a big stink about it, they might have to deal the game according to the rules.

I'm pretty sure that the regulations don't allow the casino to deal a game any way they want. That's why every new game has to be approved. Technically if they're forcing you to take a side bet it's not really the same game.

 

[SWFL Blackjack]

Well, if someone goes there and makes a big stink about it, they might have to deal the game according to the rules.

I'm pretty sure that the regulations don't allow the casino to deal a game any way they want. That's why every new game has to be approved. Technically if they're forcing you to take a side bet it's not really the same game.

3 Card Poker, Let It Ride, and many other carnival games are patented, most by Shuffle Master. This why you see online casinos that have "Tri Card Poker" or "Let 'em Ride." Casinos must pay the patent owners royalties to use their games, which would make me believe the casinos must allow the games to be played the way they were intended. It seems any discrepancy would violate the usage of the game at a casino.