Three Card Poker 6 Card Bonus: a side bet on the best five of six
The 6 Card Bonus uses your three cards plus the dealer’s three to make the best five-card poker hand. Three of a kind or better pays, up to 1,000 to 1 for a royal flush.
Reviewed Oct 14, 2026
Answer first
90s| Hand | Pays (common table) |
|---|---|
| Royal flush | 1,000 to 1 |
| Straight flush | 200 to 1 |
| Four of a kind | 50 to 1 |
| Full house | 25 to 1 |
| Flush | 20 to 1 |
| Straight | 10 to 1 |
| Three of a kind | 5 to 1 |
Key numbers
6 Card Bonus in four numbers
In short
Key takeaways
- The bet is settled on the best five of six cards, no matter how the main game goes.
- About one hand in five wins something, mostly three of a kind or straights.
- Its edge is higher than the main ante-play game.
- Pay tables vary; a lower flush or straight pay raises the edge.
On the felt
Building a 6 Card Bonus hand
Your cards
Pair of kings
Dealer cards
Adds a king and a 7
Best five
Full house — pays 25 to 1
How often each hand appears (approx.)
| Hand | About 1 in |
|---|---|
| Royal flush | 20,000 |
| Straight flush | 2,500 |
| Four of a kind | 600 |
| Full house | 35 |
| Flush | 55 |
| Straight | 24 |
| Three of a kind | 16 |
Rounded figures for six random cards.
Why the dealer’s cards matter
You see your three cards when you decide on the main game, but the bonus is fixed when cards are dealt. Your play or fold does not change it.
Some casinos pay the bonus even if you fold your main hand; check the house rules.
Sequence
Playing the 6 Card Bonus
Step 01
Place the ante
The main bet is required.
Step 02
Add the side bet
In its own circle.
Step 03
Play your hand
Fold or play as usual.
Step 04
Dealer reveals
The best five of six is graded.
Step 05
Collect wins
Paid from the posted table.
Comparing side bets
Pair Plus pays on your three cards only and has an edge near 7.3% on the common pay table. The 6 Card Bonus is similar in cost but pays bigger hands.
Both are optional. The ante-play game alone has an edge near 3.4% per ante.
Pay table versions
Some casinos pay 15 to 1 on flushes or 8 to 1 on straights. Each cut raises the edge, sometimes past 10%.
The placard on the table shows which version is in use.
Floor rules
Bonus terms
Know before you sit
- 6 Card Bonus
- A side bet using your and the dealer’s cards.
- Pair Plus
- A side bet on your three cards only.
- Ante-play
- The main Three Card Poker game.
- Pay table
- The posted list of pays.
A $5 bonus over a session
Bet $5 on the 6 Card Bonus for 200 hands. That is $1,000 in action and an average cost near $76.
Most of the return comes from three of a kind and straights. A full house or quads can cover a long run of losses.
Common mistakes
- Thinking folding affects the bonus
- The bonus hand is set when cards are dealt. Folding the main hand does not change it, though house rules on payment vary.
- Betting the bonus bigger than the ante
- The side bet costs more per dollar than the main game.
- Ignoring the pay table
- Lower flush and straight pays raise the edge sharply.
- Chasing the royal
- A royal appears about once in 20,000 hands.
Progressive versions
Some tables replace the royal pay with a progressive jackpot that grows with play. The edge depends on the jackpot size.
A small progressive can make the bet more expensive than the fixed table.
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 the 6 Card Bonus?
A Three Card Poker side bet that uses your three cards and the dealer’s three to make the best five-card poker hand.
What is the lowest winning hand?
Three of a kind, which usually pays 5 to 1. Pairs and two pair lose. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
What does a royal flush pay?
1,000 to 1 on the common pay table. Some casinos offer a progressive instead. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
02Odds
What is the house edge?
About 7.6% on the common pay table. Lower pays for flushes or straights raise it.
How often does it win?
About one hand in five pays something, mostly three of a kind and straights. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Is it better than Pair Plus?
They cost about the same on common tables. Pair Plus wins more often; the 6 Card Bonus pays bigger hands.
03At the table
Do I need an ante to bet it?
Yes, at most tables. The bonus is an optional extra next to the ante. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Does the bonus pay if I fold?
House rules vary. Many casinos settle it regardless of your play decision; ask the dealer.
Is it offered online?
Many online Three Card Poker games include it. The pay table is shown in the game help.
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, 2026Rules, odds and house edge
- Wizard of Odds — Six Card Bonus 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, 2026Rules, odds and house edge
- 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