Six Card Bonus is an optional poker side bet that uses a defined combination of six cards to make the best qualifying poker hand. In Three Card Poker, the usual version combines the player’s three cards with the dealer’s three cards. The wager is settled independently from the main Ante and Play wagers.
Plain Talk
The name describes the card pool, not a six-card poker ranking system. Most awards are based on the best five-card hand that can be formed from six cards. Some approved versions also offer special top awards that require all six cards, such as a six-card royal pattern.
Six Card Bonus is commonly associated with Three Card Poker, but it is not limited to one host game. Nevada’s approved 6 Card Bonus rules describe versions for several poker variants, with the exact six-card combination determined by the base game.
| Wager | Cards used | Settled by | Relationship to main game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ante/Play | Player and dealer three-card hands under main rules | Main-game comparison | Core Three Card Poker action |
| Pair Plus | Player’s own three cards | Three-card paytable | Independent side bet |
| Six Card Bonus | Player’s three plus dealer’s three in Three Card Poker | Best qualifying five-card hand, plus any stated six-card awards | Independent side bet |
| Progressive wager | Cards and trigger defined by posted rules | Progressive paytable/meter | Separate optional product |
How It Works in Three Card Poker
- The player places the optional Six Card Bonus wager before the deal.
- The player and dealer each receive three cards.
- The main game is resolved according to its own rules.
- The six available cards are combined.
- The best qualifying poker hand is identified under the posted Six Card Bonus paytable.
- The bonus can win even when the player folds or loses the main hand, if the rules say the side bet remains in action.
The dealer’s qualification for the main game does not normally decide the Six Card Bonus. The side bet is about the combined card result.
Where You See It
You may see the wager printed on a Three Card Poker layout, offered through an electronic table game, or attached to another approved poker derivative. The precise label can be “Six Card Bonus,” “6 Card Bonus,” or a related branded name.
The official rules matter because similar six-card side bets do not always use the same cards or paytable. In some games, extra community or bonus cards are placed in a designated box. In Three Card Poker, the player’s three cards are combined with the dealer’s three.
Typical Qualifying Hands
A common paytable starts at three of a kind and increases through straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, and royal flush. One Nevada-approved example lists:
| Best qualifying hand | Example profit payout |
|---|---|
| Three of a kind | 5 to 1 |
| Straight | 10 to 1 |
| Flush | 15 to 1 |
| Full house | 20 to 1 |
| Four of a kind | 50 to 1 |
| Straight flush | 200 to 1 |
| Five-card royal flush | 1,000 to 1 |
Some versions add fixed prizes or special awards for six-card royal combinations. These figures are examples from an approved rules document, not a promise that every casino uses the same table.
Why It Matters
Six cards produce stronger-looking hands more often than a player’s three cards alone, which makes the wager entertaining. But large headline payouts can distract from three critical questions:
- What is the minimum winning hand?
- Which exact paytable is posted?
- What is the mathematical return of that paytable?
A side bet can generate frequent small losses and rare large wins. Two casinos can use the same wager name but offer different values because one reduces a middle-tier payout or changes the top award.
Combinatorial Scale
There are:
C(52,6) = 20,358,520
possible unordered six-card combinations from a standard 52-card deck.
The best-five-of-six evaluation means a single six-card set can contain several possible five-card subsets. The game does not add the values of those subsets. It selects the strongest qualifying hand under the rules.
For example, if six cards contain four queens, a nine, and a two, the qualifying result is four of a kind. The unused sixth card does not create a second award unless the paytable explicitly says otherwise.
Example Round
The player holds A♠ K♠ Q♠. The dealer holds J♠ 10♠ 4♦.
The six-card pool contains A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♠ 10♠, which forms a royal flush. The irrelevant 4♦ is not needed. The Six Card Bonus is paid according to the posted royal-flush line, regardless of how the main Three Card Poker comparison ended.
Now consider a $5 bonus wager repeated for 100 deals:
Side-bet action = $5 × 100 = $500
If a particular paytable has an 8% house edge, the long-run expected loss would be:
$500 × 0.08 = $40
The actual 100-deal result can be much higher or lower because the payout distribution is volatile.
From the Casino Side
The dealer must protect both the main game and the side-bet settlement. That includes:
- confirming the wager was placed before cards were dealt;
- keeping player and dealer cards clearly associated with the correct hand;
- resolving the base game and side bets in the approved order;
- identifying the best five-card hand correctly;
- verifying large awards under property procedure;
- using the posted paytable rather than memory when unusual hands occur.
For higher awards, floor or surveillance verification may be required. A six-card result can be visually less obvious than a three-card hand, so deliberate reconstruction of the five cards is safer than rushing.
Common Misunderstandings
“Six Card Bonus always means the player’s three plus dealer’s three.”
That is the common Three Card Poker form, but the broader approved product can be adapted to other poker variants. Read the host game’s rules.
“The main hand must win for the bonus to pay.”
Usually no. The bonus is a separate wager and can win even when the main hand loses or the player folds, subject to the posted rules.
“All six cards must be used.”
Most awards use the best five-card hand from six cards. Only special listed awards require all six.
“A royal pays the same everywhere.”
No. Paytables and fixed top prizes can differ.
Hard Truth
Six cards give the wager more ways to make a strong hand; they do not give the player a free advantage.
FAQ
Is Six Card Bonus the same as Pair Plus?
No. Pair Plus evaluates the player’s three cards. Six Card Bonus uses a six-card pool defined by the host game.
Can the wager win after the player folds?
Many versions keep the side bet active, but the approved house rules control.
What is the lowest winning hand?
Three of a kind is common, but the posted paytable is authoritative.
Does the dealer have to qualify?
Dealer qualification belongs to the main Three Card Poker game. The Six Card Bonus is normally evaluated separately.
Why are the payouts so large?
The highest qualifying combinations are rare. Large payouts compensate for low probability; they do not by themselves indicate a favorable return.
Related Reading
Read Side Bet, Pair Plus, Bonus Bet, Progressive Side Bet, Payout Odds, and House Edge. For the broader category, visit Carnival Games and Why Are Side Bets So Bad?.