Let it Ride Poker Correct Choices of the Three-Card strategy

By
J. Phillip Vogel

The correct choices to these decisions are the heart of the Three-Card strategy, and you must know them if you want to stand a chance for winning. Without them, the vigorish against you literally skyrockets, from the already high 3.5% to over 40%!
Table 7 outlines the proper strategy to follow based on the first three cards dealt.

Table 7: Three Card Strategy

First Three Cards	Let it ride	Remove Bet	Rule Number
Pair of 10's higher	Yes	No	1
Three of a Kind	Yes	No	2
3 card Straight Flush	Yes	No	3
3 card Royal Flush	Yes	No	4
Flush/Straight with two 10 value cards	Yes	No	5
J,9,8/10,9,7/10,8,7 suited	Yes	No	6
K,Q,J/Q,J,10	Yes	No	7
Pairs 2-9	No	Yes	1.1
9,10,J	No	Yes	2.1
A,K,Q	No	Yes	3.1
All Others	No	Yes	4.1

The following rules explain the decisions found in Table 7. Both the playable and non-playable hands will be reviewed. We'll start by discussing the playable combinations.

RULES FOR PLAYABLE HANDS

1. Pair of tens or higher: This is an obvious play. Since you are already secured at least a 1-1 payout, you let all three bets stay and hope for an improvement.

2. Three of a Kind: Once again, this is an automatic win, with a guaranteed payout of 3-1 on all three bets. Let it ride.

3. Three cards to a Straight Flush: There are numerous possibilities for winning with this hand. You are sitting with a possible straight, flush, straight flush, and if you have any high cards, a possible winning pair. The strategy for this hand is to let all three bets ride.

4. Three cards to a Royal Flush: As above, there are many chance to win, and you may possibly hit a jackpot. Let this bet ride.

5. Three cards to a Flush/Possible Straight with two 10 value cards: In this game, it's simply not a strong enough hand to "let it ride" on three cards when you just have a flush or a straight possibility, because the chances for either of those two hands with two cards remaining isn't great. The combination of all of the above increases to possibility for success greatly.

6. Three card Flush with J, 9, 8, 10, 9, 7 or 10, 8, 7: These hands are not as powerful as the other hands so far listed, but when you take into consideration the possibilities for a flush, straight, straight flush, and high pair, plus the rare two pair and three of a kind possibilities, you have a decent enough chance for a win. Let the first bet ride, and see what develops.

7. K,Q,J or Q,J,10: Both of these hands have the possibility of catching a high pair, or straight, a chance at a two pair or three of a kind with the dealers two cards. This is the most marginal of all of the three card hands, but you should still let the first bet ride.

These seven hands are the strongest hands for the player to open up to, and give the greatest chance for winning. I realize that some of them may seem a little bit risky, but these are the statistical decisions that will reduce the casino's vigorish down to the lowest amount of 3.5%. To ignore these rules is to hand over even more of an edge to the casino.

Next Week: Four Card Strategy

Let it Ride Poker Strategies 3 Card
Correct choices of the Three-Card strategy

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