Pair Plus: a bet on your own three cards
Pair Plus pays when your three cards make a pair or better. It ignores the dealer’s hand. The pay table decides the cost: the common 1-4-6-30-40 table has about a 2.3% edge, and lower tables reach 7% or more.
Reviewed Oct 14, 2026
Answer first
90s| Hand | 1-4-6-30-40 | 1-3-6-30-40 | 1-3-5-30-40 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight flush | 40 to 1 | 40 to 1 | 40 to 1 |
| Three of a kind | 30 to 1 | 30 to 1 | 30 to 1 |
| Straight | 6 to 1 | 6 to 1 | 5 to 1 |
| Flush | 4 to 1 | 3 to 1 | 3 to 1 |
| Pair | 1 to 1 | 1 to 1 | 1 to 1 |
| House edge | About 2.3% | About 7.3% | About 10.1% |
Key numbers
Pair Plus in four numbers
In short
Key takeaways
- Pair Plus is decided only by your three cards.
- The flush pay is the line to check first: 4 to 1 is much better than 3 to 1.
- About three hands in four lose the Pair Plus bet.
- Some tables add a six-card or mini royal bonus with separate pays.
Cheat sheet
Pair Plus winners
Glance the faces — compare in one second.
1Straight flush
Pays 40 to 1
2Straight
Pays 6 to 1 — beats a flush in this game
3Pair
Pays 1 to 1
Hand odds
| Hand | Chance |
|---|---|
| Straight flush | 0.22% |
| Three of a kind | 0.24% |
| Straight | 3.26% |
| Flush | 4.96% |
| Pair | 16.94% |
| No win | 74.39% |
Out of 22,100 possible hands.
Why a straight beats a flush
With three cards, flushes are more common than straights. So the game ranks a straight higher and pays it more.
This differs from five-card poker, which can confuse new players.
Cost per hour at $10
| Pay table | Edge | Hands per hour | Average loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-4-6-30-40 | 2.3% | 50 | About $11.60 |
| 1-3-6-30-40 | 7.3% | 50 | About $36.40 |
| 1-3-5-30-40 | 10.1% | 50 | About $50.50 |
Pay tables vary by casino.
Pair Plus vs Ante
The Ante and Play bets have a combined edge of about 3.4% per Ante, or about 2% of total action. Pair Plus with the best table costs about the same.
Many players bet both.
Sequence
Checking a table
Step 01
Find the placard
Pay table printed.
Step 02
Check the flush pay
4 to 1 is best.
Step 03
Check the straight pay
6 to 1.
Step 04
Bet within budget
Most hands lose.
Online Pair Plus
Online Three Card Poker games list their Pair Plus pays in the help screen. Many use the 1-4-6-30-40 table.
Live dealer games often match land pays.
Floor rules
Pair Plus terms
Know before you sit
- Pair Plus
- Side bet on your own three cards.
- Ante
- The main bet against the dealer.
- Pay table
- The list of payouts.
- Mini royal
- A-K-Q suited.
Progressive versions
Some tables offer a progressive side bet that pays a jackpot for a mini royal or six-card royal. The edge depends on the meter; it is usually high until the jackpot grows large.
Read the progressive placard carefully.
Ante bonus vs Pair Plus
| Hand | Ante bonus (common) | Pair Plus (1-4-6-30-40) |
|---|---|---|
| Straight flush | 5 to 1 | 40 to 1 |
| Three of a kind | 4 to 1 | 30 to 1 |
| Straight | 1 to 1 | 6 to 1 |
The Ante bonus pays even when the dealer wins.
Common mistakes
- Ignoring the pay table
- Edges range from 2% to 10%.
- Thinking a flush beats a straight
- Not here.
- Betting big on Pair Plus
- Most hands lose.
- Confusing it with the six-card bonus
- Different bets.
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
What is Pair Plus?
A Three Card Poker bet that pays on your own pair or better. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Does the dealer’s hand matter?
No. Pair Plus ignores the dealer. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
What is the best pay table?
The common 1-4-6-30-40 table, with about a 2.3% edge. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
02Odds
How often does Pair Plus win?
About 26% of hands. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Why does a straight pay more than a flush?
With three cards, straights are rarer than flushes. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
What is the chance of three of a kind?
About 0.24%, roughly 1 in 425. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
03At the table
Can I bet Pair Plus alone?
At most tables, yes. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Do online games offer Pair Plus?
Yes, with pays shown in the help screen. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Is Pair Plus better than the Ante?
With the best pay table, the cost is similar. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Sources
- Wizard of Odds — Three 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 14, 2026Pair Plus pay tables
- Wizard of Odds — Three Card Poker appendix 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 14, 2026Hand odds
- Nevada Gaming Control Board · accessed Oct 14, 2026Approved games and gaming revenue reports
- National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 14, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER