How to Play 4 Card Poker

Four Card Poker is a new casino game. The odds of winning are not as good as those of craps or blackjack, but are better than those of roulette and many slots. Not only are the chances relatively good of winning your even money bets, but there are also bonuses that give payoffs considerably higher than your bet. Have fun playing the game while maximizing your odds of coming out ahead.

Instructions

1. Place your ante as specified by the house. This is your minimum investment, and you'll have the opportunity to bet more after you get your cards. You also may make a side bet called Aces Up.

2. Receive five dealt cards. Yes, five, although the name of the game suggests otherwise. From these five, make the best four-card hand possible. The dealer, meanwhile, makes the best four-card hand from six cards, so he has the advantage, as you might expect. The probabilities of making specific hands are different in Four-Card Poker from the probabilities in other forms of poker, so the ranking of hands is different. The rank from highest to lowest is: 1) four of a kind, 2) straight flush, 3) three of a kind, 4) flush, 5) straight, 6) two pair, 7) pair and 8) high card.

3. Review your hand and the dealer's up-card (the other five dealer cards will be face down). Either fold (thus forfeiting your ante), or make a raise that may be equal to the ante, or up to three times the ante.

4. Win even money on your ante and your raise if your hand is better than or equal to the dealer's. If your hand includes at least a pair of aces, you win your "aces up" wager even if you lose the other bets. Furthermore, the payoff is more than the amount bet; based on your hand, it may be up to 50 to 1. Also, If your hand includes three of a kind or better, you are paid a bonus (without having to make any additional bet), even if the dealer beats your hand, that could be as high as 25 to 1.

Tips & Warnings

• Fold unless you have at least a pair of 3s.

• Raise the same amount as your ante if you have a pair of 3s through a pair of 9s.

• Raise three times your ante if you have a pair of 10s or better.

• Different casinos have different payout tables for the bonuses. Whenever possible, shop around.

• Don't overdo it on the "aces up" bet. The high payouts sound enticing, but the odds of connecting are high. Unless you get lucky, your money goes farther if you stick to the ante and play (raise) bets.