Rules, Strategies and Payouts of Four Card Poker

This game is very similar to three card poker but as the name suggests four cards are dealt. It was discovered by Roger Snow. Ante can be raised up to three times by the player and there is no qualifying hand for the dealer.

A player can bet on “Aces Up” or “Ante” or both. As the game starts, player is dealt with 5 cards with the dealer is dealt with an additional card. Dealer and Player both have to pick up 4 cards that make their highest hand. The only advantage dealer is having one extra card than the player. Four card poker are the two games combined in a one.

Rules

1. There are two combined games “Aces Up” and “Ante”.
2. Dealer is dealt with 6 cards while player is dealt with 5 cards. Five cards are face down with 1 face up card of the total six cards of dealer.
3. Player can see their hand and the dealer’s sixth face up card and it is up to him whether he would fold his Ante or Raise it.
4. All the bets would be cancelled once player decide to Fold.
5. Players can Raise up to three times their Ante and at least an amount equal to Ante wager.
6. Best 4 cards making High Rank Hand is kept by the player.
7. Four out of Six cards would be selected by the dealer and turn up by him after all the decision have been made by players.
8. Higher hand wins. Winner is decided by comparing player and dealer hand.
9. Player having lower hand than dealer would result in loss of Raise and Ante.
10. There would be even money payout if the player wins.
11. Hitting a hand at least Three of a Kind by player would award him in Bonus regardless of dealers hand.

Strategy

There is no ideal strategy but a complex one has been developed with Optimal Play. House Edge of 3.36% is on the initial bet on Ante.
1. Fold the bet if there is Pair of 2’s or less.
2. Raise the bet 1x if there is hand between pair of 3’s to 9’s.
3. Raise the bet 3x times if player have hand of 10’s or better.

Analysis of Ace up

Dealer’s hand would not affect the Aces up. Payout will be given according to Aces up table if player has pair of Aces or better. Aces Payout would be given even if the player lose bet on Ante.