Ever wondered how a game of 3 Card Brag is really decided? If you have seen cards being thrown down and heard names like Prial and Flush mentioned, you might be curious about how these hands are actually ranked. The order can seem confusing at first, but once you know where each hand sits, the game makes far more sense.
Below, you will find the full list of 3 Card Brag hands, from the strongest to the weakest. You will see which combinations carry the most weight and which ones usually signal it is time to fold.
Keep reading for a clear guide to every hand in 3 Card Brag and how they compare. By the end, you will be able to spot the top hand at the table with confidence.
3 Card Brag Hand Order Ranked From Best To Worst
Prial (Three Of A Kind)
A Prial is the highest possible hand in 3 Card Brag. It means you have three cards of the same rank. The top prial is three 3s, followed by three aces, then kings, queens, and so on down the ranks. If two players make a prial, the higher-ranked triplet wins.
Running Flush (Straight Flush)
A running flush is three cards in sequence, all in the same suit, such as 5, 6, and 7 of hearts. In 3 Card Brag, an ace can count high or low, so A, 2, 3 is a valid sequence and so is Q, K, A. A running flush beats every hand except a prial.
Run (Straight)
A run is three cards in sequence, but not all in the same suit. For example, 7 of hearts, 8 of clubs, and 9 of diamonds. As noted above, an ace can sit at either end, so A, 2, 3 is the lowest run and Q, K, A is the highest.
Importantly, in Brag a run beats a flush. If your three cards share a suit but are not in sequence, that is a flush. When comparing a run to a flush, the run wins.
Pair
A pair is any two cards of the same rank, such as two jacks or two fives, plus one other card. If more than one player has a pair, compare the pair first. If those are equal, the remaining single card, often called the kicker, decides it.
High Card
If your three cards do not form any of the combinations above, you have a high card hand. This simply means there is no set, no sequence, and no matching suit across all three cards. If no player makes a stronger hand, the highest individual card wins. An ace is the highest, and a two is the lowest.
With the hand rankings clear, what happens when two players show the same type of hand? That is where the tie rules step in.
How Are Ties Resolved In 3 Card Brag?
Sometimes two or more players finish a round with hands of the same type. The tie is broken by comparing card ranks within that hand type.
For prials, compare the rank of the triplets. Three 3s beat three aces, which beat three kings, and so on. For runs and running flushes, the sequence with the highest top card wins. A Q, K, A run, for example, beats a J, Q, K run. If both sequences are the same but in different suits, it is still a tie because suits are not ranked in 3 Card Brag.
With pairs, compare the pair first. If both pairs match, look at the kicker to separate them. For high card hands, compare the highest card, then the next, then the last if needed, again without considering suits.
In the rare event that both hands match exactly in rank and composition, the tie stands and the pot is usually split evenly among the tied players.
Once you know how ties are settled, it naturally raises another question. How do the rankings and rarities of these hands feed into payouts?
How Do Payouts Relate To Hand Rank?
When playing 3 Card Brag for money, the rank of your hand can affect what you are paid, especially if you are using a table with set bonus rules or optional side bets.
In general, stronger hands pay more. A Prial is typically the most valuable for bonus payouts, followed by a running flush, then a run, then a flush, with pairs and high cards lower on the scale. Some games offer fixed odds for certain hands, for example a set return for a prial or a running flush. Figures vary by table rules, so an example like 40 to 1 for a prial or 5 to 1 for a running flush is only a guide.
If you are playing a simple home game without bonus payouts, the best hand usually takes the whole pot and that is that. In venues that use payout tables, it is always worth checking the rules in advance so you know exactly what applies.
Knowing that payouts reflect hand strength, it helps to understand how often each hand actually appears in the first place.
How Rare Is Each Hand?
Some hands in 3 Card Brag appear far less often than others. With only three cards dealt, a few combinations are scarce, while others show up regularly.
A running flush is the rarest of the main hands, appearing at roughly 1 in 459 deals. A prial is also very uncommon, turning up about once in every 424 hands. Both are special when they arrive.
Runs appear more often, but they are still not frequent. You will see a run about once in 31 deals on average. A standard flush, where the three cards share a suit but are not in sequence, lands at around 1 in 20 deals.
Pairs are comparatively common. Expect roughly 1 in 6 hands to contain a pair. High card hands make up the bulk of deals, so most rounds end without a made combination.
With the rankings, tie rules, payouts, and odds under your belt, you can read a 3 Card Brag showdown at a glance and enjoy the game with a clear idea of what beats what.
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**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.