Mulligan Poker Online: A Basic Strategy Guide
Mulligan Poker is an online variant of Three-Card Poker played with a deck of 52 cards. Players must beat the dealer's qualifying three-card hand after bets are made.
As in Three Card Poker, ranks are made with a straight beating a flush, and a Straight Flush beating a Three-of-a-Kind. However, the 'mulligan' element allows players to completely exchange their initial three cards to form a new hand.
Let's take a closer look at this rare but exciting online poker game.
- You've never heard of Mulligan Poker but want to know more
- You want to learn the basic rules
- You are curious about basic strategy
- You want to find a casino that offers Mulligan Poker
How to Play Online Mulligan Poker
Played with a deck of 52 cards, both the players and dealer are dealt three cards before a game starts. Players bet an 'ante' to start the game.
Hands are valued according to the standard Three-Card Poker hand rankings:
- Royal Flush
- Straight Flush
- Three of a Kind
- Straight
- Flush
- Pair
- High card
A Straight Flush pays out 6/1, with three-of-a-kind paying 4/1, a Straight 3/2, and everything else paying even money (1/1).
Before you start to play Mulligan Poker for real money, you have to make a wager, or ante. Depending on the casino website, you’ll be able to wager from $1-500. Next, you will be offered a side bet, the Pair Plus, which will award you with a generous additional payout based upon your hand. This is similar to the side bet made in Three Card Poker.
Gameplay: Making the Mulligan
Once the wager has been made, you and the dealer will be dealt three cards. When your cards are dealt, you examine them to see if you can complete a winning hand.
If you don’t like the cards you’re holding, take a Mulligan. In order to make this move, you will need to make a second bet equal to the size of your original bet. You will also forfeit your bonus bet. Now you will be given five new cards to try to make a winning hand. Think of it like draw poker where all five cards are redrawn.
Gameplay: The Dealer's Hand and Showdown
After you have made your decision to Mulligan or not, the dealer will reveal his hand. He will follow a simple rule on whether or not he will redo his poker hand.
If the dealer has an Ace High or a better combination than 1 Pair, he will stand.
If the dealer has a King-high or worse combination, he will take a Mulligan.
Now it’s time for the showdown. You and the dealer compare hands. There are three possible outcomes:
- The dealer has a stronger hand. You lose all wagers, minus the bonus payout.
- Your hand is better. You win at Mulligan Poker online and receive the payout according to the table.
- You and the dealer tie. The bets will be pushed, except for the bonus. If you qualified for a payout, it will be added to your bankroll. Otherwise, you lose the bet the side bet.
Understanding Basic Mulligan Poker Strategy
Mulligan Poker online strategy boils down to when, or if, you take a Mulligan. Essentially, it depends on one simple scenario:
- The player should take the mulligan if they have 9-x-x or lower.
- The player should keep their hand if they have K-10-x or higher.
By following the above strategy advice, you will be taking a Mulligan around 50 percent of the time.
Grasping the House Edge:
In a casino’s online Mulligan Poker game, the house edge is around 3.15 percent. This is on par with other games such as Three Card Poker or Let ‘em Ride. The house edge on the bonus bet is about 3.74 percent.
This is pretty good compared to many other gambling website bonus bets. You really cannot ask for much better odds in a game like this. That said, there is no reason why you cannot win at Mulligan Poker online.
