3 Card Brag: Rules and Strategies to Win
Are you in the hunt for a simple yet interesting casino card games? 3 Card Brag launched by Playtech can be an option. It is one of the simplest poker games which is available at both land-based as well as online casinos. If you are new to gambling or never played a poker game before, it can be a great option to start with. We have come up with the beginner’s guide that covers all the rules and strategies for 3 Card Brag. So, let us dig deeper and explore what this game is all about, but first, let’s begin with the introduction to the game.
What is 3 Card Brag?
3 Card Brag is one of the oldest and traditional poker games that have been around since the 18th century. Earlier it was considered a famous British card game, it is believed that in Great Britain, 3 Card Brag was the third most played card games. However, the modern version of the game possesses a set of more simplified rules and gameplay, it is slightly different from the original version of the game. Today, the players can enjoy this game in a live casino with a real human dealer.
3 Card Brag is often mistaken by the players as three card poker, due to the game similarity, but the main difference lies in the betting style and hand ranking of the games.
Wondering how to play? Let us figure it out in the next section.
How to Play 3 Card Brag online?
The game begins with dealing the three cards (face down) to each player, and the players either need to bet or fold depending upon the quality of their hand.
The betting phase remains constant until there are only two players left in the game, and then the game ends in the showdown, with the player having the best winning hand. The brag part of the games comes with bluffing, which is an essential part of the gameplay.
A good and efficient way to play the game is to bluff throughout the play and delude the other participants into thinking that you have a better hand than them. As the poker player follows, ‘’if you can’t hold’em… get them to fold’em”.
3 Card Brag Setup
When the game moves to an online casino, the classic gameplay changes a bit. Here a player is not battling the game against other players but involves in an individual battle against the dealer.
While playing online, the possibility to bluff limits to a certain extent, which further limits the way to win huge, and affects the poker hands you might consider to choose.
While the positive side of playing the game online is that the game is straight for you, as you won’t be bluffed because the dealers never do it.
Rules Involved in 3 Card Brag
The game is played only with a standard 52-card deck of French Cards. Mentioned below are the rules involved in the game.
- The Ante Bet
At the beginning of the game, all the players wanting to participate in the hand are required to place an initial bet, which is called the ante bet. The amount of the bet is specified according to the rules of the table. If you have no idea about the rules and bet size, it is better to ask the dealer.
- The Deal
When it is clear, who is playing the game and who is in the hand, three cards are distributed to each player by the dealer.
- The Betting
In the betting phase, the players come across with two option – to play or to fold.
Play must be selected only you if think that your hand is good enough to bring you some good winning odds. When you decide to play the hand, the bet must be placed as the same size as your Ante. For example, if your ante was $5, the play bet will be again $5.
If you are not confident that your hand will bring you a win, it is better to fold and leave the hand. When you fold, no further investment is required, since you have lost only ante.
- The Showdown
3 Card Brag officially includes one betting round, however, it is up to you, if you want to play once.
If you decide to continue the game by placing the ‘Play’ bet, then you get the access to showdown and have a glance at the dealer’s card. In this stage, you will find out whether your hand holds and brings you to win, or you have to hand over all your chips to the dealer.
- The Dealer’s Hand
Like any other poker game, the dealer in 3 Card Brag also need to qualify, but only with a Queen high or better,
Hand Ranks in 3 Card Brag
To win the game, you need to have a bigger hand than the dealer. The table below depicts the hands of 3 card brag from the best to lowest value.
Hand | Example |
Prial (Three-of-a-Kind) | 3x 3x 3x |
Running Flush (Straight Flush) | 4♠ 5♠ 6♠ |
Run (Straight) | 4 ♥ 5♠ 6♣ |
Flush | x♥ x♥ x♥ |
Pair | 5x 5x 10x |
High | Qx 4x 6x |
Winning Strategy at 3 Card Brag
The proven and best strategy of 3 Card Brag to win the game, is quite simple, where you have to remember a single hand Qx 4x 6x.
When your hand is equal or higher, place the ‘Play’ bet, and if the hand is not equal or high, always ‘Fold’.
The game proceeds only when the dealer qualifies, it is possible only when they have at least one Qx.
You won’t be able to make up to the winning if any of the element is missing in your hand. Then why you need additional 6x and 4x? with these two or higher cards, the chances to beat the dealer’s Queen get higher and sometimes it can be a tie.
3 Card Brag is one of the most interesting and easiest games to try in the poker variety. The game is available at Jackpot City in the free version.