How to Play Four Card Poker: Rules, Strategy & Odds
Four Card Poker takes the popular Three Card Poker format and adds a twist—you receive five cards to make your best four-card hand, while the dealer gets six cards. This extra card advantage for the dealer is offset by generous payouts and the ability to bet up to 3x your ante when you have a strong hand.
This guide covers everything you need to play Four Card Poker: hand rankings, optimal strategy, and how the game compares to its three-card cousin.
Table of Contents
- What Is Four Card Poker?
- How to Play
- Four-Card Hand Rankings
- Payouts
- Optimal Strategy
- Odds and House Edge
- The Aces Up Side Bet
- Comparing to Three Card Poker
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
What Is Four Card Poker?
Four Card Poker is a casino table game where you compete against the dealer using four-card poker hands. Unlike Three Card Poker, you receive five cards to choose your best four, and you can bet up to three times your ante when you have a strong hand.
Game Origins
Four Card Poker was invented by Roger Snow and introduced by Shuffle Master (now Scientific Games) in 2004. It built on the success of Three Card Poker while adding strategic depth through variable betting options.
Key Differences from Three Card Poker
| Feature | Three Card Poker | Four Card Poker |
|---|---|---|
| Player cards | 3 | 5 (use best 4) |
| Dealer cards | 3 | 6 (uses best 4) |
| Play bet | 1x ante | 1x to 3x ante |
| Dealer qualifies | Q-high or better | Always plays |
How to Play
Four Card Poker follows a straightforward structure with one key decision point.
The Table Layout
The table has betting areas for:
- Ante: Required to play
- Play: 1x, 2x, or 3x the ante (made after seeing your cards)
- Aces Up: Optional side bet
Step-by-Step Gameplay
1. Place Your Bets Put chips on the ante circle. Optionally, place an Aces Up side bet.
2. Receive Your Cards You receive five cards face down. The dealer receives six cards—one face up, five face down.
3. Evaluate Your Hand Look at your five cards and determine your best four-card poker hand. Also note the dealer's face-up card.
4. Make Your Decision
- Fold: Surrender your ante and exit
- Play 1x: Make a play bet equal to your ante
- Play 2x: Make a play bet equal to twice your ante
- Play 3x: Make a play bet equal to three times your ante
5. Dealer Reveals The dealer turns over their remaining cards and selects their best four-card hand.
6. Determine Winner
- If your hand beats the dealer's, ante and play bets pay according to the pay table
- If the dealer's hand beats yours, you lose both bets
- If hands tie, both bets push
Important Rules
- Dealer always qualifies: Unlike Three Card Poker, there is no dealer qualification requirement. The dealer plays every hand.
- Five cards, use four: Your fifth card never plays. Select your best four-card combination.
- Dealer has six cards: The dealer's extra card gives them an advantage, which is why you can bet up to 3x.
Four-Card Hand Rankings
With four cards, hand rankings differ from five-card poker:
| Rank | Hand | Example | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Four of a Kind | K♠ K♥ K♦ K♣ | 1 in 4,165 |
| 2 | Straight Flush | 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥ | 1 in 2,598 |
| 3 | Three of a Kind | Q♠ Q♥ Q♦ 7♣ | 1 in 47 |
| 4 | Flush | A♦ J♦ 8♦ 3♦ | 1 in 95 |
| 5 | Straight | J♣ 10♠ 9♥ 8♦ | 1 in 155 |
| 6 | Two Pair | J♠ J♥ 5♦ 5♣ | 1 in 21 |
| 7 | One Pair | A♠ A♥ K♦ 9♣ | 1 in 2.4 |
| 8 | High Card | A♠ Q♦ 9♣ 4♥ | 1 in 1.6 |
Key Differences from Five-Card Poker
- Four of a kind beats straight flush: With only four cards, quads are harder to make than straight flushes.
- No full house: You cannot have a full house with only four cards.
- Two pair is much stronger: Relative to other hands, two pair is more significant in four-card poker.
Straight and Flush Rules
- Straights: Four consecutive cards regardless of suit. Ace can be high (A-K-Q-J) or low (4-3-2-A).
- Flushes: Four cards of the same suit.
Payouts
Ante Bonus
The ante pays a bonus regardless of whether you beat the dealer:
| Hand | Ante Bonus |
|---|---|
| Four of a Kind | 25:1 |
| Straight Flush | 20:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 2:1 |
You receive the ante bonus even if the dealer beats you.
Play Bet
The play bet pays 1:1 when you beat the dealer. No bonus payouts on the play bet.
Losing Hands
If the dealer beats you:
- You still receive the ante bonus if you have three of a kind or better
- You lose both ante and play bets
- Side bets are settled independently
Optimal Strategy
Four Card Poker strategy centers on two decisions: fold/play and bet sizing.
Basic Strategy
Always play (never fold) with:
- Any pair or better
Fold with:
- Less than a pair
Bet sizing:
- Bet 3x with a pair of 10s or better
- Bet 1x with any other pair
Detailed Strategy
The complete optimal strategy considers hand strength:
| Your Hand | Action |
|---|---|
| Pair of Aces | Bet 3x |
| Pair of Kings | Bet 3x |
| Pair of Queens | Bet 3x |
| Pair of Jacks | Bet 3x |
| Pair of 10s | Bet 3x |
| Pair of 9s | Bet 1x |
| Pair of 8s | Bet 1x |
| Pair of 7s | Bet 1x |
| Pair of 6s | Bet 1x |
| Pair of 5s | Bet 1x |
| Pair of 4s | Bet 1x |
| Pair of 3s | Bet 1x |
| Pair of 2s | Bet 1x |
| No pair | Fold |
Why This Strategy Works
The dealer's extra card (six vs. your five) means the dealer makes a pair or better about 75% of the time. Folding non-pairs avoids losing 4x your ante in a disadvantaged situation.
Betting 3x with strong pairs maximizes value when you are favored to win.
Common Mistakes
Playing with high cards but no pair: A-K-Q-J unsuited should fold. Without a pair, you are a significant underdog.
Betting 3x with small pairs: A pair of 3s should be played, but only at 1x. Small pairs win just often enough to play but not enough to maximize.
Folding small pairs: Even a pair of 2s should be played at 1x. The math supports it.
Odds and House Edge
Four Card Poker offers competitive odds for a casino poker game.
House Edge
Optimal strategy: 2.76% house edge
This assumes correct fold/play and bet sizing decisions.
Probability of Outcomes
| Outcome | Probability |
|---|---|
| Player wins | 35.4% |
| Dealer wins | 52.2% |
| Tie | 12.4% |
Why the Dealer Wins More Often
The dealer uses the best four cards from six dealt. You use the best four from five. This one-card advantage significantly increases the dealer's chances of making a strong hand.
The ability to bet 3x with strong hands partially offsets this disadvantage.
Expected Value by Bet Size
| Situation | Optimal Bet | Expected Value |
|---|---|---|
| Four of a Kind | 3x | Highly positive |
| Straight Flush | 3x | Highly positive |
| Three of a Kind | 3x | Positive |
| Two Pair | 3x | Positive |
| Pair of 10s+ | 3x | Positive |
| Pair of 2s-9s | 1x | Slightly positive |
| No pair | Fold | Less negative than playing |
The Aces Up Side Bet
The Aces Up bet pays based on your hand strength regardless of the dealer's hand.
Aces Up Payouts
| Hand | Typical Payout |
|---|---|
| Four of a Kind | 50:1 |
| Straight Flush | 30:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 9:1 |
| Flush | 6:1 |
| Straight | 4:1 |
| Two Pair | 3:1 |
| Pair of Aces | 1:1 |
Note: Pay tables vary by casino. Some offer better payouts on premium hands.
Aces Up House Edge
The house edge on Aces Up varies significantly based on the pay table:
- Best pay tables: 2.8%
- Average pay tables: 4-6%
- Worst pay tables: 8%+
Check the specific pay table before playing.
Should You Play Aces Up?
The Aces Up bet is independent of the main game. If the pay table is favorable (2-3% house edge), it is a reasonable bet. If the pay table is poor (6%+), skip it.
Unlike most side bets, Aces Up with a good pay table can have a lower house edge than many table games.
Comparing to Three Card Poker
Many players wonder which game is better.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Aspect | Three Card Poker | Four Card Poker |
|---|---|---|
| House Edge (main game) | 3.37% | 2.76% |
| Strategy Complexity | Simple | Moderate |
| Bet Flexibility | Fixed 1x | Variable 1-3x |
| Dealer Qualifies | Yes (Q-high) | No (always plays) |
| Cards to Player | 3 | 5 |
| Ante Bonus | On pair+ | On trips+ |
Which Should You Play?
Choose Four Card Poker if:
- You want lower house edge
- You enjoy variable bet sizing
- You like more strategic decisions
Choose Three Card Poker if:
- You prefer simpler gameplay
- You enjoy dealer qualification drama
- You like the Pair Plus side bet
Both games offer reasonable entertainment value. Four Card Poker has a slight mathematical edge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Four Card Poker offers an engaging middle ground between the simplicity of Three Card Poker and more complex casino poker games. The variable betting option adds strategy without overwhelming new players.
Key takeaways:
- House edge: 2.76% with optimal strategy
- Play any pair, fold with less
- Bet 3x with pair of 10s or better, 1x with smaller pairs
- Aces Up side bet can be decent with good pay tables
For best results:
- Learn the basic strategy (it is simple)
- Check Aces Up pay tables before betting
- Manage bankroll for variance (you will lose more hands than you win)
- Enjoy the strategic elements
Four Card Poker is a solid choice for players who want poker-style action with reasonable odds and straightforward decisions. The dealer's card advantage keeps you engaged, while the 3x betting option rewards strong hands.
Good luck at the tables.