How to Play Four Card Poker
Four Card Poker is a commonly recommended table game variant alongside Texas hold 'em and Omaha. It has earned its place over time for its entertainment value and unique gameplay mechanics and rules. Players compete against the house and paytables rather than against each other. As a result, every gaming session is well structured. However, if the rules of the game aren't mastered, every wager can result in a loss.
This course explains how to play Four Card Poker like a pro, outlining its rules, gameplay steps, payouts, house edge, and winning strategies.
What is Four Card Poker?
Four Card Poker is a notable poker variant played using a standard 52-card deck in three gameplay modes: Players can wager against the house's dealer, dare to compete against their own hand value, or wager on both cases combined.
The objective of Four Card Poker varies based on the wager placed. When playing against the dealer, the goal is to form a four-card poker hand better than the dealer's. If a bet is placed on paytables, the aim is to have a pair of Aces or better.
From lowest to highest, the Four Card Poker card ranking is: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace. Ace is the highest-ranking card, except in a 4-3-2 Ace sequence.
Four Card Poker Rules
Understanding wagering rules is the first step in learning how to play Four Card Poker. The poker variant has three primary bets: Ante Wager, Aces Up, and Ante-Aces (A combination of the first two).
Ante: Player vs Dealer Rules
The Ante wager kicks off gameplay. Players compete against an assigned dealer to form the best four-card poker hand. However, the dealer's hand always qualifies regardless of the card combinations formed. In simpler terms, there isn't a minimum hand required of the dealer to have when an Ante wager is placed.
Players are dealt 5 face down cards from which they use 4 to form a winning hand, while the dealer does so using four out of six cards. Players are to either fold or place a Play wager upon seeing their cards. Folding means forfeiture of the Ante wager. However, if the Play wager is placed, 1x to 3x the Ante bet size must be wagered.
The Pay and Ante wager is won if the player's hand beats the dealer's hand, or if the hands tie. The payout for both wagers is 1:1. Any other outcome results in a loss.
Additionally, winning the Play and Ante wager triggers Automatic Bonus payouts. The qualifying hands include:
- Four-of-a-Kind
- Straight Flush
- Three-of-a-Kind
Players holding any of the above hands receive the associated payouts, even if the dealer has a better hand.
Aces Up: Player vs Paytable Rules
Aces Up wager is a bet against a paytable, and the winning condition is to have a pair of Aces or better. The dealer's hand doesn't matter.
However, if a player isn't lucky enough to get Pair or Better is not, the hand that contains the highest-ranking card(s) wins.
Combined Bet (Aces Up and Ante) Rules
A combined Aces Up and Ante Bet is a wager on two distinct paytables and, consequently, two different winning conditions:
Ante: Put together a four-card winning poker hand that beats the Dealer's
Aces Up: Get a Pair of Aces or Better.
However, note that a play wager must be placed for the Ante wager to be recognized alongside the Aces Up. The Aces Up wager remains even if the ante bet is forfeited. Players who place the Ante and Aces Up bet are allowed to take a side wager.
6 Card Bonus Side Bet Rules
There is a 6 Card Bonus side bet in Four Card Poker. The wager returns players to the standard poker gameplay: form the best five-card hand.
From a box, players will pick an extra card in addition to the initial five cards given by the dealer to make a winning five-card poker hand.
How to Play Four Card Poker
Play Four Card poker with ease, following these steps:
1. Place an Ante wager to play against the dealer and receive five initial cards
2. Fold or place a Play Wager (one to three times the Ante bet size). You win by forming a high-ranking four-card hand.
3. Place a bet on ACES UP to play your hand against a paytable. You win if you have Aces or better.
4. If you choose to play the Aces Up and Ante bet, and you win, you get automatic bonus payouts. Additionally, you can place the 6 Card Bonus side wager as well. You win by forming a winning five-card hand.
5. The type of wager placed determines your payouts, which the dealer will hand over to you at the end of the game.
Four Card Poker Payout Tables and House Edge
Four Card Poker house edge varies based on the type of wager placed: 2.79% for Ante bet, 3.89% for Aces Up bet, and 1.32% for a combination Ante and the play bet when played optimally.
Initial Wagers Payout
- Ante bet pays 1:1
- Play wager pays 1:1
Automatic Bonus Payouts
| Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Four-of-a-Kind | 25:1 |
| Straight Flush | 20:1 |
| Three-of-a-Kind | 20:1 |
Aces Up Payouts
| Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Four-of-a-Kind | 50:1 |
| Straight Flush | 40:1 |
| Three-of-a-Kind | 8:1 |
| Flush | 5:1 |
| Straight | 4:1 |
| Two Pair | 3:1 |
| Pair of Aces | 1:1 |
6 Card Bonus Payouts
| Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| 6 Card Royal Flush (All suits) | Up to $100,000 |
| 5 Card Royal Flush | 1000:1 |
| 5 Card Straight Flush | 200:1 |
| Four-of-a-Kind | 50:1 |
| Full House | 20:1 |
| 5 Card Flush | 15:1 |
| 5 Card Straight | 10:1 |
| Three-of-a-Kind | 5:1 |
Winning Strategies for Four Card Poker
The strategy focus when playing Four Card Poker is to place the right Play wager size (1x to 3x the ante bet).
Beginner Friendly Strategies
- If you have a pair of tens or higher, bet 3x
- If you have a pair of twos to nines, bet 1x
- Fold other cards.
Intermediate to Advanced Strategies
- A Pair of 9s, 10s against a higher-ranking dealer's upcard wager 1x
- A Pair of 8s against a higher-ranking dealer's 2 upcard wager 1x
- A Pair of Js, Qs, Ks against a dealer's lower upcard bet 3x
- A Pair of Aces or better against any dealer's upcard bet 3x
Play Four Card Poker Like a Pro
How to play Four Card Poker is often misunderstood. But if you follow the rules, the highlighted gameplay steps, and the winning strategies above, you will play like a pro. Also, manage your bankroll and do not fold when you can still put up a fight to avoid losing your Ante wager. Good luck, and follow Vegas-Aces for more game guides!
FAQs
How many bonuses are in Four Card Poker?
There are two bonus wagers in Four Card Poker: 6 Card Bonus (a side bet) and an Automatic Bonus (for winning the Play and Ante wager).
What is the best strategy for Four Card Poker?
The simple strategy for playing Four Card Poker is to:
- Bet 3x if you have a pair of tens or higher, bet 3x
- Bet 1x if you have a pair of twos to nines, bet 1x
- Fold other cards.
Who wins a tie in Four Card Poker?
In Four Card Poker, the player wins all ties and receives a 1:1 payout.