How to Play Four-Card Poker

Four-card poker is a poker-based game that utilizes your five cards to make the best four-card hand. The dealer has six cards to make his best four-card hand. The goal of the game is to have a better four-card poker hand than the dealer. To play four-card poker, follow these steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Place your bets. In front of you are three circles, Aces Up, Ante and 1x to 3x Ante. The Ante is the bet to play the game against the dealer. The Aces Up bet will pay you a certain multiple of your bet if you have a pair of aces or a better poker hand. You can play just the Ante, but if you choose to play Aces Up, the bets must be equal.

2. Look at your cards and decide whether you want to stay in or fold. If you fold, you will forfeit all bets. Stay in if you have a pair, two pairs, straight, three- or four-of-a-kind or flush. To stay in you must place a bet in the 1x to 3x Ante. This raise must be at least equal to your ante bet, but can be as much as three times that bet.

3. Watch the dealer turn over her cards. She will make the best four-card hand out of six cards. If your hand beats hers, you win both the Ante and 1x to 3x Ante bet. If the dealer wins, you lose both of those bets.

4. Check to see if you have aces or better. If you do, and you have a bet on Aces Up, you win that bet regardless of what the dealer has.

Tips & Warnings

• Bet three times your ante if you have a pair of tens or better. Bet one times your bet if you have a pair between three and nine. Fold if you have a pair of threes or lower.

Resources

• Review rules of four-card poker and other casino games.