Per-Ante house edge
The initial Ante is placed every hand, making it a convenient fixed denominator. Strategy determines how often an equal Play wager is added.
Expected loss divided only by Ante produces the conventional base-game edge.
Element of risk
Dividing the same expected loss by average Ante plus Play action produces a smaller percentage. That does not make the game better; the denominator is larger.
Comparisons must use the same denominator.
Variance
Folding creates a one-unit loss, continuing can risk two units, and Ante Bonus awards add positive tails. Side bets can add much sharper rare payouts.
Bankroll planning should not rely only on average loss.
Strategy errors
Playing too many queen-high hands adds a wager in negative incremental states. Folding hands above Q-6-4 gives up profitable continuations.
The compact boundary makes the base decision unusually easy to execute consistently.
The number worth comparing
For Three Card Poker House Edge and Variance, ante/Play is a decision game; Pair Plus is an independent pay-table wager. A useful review prices them separately.
For Three Card Poker House Edge and Variance, keep the rules and denominator fixed. A percentage per initial wager is not interchangeable with one per average total action.
Read Three Card Poker House Edge and Variance as a model with named inputs. Change a rule or denominator and the quoted result no longer answers the same question.
What to record for Three Card Poker
- Stated denominator
- strategy assumption
- exact rules used
If the inputs for Three Card Poker House Edge and Variance cannot be matched, report the missing assumption instead of borrowing a cleaner number.
Wizard of Odds Three Card Poker analysis · Calculation methodology · Full sources directory
Three Card Poker House Edge and Variance is reviewed against the Three Card Poker rules described above. A different pay table or procedure is a different model. Editorial review updated September 24, 2026.