How to Play: Live Poker Strategy

When to Fold in Casino Poker?

Knowing when to fold is absolutely crucial if you want to play poker at a casino successfully. It’s your one, all-important decision that directly affects the result of the game. Unfortunately, however, this isn’t blackjack – there is no exact 3 Card Poker strategy chart to tell you the ideal times to fold or call. There are way too many variables to consider, and this goes double for Caribbean Stud. We can, however, give you some general casino poker strategy advice.

Our first tip is that you should generally play aggressively. According to most statistics and simulations, you should fold less than 16% of all possible opening hands. Don’t be too shy.

Considering all the possible variations of this game, the main rule is to call whenever your hand is stronger than the dealer’s qualifying hand. In 3-card Poker, this means you should call on a Queen high or better. In Caribbean Stud Poker, this means you want an Ace and King.

The Best Moves in Casino Poker

We can be slightly more accurate, though.

In Three Card Poker, you the minimum you want to avoid folding is a Queen, Six, and a Four. As we said, Three Card Poker strategy is relatively clear-cut. There are almost no situations where this rule does not apply.

In Caribbean Stud Poker, however, you may want to at least get a Pair. An Ace+King combo is pretty much the best High Card hand you can have anyway, and beating that requires a Pair in most cases. Alternatively, you can have an Ace, King, and a relatively strong third card. Probably at least an 8. However, this also depends on the dealer’s up-card. Like we said, Caribbean Stud Poker strategy is not easy to get right.

Practice with Free Casino Poker Games

If you’re a bit frustrated with the strategies above – believe us, we get it. Look at it this way, though – the fact that there is no obvious best way to play poker at a casino is one of the game’s big charms.

There is something constructive you can do about it, though. You can practice poker online for free, without risking your real money. Unfortunately, most live dealer poker games are not available in demo mode. This means you have to put up actual money, which is not ideal if you’re a beginner. However, free RNG-based poker games are widely available online. They are not as fun or as enjoyable as our favorite live casino games, but that’s just a compromise you’ll have to make.

You can also check out our article about casino training software. It features a handy poker trainer app that you can use to practice before committing actual money.

The Best Casinos to Play Three Card Poker and Caribbean Stud Poker

Before we wrap up this strategy guide, we have one last bit of advice. Don’t waste your time with sub-par casino sites that only feature poker as an afterthought. Though these games are a niche, some sites still have amazing offers and opportunities.

For example, consider live casino bonuses. A good bonus can make your gambling session actually profitable even though no amount of skill will allow you to overcome the house edge. You just need an actually good offer – and a bit of know-how to complete wagering requirements without blowing through all the bonus money.

Moreover, playing at a good live casino is safer, more reliable, and a lot more convenient. Never underestimate the power of convenience – and definitely don’t underestimate the importance of safety with online gambling.

Here are a few suggestions for some of the best live casinos to play 3-Card Poker and/or Caribbean Stud Poker.