What is the Pair Plus Bet in 3-Card Poker?

The Pair Plus bet is an optional wager in Three-Card Poker that bets the player’s hand will be at least a pair or better. As this is an additional bet, it’s counted regardless of the dealer’s hand and the outcome of the main game. It’s crucial to remember that the Pair Plus bet isn’t competing against the dealer’s hand.

However, this doesn’t mean that players can place this bet without placing the Ante wager prior to the deal. The Pair Plus bet is placed with the Ante before the initial deal.

Pair Plus Bet Payouts

In order to get a payout, your hand must meet certain criteria and qualify. If it doesn’t qualify, you will lose your bet, and the house will keep your wager. That said, if your hand qualifies for the Pair Plus payout, you will receive one of the following payouts, depending on your hand’s strength:

Pair Plus Hand	Payout
Mini Royal Flush	200:1
Straight Flush	40:1
Three-of-a-Kind	30:1
Straight	6:1
Flush	3:1
Pair	1:1

As this bet’s name gives away, the weakest paying hand is one pair, meaning that a pair of twos is the lowest-ranked card that will win you a payout. On the other hand, the 200:1 Mini Royal Flush (a suited Ace King Queen hand) is the best-paying hand in this side bet.

Keep in mind that certain casinos might offer lower payouts than the ones in the table above. For example, some casinos might offer a 35:1 payout for a straight flush. In that case, it’s best to avoid playing and look for another place that offers 3-Card Poker games. Additionally, while the Pair Plus bet is not a bad wager on its own, the 7.28% house edge it comes with is worth considering.