Just what is it? Three Card Poker, Tri Card Poker or Tri Poker and why all the names for the same game? . . . Iit all started out as a name protected casino table game called 3 Card Poker that became very popular. Then, as always, others wanted to offer the game without paying royalties so they just renamed it. . So, be it 3 Card, Tri Card or just plain Tri Poker, the poker rules are the same, the optimal playing strategy is the same and a lot of players love it.

Three Card Poker is easy to learn and simple to play. Let\'s say you are at a $5 table. Place a $5 chip on PairPlus and another on "Ante". Check your cards. If your hand beats Queen-6-4, place another $5 chip on "Play", otherwise fold.

There is one other key to maximizing your chances of winning: Pick a game with a good pay table. The PairPlus payout for a Flush is a good indicator of the quality of the pay table. Generally speaking, good games will pay 4 to 1 on your PairPlus bet when you hit a Flush. Tight games pay only 3 to 1.

Not too many online casinos offer three card poker, but I have seen the game at some casinos that use RealTime Gaming software such as Sci Fi Casino (www.sci-fi-casino.com). They call it "Tri-Card Poker". CryptoLogic casinos, like InterCasino, offer Three Card Poker in their "Bonus Pack".

Three card poker is two games in one. The player may bet on either one, both, and in different amounts. Both games are based on hands consisting of three cards. Before I go on here are the possible hands in three card poker, the number of combinations of each hand, and the probability of forming. Note that a straight is harder to form than a flush.