Four Card Poker
CASINO POKER by ROGER SNOW (SHUFFLE MASTER, 2003) — heads-up vs. dealer using 4-CARD HANDS (each player + dealer get 5 cards, choose best 4). Unique: player can BET UP TO 3× ANTE if confident + NO DEALER-QUALIFY requirement. ACES UP side-bet pays on Pair of Aces or better regardless of Ante outcome. Bonus paid to player on 3 of a Kind or Better. Popular in Vegas + tribal casinos.
Quick facts
Category
Casino & Gambling
Type
Individual
Players
1–6
Duration
~3 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Estimated origin
Designed 2003 by Roger Snow of Shuffle Master; commercial launch 2003; now Scientific Games; widespread in Nevada + tribal + Atlantic City casinos.
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Beat DEALER'S 4-CARD HAND using best 4 of 5 dealt cards.
Rules
Basic rules
PLAYER places ANTE + OPTIONAL ACES UP side-bet
Signature ante + side-bet.
PLAYER receives 5 CARDS + DEALER receives 6 CARDS (dealer gets 1 extra as house edge)
Signature asymmetric deal — dealer 6, player 5.
PLAYER chooses best 4 of their 5 for HAND
Signature 4-of-5 selection.
PLAYER decides: BET 1×, 2×, or 3× ANTE (aggressive with strong hand), OR FOLD (lose Ante)
Signature 1-3x bet or fold.
DEALER reveals best 4 of 6 cards; NO QUALIFYING requirement (dealer plays every hand)
Signature no dealer-qualify rule.
IF PLAYER > DEALER: WIN Ante + Play 1:1 + BONUS on 3+ of Kind (2:1, 25:1, 50:1 for varied premiums)
Signature 3+ of kind bonus.
ACES UP side-bet PAYS: Pair Aces = 1:1, 2 Pair 2:1, ... 4 of Kind 50:1, Straight Flush 40:1, 4-of-Kind Aces 200:1
Signature Aces Up paytable.
Scoring
House edge ~2.79% on Ante+Play; Aces Up ~3.6% edge; Automatic bonus on premium hands.
Win condition · Player 4-card hand > dealer 4-card hand.
Equipment
STANDARD 52-CARD DECK
Standard deck.
FOUR CARD POKER table layout: ANTE + PLAY + ACES UP side-bet circles
Signature 3-circle layout.
STANDARD CASINO CHIPS
Standard chips.
Terminology
- Aces Up
- Optional side-bet on Pair Aces or better.
- Ante
- Mandatory starting wager.
- Play
- 1x to 3x Ante bet after seeing 5 cards.
- Bonus
- Automatic payout on 3+ of Kind or better regardless of dealer win.
Major competitions
No formal tournament; house-banked table only
n/a · Global casinos · since 2003
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Nevada Gaming Commission + regional regulators
Founded 1959 · Las Vegas, NV, USA
Scientific Games (game owner)
Founded 1994 · USA
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Roger Snow (US, designer, Shuffle Master)
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Four Card Poker— Wikipedia
- Wizard of Odds — 4 Card Poker— Wizard of Odds