3 card vs 4 card poker

I haven't played either game yet, but have been reading up on them at Wizard of Odds. My question is which would be more advantageous to play? Thanks.

Quote: Paul

I haven't played either game yet, but have been reading up on them at Wizard of Odds. My question is which would be more advantageous to play? Thanks.

LOL, neither. Both depend on variance for your bang-for-buck factor. Either you hit a big hand, or you bleed dry. Both games depend greatly on which pay table is in effect to determine how quickly you bleed before either hitting or busting.

Don't forget about Crazy Four Poker. You can play a sim of it here: crazy four online. It will also track your stats for you. Once there, you will see along the top of the page links for sims for 3 Card, Caribbean, and Let it Ride.

House edge is approximately the same but 4CP has a much higher variance since you can raise from 1-3x your ante, that's really the only difference along with the corresponding side bets. I went through a very short 3CP stage and let me just say it's not worth it. I mean I'll give the traditional "you can't do anything to overcome the HA" - but in these games all you do is follow a (somewhat) easy strategy and watch the money leave your fingertips.

So is it better to stick with blackjack when I need a break from regular poker?

That's been my decision, after some experimentation.

I really like Pai Gow Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold'em, but they both mess up my perception of hand value when it's time to get back to the poker room.

I've never played 4 card, but I've actually had quite a bit of luck with 3 card poker. The main suggestion I would make if you play 3 card is to NOT play the pairs plus. That will bleed you dry very quickly, because even when you're winning on a lot of hands you're still having money taken away from you, and you just don't hit it often enough to make it worthwhile unless you just happen to hit a major lucky streak. I'm currently up about $300-$400 on that game over the past 4-5 months (which is the total amount of time I've played it), and I think it's mainly a combination of being lucky enough to get some good cards, and also not play the pairs plus and so not losing money even when I was winning hands.

Quote: ahiromu

House edge is approximately the same but 4CP has a much higher variance since you can raise from 1-3x your ante, that's really the only difference along with the corresponding side bets. I went through a very short 3CP stage and let me just say it's not worth it. I mean I'll give the traditional "you can't do anything to overcome the HA" - but in these games all you do is follow a (somewhat) easy strategy and watch the money leave your fingertips.

With the right dealer, 3CP is VERY beatable.

Ibeat is correct if the 3CP dealer is revealing a hole card.

The pay tables matter. For 3CP, the 1-3-6 pay table is 7.1 to 7.3 percent house advantage, worse than the 6.1 PERCENT for the worst aces up bet. The Ante bet is 3.37 percent. If you can find 1-4-6 (HA 2.1 percent), then that's the game to play.

4 card is similar with an ante around 3.4 percent.

I would avoid all Aces up and Pairs Plus with the crappy pay tables (1-3-6 for 3 card, 1-3-4-5-7 for 4 card) and look for 1-4-6 3CP and 1-3-4-5-8 4 card.

Expect high variance on both games, more so on 4 Card. So, if you are going to play, bring a healthy bankroll, or have a strategy for a loss limit.

The newest 3 Card tables have hands that come out flush with the felt; it is impossible to peek.

You should avoid the aces up or pairs plus period! Also do not play the $1 bonus on the 3CP game unless it is very high, $11,520+. Even at that level, we avoid it.