3 card poker side betsSide bets are provided to give the player the added thrill of making wagers on the side of the main game. From the casino’s perspective these 3 card poker side bets make them money, as the house edge is greater. While payouts may seem bigger the opportunities for them are lower, so if you’re serious about maintaining your bankroll for as long as possible do not play them.

They are however a good source of extra fun so if you’re out to enjoy your session and not too worried about maintaining your bankroll for a long time then they can be a good source of enjoyment.  However if you get on a lucky streak you can increase your bank roll substantially!.

The typical 3 card poker side bets are Pairs Plus and a 6 Card Bonus

Pairs Plus

This bet is made at the same time as the Ante bet and is an additional bet alongside the main hand. It can also be played on it’s own without the Ante Bet, but it’s more common to see both bets placed at the same time. It pays out according to the following table regardless of whether you choose to play or fold your hand.

HandPay TableProbability of hitting
Mini Royal (AKQ)100:10.02 %
Straight Flush40:10.20 %
3 of a Kind30:10.24 %
Straight5:13.26 %
Flush4:14.96 %
Pair1:116.94 %

The probability of hitting a losing hand is 74.39!

It’s important to note that the Pairs Plus side bet on Live 3 Card Poker pays a straight at 5:1 whereas the equivalent bet on the RNG software games pay 6:1.

6 Card Bonus

This is another 3 card poker side bet that can be placed alongside the main Ante bet. It involves all six cards in play and pays even if the player chooses not to play his hand. The payouts are:

HandPay TableProbability of hitting
Mini Royal (AKQ)100:10.02 %
Straight Flush40:10.20 %
3 of a Kind30:10.24 %
Straight5:13.26 %
Flush4:14.96 %
Pair1:116.94 %

The probability of hitting a losing hand 92.72% !

Where to find 3 Card Poker side bets

All of the 3 card poker games offer the side bets so you can select any from my lists of Live 3 card poker casinos or RNG 3 card poker casinos to play at.