Four Card Poker is a common game at East Coast casinos. We found it in Atlantic City, Deadwood, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. There are no Four Card Poker tables in Las Vegas. It is like Crazy 4 Poker, which is a more common game.
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Four Card Poker rules
Four Card Poker uses one 52-card deck. It is reshuffled after every hand.
A hand of Four Card Poker starts with the player making a bet on the Ante, Aces Up, or both. If the player only makes an Ante Up bet, there is no skill involved. The player is dealt cards and at the end of the hand, the dealer determines if it qualifies as a win under the side bet’s pay table.
If the player makes an Ante bet, there is a decision to make. Players are dealt five cards. The dealer receives six. One of the dealer’s cards is placed face up.
If an Ante bet was made, the player has the option of folding or raising up to three times the Ante. A fold results in the player losing all bets. If the player raises, the dealer shows their five cards. Two cards are removed from the dealer’s hand to determine the best four. One is removed from the player’s hand.
The hands are shown. The winner is based on the following hand rankings, from highest to lowest:
- Four of a kind
- Straight flush
- Three of a kind
- Flush
- Straight
- Two pair
- Pair
- High card
If the dealer beats the player, the Ante and raises are lost. If the player beats or ties the dealer, the Ante and bets are matched. There is no dealer qualifier in Four Card Poker. The Ante bet plays every hand.
There is an Ante bonus on hands that are three of a kind or better. The payouts are below. Multiply the amount wagered by the number below to determine the total win.
- Three of a kind: 2
- Straight flush: 20
- Four of a kind: 25
Aces Up side bet payouts
The Aces Up side bet in Four Card Poker is optional if the main bet is made. It may also be placed in lieu of the Ante. Aces Up pays on any hand with a pair of aces or higher. The hand does not need to beat the dealer.
The number shown below is the amount won per coin on the Ante Up side bet in Four Card Poker. Multiply it by the wager to determine the win amount.
- Four of a kind: 50
- Straight flush: 40
- Three of a kind: 8
- Flush: 5
- Straight: 4
- Two pair: 3
- Pair of aces: 1
Four Card Poker strategy
The Four Card Poker strategy is simple for a card game. Raise three times the ante on a pair of tens or higher. Raise a single amount on a pair of deuces up to nines. Fold any hand that does not include a pair. If you have a pair of tens through kings, and the dealer’s door card is higher than your pair, only raise two times.
If you only make the Ace Up side bet, there is no strategy. You are paid on the strength of the hand, regardless of if it beats the dealer. There is no raise.
How to buy into a Four Card Poker game
The first step in playing Four Card Poker is buying into the game. In a casino, you may use chips from another table or buy some from the dealer. If you need chips, drop your cash on the table. The dealer may not take it from your hand. The dealer gives you chips from it. In most cases, you receive $5 ones. That is because the minimum bet is usually $5 or $10. Luxury resorts may give you $25 chips because that is the minimum.
At an online casino, you take chips from your main account. These move to the table with you automatically when the screen opens. If you need chips, it is simple to buy into an online casino. You can use credit or debit cards, electronic checks, bank wires, PayPal, Skrill, Apple Pay, and cash.
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How to make a Four Card Poker bet
There are three ways to make a Four Card Poker bet. You can make the Ante, Aces Up side bet, or both. The bets must each meet the table minimum. At a live game, it is at least $5. At an online casino, the minimum bet is usually $0.10. Click the deal button when your bet is set. You should have at least three times the Ante ready for raises to get the best Four Card Poker value.
At a live casino, place your chips in the betting circle. At an online casino, choose your chip denomination, then click the circle. The player looks at their cards and decides to raise one, two, or three times the Ante, or fold. There is no decision when making an Aces Up bet.
After the hand, you can click the exit button to leave the game. If you want to play another hand, click rebet for the same wager or click new bet to change it.
Turning your chips into cash
If you have chips left at the end of your Four Card Poker session at a live table, ask the dealer to color up your chips. This means you will get large chips for your small ones. You can take these chips to the cage for cash or to another table game.
At an online casino, your chips are automatically transferred to your main account. You can use it at other casino games, to bet on sports, or request a withdrawal. A variety of options are available for cashouts at casino sites.
Last Updated on September 20, 2023 by John Mehaffey