Four card poker rules are the foundation for anyone who wants to play this fast, strategic casino table game with confidence. As someone who learned the game at a small Atlantic City casino table and later tested strategies at online sites, I know the short learning curve can hide subtle strategic choices. This guide walks through the official rules, hand rankings, betting sequence, practical strategy, and online play considerations — all written to help you make better decisions and enjoy the game more.
What is Four Card Poker?
Four Card Poker is a banked casino table game played between each player and the dealer. Each participant receives four cards and uses those cards to make the best four-card poker hand. The game blends straightforward rules with optional side bets, giving both newcomers and experienced players meaningful choices every round. For quick reference material and variations you might encounter online, see keywords.
Basic four card poker rules — step-by-step
- Place an Ante: Each player places an initial ante bet to join the round. Optional side bets (like Aces Up) can be made at the same time.
- Deal: The dealer gives four cards face down to each player and to themselves. In live casino versions players usually see only their own cards.
- Player decision: After viewing your four cards you choose to Fold (forfeit the ante) or Make a Play bet equal to 1x, 2x, or 3x your ante (depending on the casino rules; most casinos allow up to 3x).
- Dealer qualification: The dealer’s hand is revealed. In most versions the dealer must have a qualifying hand (commonly a pair or better) to play against players.
- Resolution: If the dealer doesn’t qualify, ante bets are typically paid even money and the play bet is returned (push). If the dealer qualifies, compare hands: the higher four-card poker hand wins and pays 1:1 on both ante and play; losing bets are collected.
- Bonuses: If you made a side bet like Aces Up or a four-card bonus, those pay independently according to the paytable regardless of whether you beat the dealer.
Hand rankings for four-card hands
With four cards rather than five, the frequency of certain hands changes, and ranking follows rarity. From highest to lowest the common ranking is:
- Four of a Kind
- Straight Flush (four consecutive cards, same suit)
- Three of a Kind
- Flush (all four cards same suit)
- Straight (four consecutive ranks, mixed suits)
- Two Pair
- One Pair
- High Card
Because the deck is 52 cards but only four-card combinations are used, some hands that are rare in five-card poker change in relative frequency here — that’s why it's important to learn the correct four-card ranking rather than assuming five-card ordering.
Common side bets and payouts
Most Four Card Poker tables offer at least one side bet. The two you’ll see most often are:
- Aces Up (or “Pair Plus” style): Pays if your four-card hand contains a pair of aces or better. Payouts and house edge vary by casino and paytable.
- Four-card Bonus: Pays on straights and above in your four-card hand; it’s a small, independent jackpot-style payout.
Side bets typically have larger payouts but also a higher house edge. Treat them as entertainment bets unless you’ve studied the exact paytable and accept the math.
Dealer qualification and why it matters
Dealer qualification is the rule that determines whether the dealer’s hand is “good enough” to complete the head-to-head contest. The most common qualifier is a pair or better. If the dealer fails to qualify, the ante usually gets paid while the play bet is pushed. This rule affects strategy because a play bet is sometimes returned even on hands that might be losing against a qualified dealer; understanding dealer qualification helps you weigh risk vs reward when choosing your play bet size.
Practical strategy — when to fold and when to play
There is no single perfect rule that covers every table condition and paytable, but these practical guidelines will serve you well:
- Raise with a pair or better. A pair in four-card poker is a common and often profitable threshold for making a play bet.
- Use discretion with strong draws. A three-card flush or three-card straight can be worth a raise depending on the casino’s play-bet multipliers and your risk tolerance. If you must choose between folding or making a 3x play, calculate how often the draw completes versus how often the dealer qualifies.
- Fold weak high-card hands. If you have nothing (no pair, no three-to-a-flush/straight) and low ranks, folding protects your ante against likely losses.
- Adjust to paytables. If the table offers an especially generous bonus for certain hands, that can change the break-even points for when to press with marginal three-card draws.
In short: raise with pair-or-better, be selective with marginal draws, and avoid automatic raises on weak high-card holdings.
Example hand walkthrough
Imagine you ante $10 and receive these four cards: A♦, Q♦, J♦, 7♣. You have three to a diamond flush and a top ace. You must decide to fold or raise 1x–3x. If the casino allows up to 3x and the dealer needs a pair to qualify, raising 1x or 2x might be a reasonable compromise — you’re behind against four-of-a-kind or other made hands, but you have a solid draw. If you fold you lose the $10 ante guaranteed; a modest raise protects downside while giving you a chance at a larger total win if the flush completes or the dealer misses qualification.
Mathematics and edges (what to watch for)
Exact house edge numbers change by casino and paytable, but you should know these principles:
- The main ante/play game typically has a lower house edge than its side bets. Side bets are designed to pay higher jackpots but come with a larger expected loss over time.
- Your in-game decision (fold vs raise and the size of the raise) changes the effective expected return for a hand. Use strategy charts if you want to optimize play to a high degree.
- Always read the posted paytable for bonus and side bet payouts — those numbers often explain whether a given bonus is worth trying.
Online versus live play
Playing Four Card Poker online is faster and often offers more variant tables and paytables. Important checks before you deposit:
- Licensing and regulation: Play only on sites licensed by recognized authorities.
- Randomness: Reputable casinos use audited RNGs and publish fairness statements; smaller or unregulated sites may not.
- Paytables and rules: Online sites often display paytables and rule sheets — compare them to live casino offerings.
When you practice online you can also try many hands quickly to learn how often certain draws complete and refine your instincts.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Playing every hand aggressively — discipline in folding weak hands reduces overall losses.
- Chasing side-bet emotions — large payouts are tempting, but side bets are typically long-term losers.
- Ignoring dealer qualification — failing to factor in qualifier rules can lead to poor sizing decisions.
Variations and house rules
Different casinos or online platforms might tweak four card poker rules: maximum play bet size, dealer qualification thresholds (some rare variants use ace-high or other qualifiers), and available side bets. Always read the specific table rules before you play. For variant guides and community discussions, check reliable resources such as keywords.
Final tips for confident play
If you’re new: start with small antes, avoid side bets you don’t understand, and use the simple rule—raise with pair or better. As you gain experience, incorporate one or two conditional raises with solid three-card draws and test them across many hands to see whether they improve your results. Keep a log if you’re serious: noting outcomes, the frequency of dealer qualification at a particular table, and how paytables affect returns will deepen your real-world expertise.
Conclusion
Four card poker rules are simple enough for beginners yet nuanced enough for strategic play. By mastering the hand rankings, understanding dealer qualification, and using prudent raise/fold criteria you can improve both your enjoyment and results. Whether you play at a physical casino or online, take a moment to read the house rules and paytables, practice disciplined bankroll management, and remember that long-term success comes from consistent, well-informed choices rather than chasing big one-off wins.
Author note: I developed many of these recommendations from hundreds of hours at tables and controlled online play. If you want a quick refresher before you sit down to play, bookmark the rules and a trusted paytable reference so your decisions remain sharp.
