The table game of Four Card Poker is not quite as popular as Three Card
Poker, which is a standard at online casino sites these days. However, the
popularity of Four Card Poker is certainly on the rise in land-based casinos.
Similar to its predecessor, four card is also marked by some characteristic
differences.
Like Three Card, Four Card Poker is two games in one - with three
betting circles laid out before each player on the poker table. The top circle
is marked with the phrase "Aces Up", while the two adjacent circles immediately
underneath are labeled with the phrases "Ante" and "1x to 3x Ante". Players
generally have the option of playing one one of both games. Therefore, before
cards are dealt from the single 52-card deck, each player must set chips in the
"Ante" and/or "Aces Up" circles. Note that the Aces Up and Ante wager must be in
the same amount.
After wagers are made, each player is then dealt five facedown
cards, and the dealer is given five facedown cards and one upturned card (six
total). Both the player and dealer must form the best four-card hand possible.
Right from the start, if the Aces Up bet was made, this will be paid out
according to the paytable if the player holds a hand of a Pair of Aces or
better. If not, the Aces Up wager loses. Each player may decide at this point to
fold their hand and lose the Ante bet, or to place the 1x/3x bet (1x or 3x the
size of the ante) and keep their hand in play.
Unlike Three Card or Let it Ride,
the dealer's hand does not have to qualify, thus making the decision to play
one's hand a little tougher. Both hands are compared against a poker hand
ranking chart similar to the traditional poker hand ranking but for four cards
instead of five. If the players hand is ranked better than the dealer's, both
the ante and 1x/3x wager will win. If the dealer's hand ranks better, both bets
are lost to casino. If there is a tie, the player wins. The fifth card will
never be used to break a tie.
Like Three Card Poker, a bonus is paid out for
Three of a Kinds (2:1), Straight Flushes (20:1) and Four of a Kinds (25:1).
Although not available at most online casinos just yet, Four Card Poker could be
in the Web gaming lobby very soon.
For more information on Four
Card Poker, please visit our
Four Card Poker Tips section.
Additional Popular
Poker Games:
