Last Updated on April 1, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Paco is a popular Mexican casino card game, closely related to Conquian, and is particularly favored by older generations. It can accommodate 2 to 12 players. The game uses a deck of 200 cards, created by shuffling together five identical Spanish 40-card packs. If there are many players, additional decks can be added.

The game’s use of a large number of cards and gambling system, which is based on the pay cards in melds, resembles the American game Panguingue, possibly a distant relative.

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How to Play Paco

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Objective

The goal of Three Card Poker is to make the best three-card hand possible and beat the dealer. Players can choose from different betting options, making it a mix of strategy and luck.

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Game Setup

• Played with a standard 52-card deck.
• Each player competes against the dealer, not other players.
• The game offers two main bets:
  • Ante & Play: Compete against the dealer’s hand.
  • Pair Plus: A side bet that pays based on your hand strength, regardless of the dealer’s hand.

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Betting & Dealing

1. Place Your Bets
   • Players place an Ante bet if they want to challenge the dealer.
   • Players may also place an optional Pair Plus bet to win payouts based on their hand.
2. Receive Three Cards
   • The dealer and each player are dealt three cards face down.
   • Players review their hands and decide their next move.

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Gameplay Options

• Fold → If you don’t like your hand, you forfeit the Ante bet.
• Play → If you want to continue, place an additional Play bet (equal to the Ante bet).

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Dealer Qualification & Showdown

• The dealer must have at least a Queen-high to qualify.
• If the dealer does not qualify, the Ante bet automatically wins even money, and the Play bet is returned.
• If the dealer qualifies, hands are compared:
  • Player wins → Both Ante and Play bets pay 1:1.
  • Dealer wins → Player loses both bets.
  • Tie → Bets push (returned to the player).

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Hand Rankings (Best to Worst)

1. Straight Flush (Three consecutive cards of the same suit)
2. Three of a Kind (Three cards of the same rank)
3. Straight (Three consecutive cards of different suits)
4. Flush (Three cards of the same suit)
5. Pair (Two cards of the same rank)
6. High Card (Highest-ranked card in hand)

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Bonus Payouts

• Ante Bonus (No extra bet required):
  • Straight Flush → 5:1
  • Three of a Kind → 4:1
  • Straight → 1:1
• Pair Plus Payouts (Varies by casino):
  • Straight Flush → Up to 40:1
  • Three of a Kind → Up to 30:1
  • Straight → Up to 6:1
  • Flush → Up to 4:1
  • Pair → Up to 1:1

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Strategy

• Always Play with Queen-6-4 or better to maximize your odds.
• Consider Pair Plus bets if you enjoy higher risk for bigger payouts.
• Folding on weak hands (worse than Queen-6-4) minimizes long-term losses.

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Winning the Game

The game continues with new rounds where players place bets, receive new hands, and try to beat the dealer. With simple rules and quick hands, Three Card Poker is an exciting casino game with multiple ways to win!