Your
question, Gary, describes a nifty little game
called Pyramid poker, a simplified version of
Pai Gow poker, where, instead of seven cards,
three cards are dealt to each player. Pyramid
poker also uses a standard 52-card deck but does
not include a joker.
Both the dealer and player are each dealt three
cards, which are arranged into a two-card hand
and a one-card hand. As in Pai Gow Poker, the
one-card hand must have a lower value than the
two-card hand. The hand rankings are just as in
poker except there can be no straights or flushes
with the two-card hand, and aces are always high.
Once the player sets his two hands, the player's
one-card hand is compared to the dealer's one-card
hand, and then the player's two-card hand is measured
against the dealer's two-card hand. In order to
win, both hands of the player must be higher than
both of the dealer's. If only one hand is higher
and the other loses, then the bet is a tie, or
push. You lose only if the dealer wins both hands.
If hands are of equal face value -- say for instance
you both have a Queen in your one-card hands --
it's called a copy, which automatically goes to
the dealer, giving the casino a built-in house
edge of approximately 3.5%.
Although you can find Pyramid Poker in some of
the larger gaming jurisdictions, it's not yet
here in the woods of Northern Michigan, but I
have, Gary, given it a kitchen table workout.
It's fun, and faster than Pai Gow Poker, and probably
worth adding to my play list amongst friends,
but that 3.5% casino advantage by way of copies
is a bit steep for me.
I'm short on space, Gary, but I will do a Q&A
on optimal playing strategy in the future if someone
writes in with an interest.
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