Also known as Three Card or Progressive Poker, Casino Brag is actually two games in one. These games are 'Pair Plus' and 'Three Card Ante and Play'. The player may play either game individually or both at the same time. If both games are played, players are usually able to wager different amounts on each game.

• Pair Plus
• Three Card Ante and Play

At the top of the casino table layout is the Pair-Plus bet circle. This is a bet on a simple game in which you are dealt three cards and are paid according to the value of your hand. The dealer's hand is not involved and there is no chance to raise or discard. The payouts are as follows:

The house advantage on Pair Plus is 2.32%, which makes it an attractive table poker game.

Pair Plus Strategy

Your only decision is how much to bet, so there is no strategy involved in this game.

Below the Pair Plus circle is the Ante (diamond) and Play (rectangle) proposition, which puts the player's three-card hand in competition with the dealer's three-card hand.

The play for Three Card Ante and Play begins with a wager on the ante, which can be any amount within the posted table limits. Any player who has put up an Ante up may look at their cards, then decide whether they want to fold, or if they want to call for a showdown against the dealer's hand by placing a bet (equal to the Ante) in the Play box. Anyone who folds will lose their Ante bet, and also their Pair Plus bet if one was made. Consequently, you should never fold if the Pair Plus bet will pay off.

When you raise, you pit your hand against the dealer's hand. The dealer then turns over his cards. The dealer needs at least a Queen High in their hand to qualify, and if they fail to do so, any active players win and are paid 1-1 on the Ante. All active play bets are returned.

If the dealer qualifies, but does not beat the player's hand, the player is paid 1-1 on both the Ante and Play wagers. If the dealer's hand beats the player's hand, the player loses both the Ante and Play bets.

Bonuses

Players achieving certain hands are awarded guaranteed bonuses (shown in the table below) on the Ante bet, even if their hand loses against the dealer, or the dealer does not qualify.

The overall house advantage is 2.14% for those who opt for the Ante and Play feature.

Three Card Ante and Play Strategy

The optimal Three Card Ante and Play strategy is to always play Q-6-4 or higher and fold on anything lower.