Standard Ante/Play decision: play Q-6-4 or better; fold lower hands. Compare equal-rank hands from highest card downward.
How Ante/Play works
- Make the Ante and receive three cards.
- Fold and lose the Ante, or make a Play wager equal to the Ante.
- The dealer qualifies with queen-high or better under the standard game.
- Settlement depends on qualification, comparison, and the Ante Bonus table.
Standard base-game mathematics
| Measure | Published benchmark | Denominator |
|---|---|---|
| House edge | 3.37% | Initial Ante |
| Element of risk | 2.01% | Average total amount wagered |
Both describe the same standard Ante/Play game using Q-6-4 strategy. The lower element-of-risk figure is not a better game; it uses a larger denominator because continuing hands add the Play wager.
Standard Ante Bonus
| Player hand | Pays |
|---|---|
| Straight flush | 5:1 |
| Three of a kind | 4:1 |
| Straight | 1:1 |
Pair Plus is a different wager
Pair Plus has no decision after the cards arrive. Its house edge depends entirely on the posted pay table, including how mini-royals and straight flushes are classified. Never attach the 3.37% Ante/Play figure to Pair Plus.
Q-6-4 boundary
- Always play any pair or better.
- Always play king-high or ace-high.
- With queen-high, play Q-7-x or better.
- Play Q-6-4; fold Q-6-3 and lower.
Scope
Standard dealer qualification and Ante Bonus shown above. Alternative pay tables, forced side bets, or different qualification rules require a new calculation. Last reviewed September 20, 2026.