Playing poker online can be a lot of fun, and it can be very profitable, if you understand what you’re doing. We have a guide on how to play online poker for beginners, but, here, we’ll delve a little deeper into the nuances of online poker, which is much different than playing in a table game live at the casino. The ingenuity of live casino software developers has brought us an interesting variation of poker with the concept of live Bet on Poker. This is a simple and rather forgettable way to enjoy poker without having to worry about the complications of bluffing, or understanding the terminology. Dec 12, 2020 Usually the poker room will allow one hour between the time you call and the time you arrive at the casino to check in. If there is a waiting list, this will save you from having to sit around the casino for an extra hour getting tempted by rigged house games.

Learn more about Three Card Poker played at live dealer tables.

Live Casino Poker Strategy

What is Tri Card Poker?

Tri Card Poker is a fast and easy-to-learn poker variant, developed by Derek Webb, who had a vision of creating a Poker hybrid that would contain 3 crucial elements a casino game must have to fare well with both the players and the casino operators. The game, therefore, incorporates substantial payouts, simple structure and a house edge that makes it profitable to the casino, without making Tri Card Poker unfavorable for the players.

The game got off to a rocky start and promoting it in the UK and introducing the Tri Card Poker to USA casinos was anything but smooth. At first, Webb had to train the casino dealers himself, spending hours next to the casino table to make sure that rules are properly executed. Finally, in 2002, after a change in the gambling regulations took place, the game found its way back home to the UK.

Tri Card Poker Basic Rules

Tri Card Poker uses a regular 52 card deck with Jokers removed and starts after the players submit the first bet – Ante. An extra Pair Plus bet is available but not obligatory, and the players can choose whether or not they will wager that the dealt hand will have a Pair or a better ranking combination.

A hand of three cards is dealt to all the players and the dealer and the players must decide if they will place the Play bet or Fold and lose the Ante. When all the hands are revealed, showdown begins and the strongest hand wins.

Tri Card Poker Ante and Play Strategy

The first question the players must ask themselves is how their hand should rank in order to produce the optimal results if played. In an ideal environment, you would want to start with at least Q, 6 and 4, since a hand like that losses less when played. Anything lower than Q, 6 and 4 should definitely not be played and the player’s best course would be to simply Fold.

Live casino poker strategy slot machines

The same goes for hands with King or Ace as the high card – a player should not Fold a hand like that. Things are quite different when the high card is a Joker; this hand is ranked lower than Q, 6 and 4 and should, therefore, be folded, as mentioned above. Basically, there are four guidelines that you should always stick to, with a few hand examples presented in the table below:

  • Queen and a 7 is a combination that should always be played, regardless of the 3rd card;
  • Queen and a 6 should be played ONLY in combination with 4 or 5;
  • Queen + 6 is to be folded if the 3rd card is 2 or 3;
  • Queen with 5 as the 2nd highest card should never be played;
HandBetFold
Q+6+4
Q+5+4
J+10+6
A+10+3
A+7+5

The Pair Plus side bet on the other hand will not require any strategy and with the low house edge it carries, it’s not like you can cause an irreparable damage if you decide to play it. For the most part, experienced players would advise that you do not stray from the straight Ante/Play path too often and to keep the Pair Plus wagers on the lower side.

Depending on the casino, Pair Plus may or may not be equal with the Ante and the player can either play conservatively and bet on the lowest amount allowed or decide to take a more daring approach and top the Ante bet. One can also combine the two betting styles, starting off with low wagers and saving the aggressive approach when the balance is increased.

How to Beat Live Dealer Online Casino Hold’em Games

Casino Holdem pitches your Texas Holdem skills against the house. This game first appeared in the early 2000s and saw a rise in popularity on the back of the 'poker boom'. Now you can find it spread in casinos across the world, from Las Vegas to Macau. The game is also a favourite of online casino players, and thanks to developments in technology, you can now enjoy Casino Holdem on Live Dealer tables too.

Here you can find out the best strategy for playing Casino Holdem at the 888 Live Casino. The games are provided by Evolution Gaming and are ran by very friendly and professional dealers in Latvia and Malta. While the casino's software is used to interact and place your bets, all the action is real and can be watched via HD quality live streams. These games create the best casino experience you can find, without actually travelling to one, and by following the simple strategy below, you can increase your chances of being able to celebrate a win.

Best Live Dealer Casino Holdem Games Online

Non-US Players: My go-to studio is operated by Evolution Gaming, and is available via the leading big brand PlayTech powered casinos. If you are in the UK, then Titan Bet Casino is a very strong (and fully licensed) rec. Outside of the UK then I recommend the long-running Europa Casino instead.

US Based Players: The Vegas Technology studio offers this game, and the very easy recommendation of the casino which hosts them is the long-running BetOnline.ag. Based in Panama, this brand is already the leading US offshore sportsbook – and is fast becoming the go-to casino as well.

Live Dealer Casino Holdem - The Basics

Playing Casino Holdem is very similar to a regular Texas Hold'em game. The key differences are your ability to bet is restricted, and you are only playing against the house, not the other players.

If you wish to be dealt into a Casino Holdem hand, you must first place an ante. This can be anything within the table limits, although it is worth remembering this bet size controls your next wager, if you wish to play the hand to the end.

Two cards are dealt to both yourself and the dealer, with the dealers hand faced down. The Flop is then dealt and you decide if you wish to continue or not, based on the strength of your hand. If you do not think your hand is strong enough you can fold and give up your ante bet. If you wish to continue however, you can call for twice your ante amount.

Casino Poker Tournaments

The Turn and River cards are then dealt and the dealer reveals their hand. In order to be able to play, the dealer must qualify by having one pair or higher. This is based on their best five card hand, so if the board pairs then the dealers hand automatically qualifies, without needing any help from their hole cards.

Should the dealer have the best hand, you will lose both the ante and call bet. If the dealer does not qualify, you win the ante bet and the call bet is pushed back to you, or if the dealer qualifies and loses you win on both. While call bets are simply paid at even money, your ante bet is paid out as follows:

  • Royal Flush - 100/1
  • Straight Flush - 20/1
  • Four of a Kind - 10/1
  • Full House - 3/1
  • Flush - 2/1
  • Straight or Less - 1/1

Live Dealer Casino Holdem - The Best Strategy

While Casino Holdem appears a simple games of 'fit or fold' on the flop it is actually more complicated than that.

For a start if you keep folding when you miss you will give up far too many antes, plus you need to remember the dealer has to qualify in order to play their hand. You should also consider the chances of your hand improving on the Turn and River, as well as whether the payouts make your decision mathematically correct or not.

This all creates many variables, although learning optimal strategy can bring the house edge down to around 2.5%. Instead here are some easy to remember rules, which while not perfect, will bring the house edge down, near to this level.

  • Always call with a pair or higher
  • Always call if you are holding A high or K high, with your hole cards
  • Always call with two overcards
  • Call with Q high or J high, so long as the board is not suited and you do not hold that suit in your hand.
  • Call if you only need one card to complete a straight or flush
  • Unless you hold a card higher than 10, or a straight or flush draw, fold on paired boards
  • Fold everything else

Live Dealer Casino Holdem - Side Bets

The Casino Holdem game on 888 Live Casino, offers you an 'Aces or Better' side bet. While the payouts are attractive, like all side bets this is generally a sucker bet, where you give-up an unnecessary advantage to the house. In this case the house will gain a 6.26% edge.

If you wish to play the Ace or Better bet, you must place your wager in the marked area, before the deal. Once the Flop is dealt, if you can make a five card poker hand, ranking AA or higher your bet will be paid accordingly. The Aces or Better bet is paid out separately to the main ante and call bet, so you will still get paid out even if you lose the hand.

The payouts for Aces or Better are as follows:

  • Royal Flush - 100/1
  • Straight Flush - 50/1
  • Four of a Kind - 40/1
  • Full House - 30/1
  • Flush - 20/1
  • AA, Two Pair, Straight - 7/1

Those recommendations once again: where to find the best Casino Holdem live dealer games online!

Non-US Players: My go-to studio is operated by Evolution Gaming, and is available via the leading big brand PlayTech powered casinos. If you are in the UK, then Titan Bet Casino is a very strong (and fully licensed) rec. Outside of the UK then I recommend the long-running Europa Casino instead.

Live Casino Poker Strategy Real Money

US Based Players: The Vegas Technology studio offers this game, and the very easy recommendation of the casino which hosts them is the long-running BetOnline.ag. Based in Panama, this brand is already the leading US offshore sportsbook – and is fast becoming the go-to casino as well.

Casino Poker Online

More Casino Articles