Poking Right Along
28 July 2003
By Mark Pilarski
Dear Mark,
Just wanted to know if you knew anything about
this new game called 3-5-7 Poker? It's being
played here in the Mississippi casinos. What do
you think of it? Bill S.
3-5-7 Poker is a simple poker-based game
recently finding a home in many a casino from
sea to shining sea. It is actually a
three-game-high edifice in which the player bets
on both 3-card and 5-card hands, and may also
bet on a 7-card poker hand, with payoffs set by
the standard pay table (see below).
Play begins with the player making at least two
wagers. He must bet the 3-card and the 5-card
hands, saving the optional 7-card hand for
dessert. Players can bet different amounts on
each hand, subject to the casino's table minimum
and maximum.
The dealer then deals each player three cards,
and four cards to herself to be used as
"community cards." The player reviews his three
cards and then considers the option of
surrendering his last hand (seven-card poker),
or letting it stand.
The first game, poker with three cards, is based
on the first three cards dealt to you. Here, you
need a pair or better to win.
3-Card Hand Pay Table
Hand Pays
Straight flush 40 to 1
Three of a kind 25 to 1
Straight 6 to 1
Flush 4 to 1
Pair 1 to 1
Next, you play the obligatory five-card round,
where the dealer exposes his first two community
cards, making this the five-card game. (Yeah, I
know, the dealer was a "she" a moment ago, and
is now a "he". Odd things happen.) To win,
you'll need 6's or better.
5-Card Hand Pay Table
Hand Pays
Royal flush 500 to 1
Straight flush 100 to 1
4 of a kind 40 to 1
Full House 12 to 1
Flush 9 to 1
Straight 6 to 1
3 of a kind 4 to 1
2 pair 3 to 1
Pair (6's or better) 1 to 1
Finally, the dealer (Guess) exposes the last two
cards, and you are now playing seven-card poker,
but only the best five of seven cards are used.
Without at least two pair (10's high or better),
you lose.
7-Card Hand Pay Table
Hand Pays
Royal flush 100 to 1
Straight flush 20 to 1
4 of a kind 7 to 1
Full House 5 to 1
Flush 4 to 1
Straight 3 to 1
3 of a kind 2 to 1
2 pair (10's or better) 1 to 1
Here's a summary of the house's edge on each of
the three games.
On three-card: 3.49%,
on five-card: 4.12%, and ...
on seven-card: 3.28%.
Like the game itself, strategy for 3-5-7 poker
is quite simple. The player should never
surrender the 7-card hand since it has the
lowest house edge. Also, because the player may
bet any amount on any hand, he should bet the
most on the 7-card hand, and the least on his
5-card hand.
You asked, Bill, if I knew the game (answered)
and what I think of it (stay tuned). All three
games have more than my threshold 2% casino
advantage, so for this columnist, it's a triple
thumbs-down ... unless, of course, you're
running the casino.
Gambling thought of the week: A guy walks into a
bar and notices three men and a dog playing
poker. The dog is playing beautifully. "That's a
smart dog," the man says. "Not really," says one
of the players. "Every time he gets a good hand,
he wags his tail." from Poker Nation, by Andy Bellin
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