3 Cards - Review, Demo Play, Payout, Free Spins & Bonuses

Three Cards Overview

Developed by Wazdan, Three Cards is a unique version of 3-card video poker. The original version of the game was invented in 1994 by Derek Webb, who wanted a simple, straightforward poker game that was easy to learn. In 1997, it was patented and introduced to casinos, and a few years later, Wazdan released its version.

Wazdan casino games have always been creative and offer something a bit different from the norm. In Three Cards, the aim of the game is to build the best 3-card poker hand from the cards dealt. The twist is that you need to place another bet if you want another card, and any hands lower than a flush don’t pay out.

Because Three Cards doesn’t pay out for pairs, this game has a much higher variance, making it different from the more traditional versions of 3 Card Poker.

How to Play Three Cards

The concept of Three Cards is straightforward. Every hand has 3 cards on the table and 5 potential winning combinations.

You need to build the best possible 3-card poker hand with the cards you are dealt. Hands that are lower than a flush are not paid out, but similar to traditional 3-card poker, a straight is higher ranked than a flush, and 3 of a kind is ranked higher than a flush and a straight.

Place Your Bets

To start playing Three Cards, you need to place your bet using the arrows on the left and right sides of the wagering amounts at the bottom of the screen. Once you’ve decided on your bet amount, you click the spin button to deal your cards.

Playing Your Hand

When the spin button is clicked, you are dealt 3 cards. If your hand is a winning one, you are paid out straight away. If your hand is not immediately a winning one, you have two options: draw a new hand or try again.

Hold your cards

However, if you draw new cards, it costs you a bet of the same amount as your initial draw. Each bet is only for one draw, so you have to bet again every time you want another 3 cards. If your hand is a winning one after you bet again and draw, you are paid out based on the paytable. If not, you can try again and bet on a new hand.

It’s important to note that Ace cards only play high; they cannot play low. This means you cannot make a wheel straight with a hand of A-2-3.

The Gamble Feature

After every winning hand, there is the option to access the Gamble Feature. In this feature, you need to choose between 1 of 2 symbols. If you choose the correct symbol, your win is doubled. If you pick the incorrect symbol, you forfeit your win and return empty-handed to the base game.

Betting Options

You can choose from the different coin value betting amounts depending on how much you want to play per hand. Bets start at 10.00 and increase to 5,000.00.

Every draw will cost you a bet, so you need to budget accordingly. This means you need to be responsible and use the responsible gambling tools available, if needed.

Payouts

Three Cards has an RTP of 95.47%. This game is also high volatility and has a hit frequency of about 47.52%.

• Royal Flush - 300:1


• Straight Flush - 100:1


• Three of a Kind - 30:1


• Straight - 5:1


• Flush - 2:1

These payouts apply per draw, and the maximum win is 300x your bet.

Optimal Strategy

Although there is no surefire strategy that ensures a win, there are some guidelines that can be used in Three Cards to try to increase your chances of a successful hand:

• Hold two cards in the following situations:
  • Any pair
  
  
  • Any flush draw
  
  
  • Any two cards to a royal or straight flush
  
  
  • Open-ended straight except 2-3
  
  
  
   
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• Don’t hold 2-3 unless it is 2-3 of hearts as A-2-3 does not pay out


• Never hold a single card, regardless of its hand ranking.


• If you’re dealt a pair along with a potential straight or flush draw, keep the pair. Landing 3 of a kind offers a much higher payout than completing the draw.


• If you’re holding both a straight draw and a flush draw, keep the flush draw since it gives you more possible winning cards.


• Change the coin size of your bets to match your budget as you play.

Game Controls

Three Cards has a simple and intuitive layout that makes playing straightforward. The buttons are prominently placed at the bottom of the screen, making it easy to make decisions without scrolling through menus.

1. Select your bet by clicking on the coin sizes at the bottom of the screen.


2. Press spin and 3 cards will be dealt.


3. Choose which cards to hold by clicking on them. A stop sign will appear on the cards.


4. Place your bet and click spin for new cards to be dealt.


5. Wins are highlighted.


6. Choose to collect your winnings or activate the Gamble feature.


7. Start a new round by setting your bet.

The game’s display will guide you through each hand, and you’ll be able to see your bets clearly.

Design and Graphics

Three Cards is one of the more traditional-looking online casino games as it uses the classic video poker layout and setup. The game has high-resolution cards on a maroon background, and the card artwork is slightly old-fashioned, yet crisp and clear.

The cards are well spaced, so there is no clutter. Even though the paytable is placed on the top left, the logo on the right, and the game controls and betting buttons at the bottom, the interface is not cluttered. The logo has subtle animations that make it appear like it's glowing, and the betting area is rimmed in gold, standing out from the cards on the table. The betting area also has easy-to-read labels for each desired action.

Three Cards has a subtle casino-style soundtrack that plays throughout gameplay, with subtle background audio that changes with every draw to mimic the sound of cards being dealt. Its design focuses on clear visuals and smooth gameplay so you can easily follow each hand.

Disclaimer: 3 Cards trademark / license is owned by Wazdan. This site is not endorsed by Wazdan.