How to Play Crazy 4 Poker
There is only one word to describe Crazy 4 Poker, and that is "Crazy!" The poker variant demands fewer winning hands. Instead of forming a five-card hand (the standard) to win, only four cards are required. Also, players compete against the dealer rather than each other, engaging in a battle that primarily involves wagers.
This article provides details on how to play Crazy 4 Poker, looking at its rules, payouts, house edge, and winning strategies.
Crazy 4 Poker
Crazy 4 Poker (C4P) is a successful poker game variant played using a standard 52-card deck.
It is similar to three-card poker, but with specific rules. Players play against a dealer, hoping to form a four-card hand that wins. Cards used during gameplay rank in the following order: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2.
Crazy 4 Poker Rules
Before jumping into the gameplay steps of Crazy 4 Poker, here are the rules you must know.
Wagering Rules
There are four wagers in Crazy 4 Poker: Ante, Super Bonus, Play (Raise), and Queen wagers. For gameplay to begin, players must place two equal mandatory bets: the Ante and the Super Bonus. The dealer then deals five cards face down to each player, and the house also receives five cards.
Afterwards, players look at their cards to decide whether to fold or place a "Play" wager, which must match the Ante bet. However, any player with a pair of Aces or better can raise the bet size, placing up to 3x the Ante bet. Also, the Play Bet must be played in order for the Super Bonus to win.
Players proceed to form their best four-card hand from the five given cards. Since only four are needed, a fifth must be discarded. The dealer's four-card hand is then revealed and compared with the players' hands.
Winning Rules
- A dealer must have King-high or better to have a qualifying hand
- An Ante Push (no action) occurs if the dealer's hand doesn't qualify
- A Play Push occurs if a player and the dealer have identical winning hands
- A player wins the Play and Ante Bet by beating the dealer's qualifying hand
- A player losses the Play and Ante Bet if the dealer has a better qualifying hand
- A player wins the Super Bonus for having a Straight or better. However, a push occurs if the player has less than a straight but beats the dealer's qualifying hand.
- A player wins the Queens Up side bet by having a pair of Queens or better.
Due to the game's objective, the best possible hand in Crazy 4 Poker is four of a kind, as against a royal flush in the traditional game.
In order of strength, below are the Crazy 4 Poker hand rankings:
- Four of a kind
- Straight flush (four identical cards of similar suits in a sequence)
- Three of a kind
- Flush (four cards of the same suit)
- Straight (four cards in sequence)
- Two pair
- Pair
- High Card
Four aces is the highest four-of-a-kind that can be formed, and two 2s is the lowest possible Pair hand.
How to Play and Win Crazy 4 Poker
Here is a simple step guide on how to play Crazy 4 Poker:
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Place an equal Ante and Super Bonus Bet.
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Check your five face-down cards and decide whether to fold or place a Play wager.
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Form a four-card winning hand.
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Wait for the reveal of the qualifying hand to know your winning odds.
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You will receive a payout if:
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You win the Play and Ante Bet by beating the dealer's qualifying hand
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You win the Super bonus for having a Straight or better
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The dealer does not have a qualifying hand, i.e, King-high or better
Payouts and House Edge
Crazy 4 Poker Payouts vary based on the type of bet placed. And house edge is about 3.42% on Ante/Play bets.
| Wager | Payouts |
|---|---|
| Ante | 1:1 |
| Play bet | 1:1 |
| Play bet (3x Ante bet) | 3:1 |
Super Bonus Payout
To get a Super Bonus payout, a straight or better is required.
| Winning Hands | Payout |
|---|---|
| Four Aces | 200:1 |
| Four of a Kind (2-K) | 30:1 |
| Straight Flush | 15:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 2:1 |
| Flush | 1.5:1 |
| Straight | 1:1 |
| Push | 0 |
Queens Up
To get a Queens Up Bet Payout, a pair of queens or better is required. House edge is about 4.53%. There are several pay tables available for this side bet.
| Winning Hands | Payout #1 | Payout #2 | Payout #3 | Payout #4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four of a Kind | 50:1 | 50:1 | 50:1 | 50:1 |
| Straight Flush | 30:1 | 40:1 | 30:1 | 40:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 9:1 | 8:1 | 8:1 | 7:1 |
| Flush | 4:1 | 4:1 | 4:1 | 4:1 |
| Straight | 3:1 | 3:1 | 3:1 | 3:1 |
| Two Pair | 2:1 | 2:1 | 2:1 | 2:1 |
| Pair of Queens or Better | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 |
Winning Strategies
The simple strategies for playing Crazy 4 Poker include:
- Raise big, when you have a pair of aces or higher when allowed
- Raise small when you have a K-Q-8-4 or higher.
- If you don't have the above hands, fold.
Final Thoughts
Looking at how to play Crazy 4 Poker, it's a tricky game, starting with its mandatory bets. And if you don't have a winning hand, you lose both the Ante and Play Wager. Also, its significant payouts are linked to the Super Bonus bet, for which you need a straight or better to win. The goal is to balance your wagers, winning the best ones and letting go of the others.
FAQs
How do you win Crazy 4 Poker?
Win Crazy 4 Card Poker game by forming a better four-card hand from five cards dealt when compared to the dealer's.
What are the best Crazy 4 Poker strategies?
The best crazy 4 Poker strategies are to: Raise big with a pair of aces or higher when allowed, Raise small with K-Q-8-4 or higher, and fold if you don't have either hand.
Who wins in Crazy 4 Poker?
In Crazy 4 Poker, the player with a hand higher than whatever qualifying hand the dealer hands wins.
What does it mean for the dealer's hand to qualify in Crazy 4 Poker?
A dealer with at least a King-high is said to have a "qualify" or "open" hand.
How many side bets are in Crazy 4 Poker
Crazy 4 Poker has only one side bet, the Queen Up wager.