What is Four Cards Poker and How to Play it?

If you have ever visited an online casino, you have probably come across different kinds of poker games. There are a lot of variations and in case you plan to become a professional, you need to know about each of them.

One variation of poker is Four Card Poker. It was created by Roger Snow. Unlike many other types of poker, in this one, you don’t play against other people. Instead, each player has to compete against the house. So, your main goal is to make a hand that is better than the dealer’s. After placing their wagers, each participant gets 5 face-down cards. The same goes for the dealer, however, they also get 1 face-up card.

Types of Bets

Once you start playing Four Card Poker, you will have the chance to place 2 kinds of bets. You must wager either on Ante Bet or Aces Up. You can also wager on both. Aces Up is a side bet that wagers on your hand having a pair of aces or greater. If you hold a pair of aces, you will be rewarded 1 to 1. If you have a superior hand, you will be paid out at a higher rate.

Players lose their Aces Up bet if they do not make a pair of aces or better. The Aces Up wager is unrelated to the ante, therefore it doesn’t matter what the dealer has. You’re merely wagering on the strength of your own hand.

You should examine your card after placing the Ante Bet. Then you have to examine the dealer’s face-up card. After that, make a decision on whether you wish to play or forfeit. In case you forfeit, you push your cards to the dealer and forfeit the Ante Bet. Then you must put a bet on “Participate” if you wish to continue playing.

This variant differs from Three Card Online Poker in that the play wager can only be equal to the ante. Players in Four Card Poker can stake up to 3 times their ante. If your hand succeeds in beating the dealer, you will be paid 1 to 1. If there is a tie, then congratulations, you win.

Placing Bets on Both

When playing this variation of online poker at an online casino, you also have the possibility to bet on both – Ante Bet and Aces Up. If a player does this and does not place a Play wager, they will lose Ante but keep the Aces Up.

When players place all their bets, the activity comes to an end. The dealer then shows all 6 cards and chooses the greatest feasible four-card combination from them.

Differences Between Online Poker and Four Cards Poker

Now, let’s discuss the main differences between regular online poker and four cards poker you can discover at poker sites.

Qualifying Hand

In several poker games at online casinos, the dealer should have a qualifying hand, otherwise, they won’t be able to play. Three Card Poker requires the dealer to have queen-high or better. If not, a player’s ante bets are paid out at a 1:1 ratio, but “Play” wagers are refunded.

When it comes to Four Cards Poker,  you don’t have to worry about any of it. There are no eligibility requirements. Because each hand plays, you’ll always be able to participate in action if you want to.

Jackpot

At some poker sites, card games offer progressive wagers. Thankfully, the same goes for Four Cards Poker. You can do it through an optional $1 side wager in which you try to make 3-of-a-Kind or better to win.

If you are extremely lucky and get a Royal Flush, you’ll win the jackpot, which is usually in the 5 or 6-figure range.

Playing Strategy

If you are a beginner in online poker, it might be the best idea to employ a strategy. When it comes to Four Cards Poker, you can choose from 3 different options. Players can play 3 times their Ante Bet with a pair of 10s or higher. They can also play 1 time your Ante Bet with a pair of 9s or lower. And finally, it is also possible to forfeit the bet in case you can’t make at least a pair.  

If you’re a little more experienced, you may fine-tune your method. For example, suppose you had a pair of face cards such as kings, queens, and jacks. When the dealer’s revealed card is lower than your pair, you may only wager 3x. If it’s larger, such as an ace, you may try decreasing it to 1x or 2x.

That’s everything you need to know about Four Cards Poker. Make sure you play for fun and gamble responsibly.