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3 Card Brag Rules & Hand Rankings

3 Card Brag Rules & Hand Rankings

3 Card Brag, also known simply as Brag, is a popular gambling game that originated in Britain. In this Clover Casino, we will delve into the rules and hand rankings of 3 Card Brag, providing you with all the information you need to play.

Is 3 Card Poker The Same As Brag?

Before we dive into the rules of 3 Card Brag, it's important to address a common question: Is 3 Card Poker the same as Brag? While both games involve three cards and are played in a casino setting, they are actually different games with distinct rules and strategies.

3 Card Poker is a modern casino game that combines elements of poker and Brag. It is played against the dealer rather than other players and has a different hand ranking system. 

In contrast, 3 Card Brag is a traditional British gambling game that is played against other players. The objective of 3 Card Brag is to have the highest ranking hand or to bluff your opponents into folding.

Now that we've cleared up any confusion, let's explore the rules of 3 Card Brag in more detail.

3 Card Brag Rules & How To Play

To start a game of 3 Card Brag, you'll need a standard 52-card deck and a group of 4-8 players. Here are the basic rules of the game:

1. Ante Up

Before the game begins, players must agree on the ante, which is a mandatory bet that each player must place in the pot. The ante serves as the initial stake for each hand.

2. Deal the Cards

The dealer shuffles the deck and then deals three cards face-down to each player, one card at a time. Players can choose to look at their cards but have to keep them hidden from other players.

3. Betting Rounds

The game consists of several betting rounds. The first round starts with the player to the left of the dealer. Each player has two options: fold or bet. If a player folds, they forfeit their cards and the chips they have bet so far. If a player chooses to bet, they must place a bet equal to or higher than the previous bet.

4. Showdown

Once all betting rounds are complete, the remaining players reveal their cards to determine the winner. The player with the highest-ranking hand takes the pot.

3 Card Brag Hand Rankings

Now that we have covered the basic rules of 3 Card Brag, let's take a closer look at the hand rankings in detail:

  • Prial: A Prial is the highest-ranking hand in 3 Card Brag. It consists of three cards of the same rank, such as 3-3-3 or A-A-A. If two or more players have a Prial, the player with the highest-ranking cards wins.
  • Running Flush: A Running Flush consists of three cards in sequential order of the same suit. The highest Running Flush is A-2-3, and the lowest is 2-3-4. If two or more players have a Running Flush, the player with the highest-ranking cards wins.
  • Run: A Run consists of three cards in sequential order, but they don't have to be of the same suit. For example, K-Q-J is a Run. If two or more players have a Run, the player with the highest-ranking cards wins.
  • Flush: A Flush consists of three cards of the same suit, but they don't have to be in sequential order. If two or more players have a Flush, the player with the highest-ranking cards wins.
  • Pair: A Pair consists of two cards of the same rank, such as K-K-J or K-K-A. If two or more players have a Pair, the player with the highest-ranking Pair wins. If multiple players have the same Pair, the highest-ranking non-Pair card determines the winner.
  • High Card: If none of the above combinations are present, the highest card in the hand determines the ranking. For example, 5-10-K would be considered a High Card hand. If two or more players have a High Card, the player with the highest-ranking card wins. If multiple players have the same highest card, the second-highest card and so on are used to determine the winner. If all cards in the hand are of the same rank, it is a tie.