Three card blackjack is a popular blackjack variant. It is played with a single 52-card deck and features no draw or splitting cards. You must use all three of your cards to create the best possible hand. The game can be played in brick-and-mortar casinos or online. Most casinos offer a side bet if you want to wager on the outcome of the hand.

To play, you will first need to buy in with the table stakes. The dealer will distribute three cards to you. One of these cards will be face up. Once everyone has seen the cards, you can decide whether to remain in the hand, fold, or raise your bet.

You must make your wager before the dealer shuffles the deck. If you do not, the cards will be thrown away and your bet will be lost. For an increased house edge, you can double your bet. Alternatively, you can surrender your bet and your chips will be returned.

When you are ready to play, you must choose a table to sit at. Most casinos offer private tables for those who prefer to play in privacy. However, there are also some establishments that will allow you to play at a regular table. Usually, the game is played at a single table.

Before starting, you must place your Ante wager in the betting circle. If the dealer does not have a Queen high, he will automatically take his second card. A dealer’s hand will be called “busted” if it is lower than 21.

Once you have placed your ante, the dealer will deal three cards to you. In the original version of the game, you are paid five times the ante for a straight. You are also paid four times the ante for a three of a kind.

There are many variations of the game. If you want to win, you must try to beat the dealer’s hand. This is not as difficult as you might think. All you have to do is to make sure that your cards are worth more than the opponent’s cards. While a suited hand is always a good bet, a straight is more difficult.

Another advantage of the game is that it is easy to learn. Unlike other poker forms, there is no shared deck. That is, the rules for each hand are different, but the payouts are all based on a pay table. Some casino websites offer free tutorials to help players learn the rules. These games are available at safe blackjack websites and are widely played in brick-and-mortar casinos in Washington and the Las Vegas Strip.

The best strategy is to play all hands higher than a queen-6-4. If you have a hand that is weaker than the dealer’s, you can still win money by raising. On the other hand, if you have a hand that is stronger than the dealer’s, you can fold. But it is important to remember that folding will increase the house edge.