Four Card Poker: best four cards win
In Four Card Poker you get five cards and keep your best four. The dealer gets six cards and keeps the best four. You bet an Ante, then fold or raise one to three times the Ante.
Reviewed Oct 15, 2026
Answer first
90s- 01You get 5 cards and the dealer gets 6, but both use only the best 4.
- 02After looking, you fold or make a Play bet of 1x, 2x or 3x the Ante.
- 03Ties go to the dealer, which is where much of the house edge comes from.
Key numbers
Four Card Poker in four numbers
In short
Key takeaways
- The dealer always qualifies, so every Play bet is live.
- Three of a kind beats a straight and a flush here.
- The Ante Bonus pays on big hands even if the dealer wins.
- Aces Up is a separate side bet on your own hand.
On the felt
Picking your best four cards
Your five cards
Keep the three nines and the king
Dealer’s best four of six
A pair of aces
Result
Three of a kind wins
You drop your worst card; the dealer drops two.
Four-card hand rankings
| Rank | Hand | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Four of a kind | 9-9-9-9 |
| 2 | Straight flush | 5-6-7-8 of hearts |
| 3 | Three of a kind | Q-Q-Q-4 |
| 4 | Flush | Four spades |
| 5 | Straight | J-Q-K-A |
| 6 | Two pair | 8-8-3-3 |
| 7 | One pair | A-A-K-7 |
| 8 | High card | A-K-10-6 |
With four cards, trips are rarer than a flush or straight.
How a round works
You place an Ante and, if you want, the Aces Up side bet. The dealer gives each player five cards face down and takes six. You look at your hand and choose your best four cards.
You then fold and lose the Ante, or place a Play bet of one, two or three times the Ante. The dealer reveals and makes the best four-card hand from six. Higher hand wins both bets at even money; a tie goes to the dealer.
Pay table
Common Ante Bonus paytable
Glance before you bet
| Hand | Pays |
|---|---|
| Four of a kind | 25 to 1 |
| Straight flush | 40 to 1 |
| Three of a kind | 2 to 1 |
| Lower hands | No bonus |
Some casinos use other numbers; read the felt.
Why ties matter
Because the dealer sees six cards and keeps four, the dealer often makes a stronger hand than you. Ties also go to the dealer, so a pair of kings against a pair of kings with the same kickers loses.
The Ante Bonus and your choice to raise 3x on strong hands are what give some of that back.
Sequence
Simple raise rule
Step 01
Pair of 10s or better
Raise 3x the Ante.
Step 02
Pair of 3s to 9s
Raise 1x the Ante.
Step 03
Pair of 2s or no pair
Fold.
Step 04
Three of a kind or better
Always raise 3x.
Step 05
Never raise 2x
1x or 3x is better.
About the strategy
The simple rule above comes close to perfect play. Expert charts adjust for kickers, for example raising 3x with a pair of 9s holding a high card, but the gain is tiny for most players.
The bigger mistake is folding too often. Pairs from 3s up are worth a Play bet.
Floor rules
Four Card Poker terms
Know before you sit
- Ante
- The first, required bet.
- Play bet
- 1x to 3x the Ante after you look.
- Ante Bonus
- Extra pay on trips or better.
- Aces Up
- Side bet on a pair of aces or better.
Four Card vs Three Card Poker
Both games come from the same designer and share the Ante, Play and bonus idea. In Three Card Poker the dealer must qualify with queen-high and you can only raise 1x. Four Card Poker drops the qualifier and lets you raise up to 3x.
That extra raise rewards good hands, which is why the right raise rule matters more here.
Rough hand chances (your best four of five)
| Hand | About |
|---|---|
| Four of a kind | 1 in 4,165 |
| Straight flush | 1 in 1,200 |
| Three of a kind | 1 in 45 |
| Pair or better | About 1 in 2 |
Approximate; for a feel of how often big pays land.
Common mistakes
- Raising 2x
- Use 1x or 3x.
- Folding small pairs
- Pairs of 3s or better play.
- Ranking a flush above trips
- Trips rank higher here.
- Ignoring the paytable
- Bonus pays vary.
Keep reading
Related pages
Go play
Where to play in Las Vegas
Tap a resort — each row opens that casino’s White Gambling page (hours, game mix, floor facts). Venues with this game in official counts, sorted high to low.
Open a casino page
Real listings · not adsAfter the 90 seconds
Questions before and after you play
A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.
01Basics
How many cards do I get?
Five cards. You use your best four. The dealer gets six and also uses four. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Does the dealer need to qualify?
No. The dealer always plays, so every Play bet is in action. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Who wins ties?
The dealer wins ties on the Ante and Play bets. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
02Betting
How big is the Play bet?
One, two or three times your Ante, your choice after looking at your cards. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
When do I raise 3x?
With a pair of 10s or better, and always with three of a kind or better. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Is the Ante Bonus automatic?
Yes. It pays on qualifying hands even if you lose to the dealer. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
03Side bet
What is Aces Up?
A side bet that pays if your best four cards hold a pair of aces or better. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Is Aces Up worth it?
It usually has a higher house edge than the main game. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Can I play Aces Up alone?
Most casinos require an Ante as well. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Sources
- Wizard of Odds — Four Card Poker Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry)The gaming industry’s standard reference for casino-game math, by actuary Michael Shackleford. Not an official registry; our calculators compute these numbers independently. · accessed Oct 15, 2026Rules, odds and house edge
- Nevada Gaming Control Board · accessed Oct 15, 2026Approved games and gaming revenue reports
- UNLV Center for Gaming Research Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Research library on casino games and gambling
- National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER