Two Way Monte

Two-Way Monte begins by each player placing an ante wager and an optional side bet. The dealer then deals six cards to each player and four cards to him- or herself, all face down. The players must create two three-card poker hands, a high hand and a low hand.

If a player doesn’t feel his or her hand is a winner, he or she may choose to fold and forfeit the ante wager and optional side bet. If the player chooses to continue, he or she must make an additional wager one to three times the amount of his or her ante wager. The dealer then reveals his or her cards and makes the best three-card hand out of his or her four cards.

• If the player’s low hand outranks the dealer’s hand, the player wins even money on all his or her wagers

• If the dealer’s hand outranks the player’s low hand, the player loses all wagers, except the optional side bet

• If the player’s low hand ties the dealer’s hand, the hand is considered a push


Ante Bonus:
If the player’s low hand is a Flush or better, the player will win a bonus payout based on his or her ante wager, even if the player loses or pushes to the dealer’s hand.

Straight Flush 100 to 1
Three-of-a-Kind 25 to 1
Straight 4 to 1
Flush 1 to 1


Optional Low Hand Side Bet
Players can place an optional side bet. This bet is paid if the player’s low hand is a pair or better.

Straight Flush 200 to 1
Three-of-a-Kind 100 to 1
Straight 10 to 1
Flush 3 to 1
Pair 1 to 1

I already checked the Wizard of Odd's website, and did not see an analysis for this game.

Seems confusing...the high hand doesn't come into play at all? So what's the point of it? Just put your best cards in the low hand, right?

Unless you made a typo.

Quote: AcesAndEights

Seems confusing...the high hand doesn't come into play at all? So what's the point of it? Just put your best cards in the low hand, right?

Unless you made a typo.

The high hand is probably just a device to throttle the low hand. The strategy seems simple. Figure out what the average dealer hand is and then bet the full amount if you can beat it with your low hand. Bet thethe minimum or surrender when your low hand falls below certain levels. As with all side bets, don't bet it.

My understanding is that this game was invented by Johnny Moss of tournament poker fame. MGM Grand Detroit is the ONLY place that spreads the game. It's very deceptive, since it looks like Pai Gow Poker, but the OP is correct; the high hand must beat the low hand, and BOTH must BEAT the dealer. The purpose is as stated to thwart setting the highest out of six cards against a dealer's four cards.

This is a crazy game but it must do well there, as MGM has had it there since it was in the temporary facility.

You get six cards but you have to take your at least your best singleton card and put it in a high hand that you can't use. The dealer gets four cards vs. your six, but they can use their best three against your 2nd-4th cards. It is interesting concept, but the complete discard of your best card(s) is going to be a negative for a lot of players.

Imagine hands like K J J 9 7 3 with no three card flushes (maybe flushes/straights will be the hands that help you out the most as your up top hand). Guess you put JJ3 up top and have K97 as the hand that plays against the dealer. Don't think having you bet determined by your second best Three Card Hand is going to be much fun. I can see the bitchin' already with the great cards players are forced to let languish in the meaningless top hand.

Ultimate Three Card Poker Face Up gives you the same multiple raise of ante potential with a twist on basic Three Card Poker if that is what the market is looking for.

Here is the link to Shufflemaster's Ultimate Three Card Poker

Sorry to wake up an old thread but I just saw this game at the MGM Grand in Detroit. However, it was closed at the time of my early morning visit.

Between this looking like a complicated analysis and one placement only, I will probably give it a pass. I do know somebody in management at that casino and will ask them if they have anything on it they care to share.

Quote: Wizard

Sorry to wake up an old thread but I just saw this game at the MGM Grand in Detroit. However, it was closed at the time of my early morning visit.

Between this looking like a complicated analysis and one placement only, I will probably give it a pass. I do know somebody in management at that casino and will ask them if they have anything on it they care to share.

Strategy for even a novice should be easy. Make the best low possible three card hand while having a higher three card hand. [Edit: i forgot you can fold in this game instead of making a play bet. Therefore you'll need a minimum hand to bet it].

I've only ONCE saw a double straight flush.

P.S. what brought you to Detroit?

Quote: Ibeatyouraces

P.S. what brought you to Detroit?

The Greektown casino and sister Jack properties in Cleveland and Cincinnati invited me.

Quote: Wizard

The Greektown casino and sister Jack properties in Cleveland and Cincinnati invited me.

If I may ask,were you doing consulting for the Jack casinos ?

Quote: Wizard

The Greektown casino and sister Jack properties in Cleveland and Cincinnati invited me.

Was just talking to a bartender at GT yesterday about when "Jack" was going to be added to the name. It was supposed to happen last year. Now they're talking sometime next year.