How to Play Pai Gow

Pai Gow is a traditional game with Asian origins. A combination of the Chinese game Pai Gow which is a game played with tiles that are similar looking to dominoes. However when they brought it to online and offline casinos, they mixed it with the American game of Poker. The rules are similar to the traditional Chinese Pai Gow, however, the hands values from Poker are used. In this version of Poker the players are not wagering against each other, but instead against the banker. This version of Pai Gow is played with a deck of 53 cards(the standard 52 card deck plus 1 joker). The joker can also be used as an ace in any hand or if it will complete a straight or flush, it can be used as a wild card. The main goal of the game is for the players 2 card hand and 5 card hand to beat the dealer's 2 hands.

Pai Gow Poker Rules

To begin the game the players must make their bets according to the table minimum. The dealer will then shuffle the cards and deal out 7 different stacks of cards each stack containing 7 cards. This is done no matter how many players are playing, the table used is the size of a standard Blackjack table and can sit 6 players.  The banker will then shake a cup that has three dice to decide who gets the first hand. The players will then have the chance to look at their 7 cards and set them into a 2 card hand and a 5 card hand. To be able to win both of your hands must be higher than the bankers, do be aware that if only one of your hands beats the banker and one doesn’t it is then known as a push and there is no winners. If either of your hands are equal to the bankers hand, it is a tie which is called a copy and the banker wins.

Losing in Pai Gow - Pai Gow Fouls

Pai Gow also has fouls which can cause you to lose automatically. A foul is given out by the banker if your 2 card hand is a higher value than your 5 card hand(for example your 2 card hand is a pair and you have Ace high in your 5 card hand), or if you set your 5 card hand in front of your 2 card hand, this is also considered a foul. Each table will be marked on where to place your 2 hands. The 2 card hand is marked to be placed in front of the 5 card hand, failing to follow the table instructions will result in a foul which causes you to forfeit your wager.

How to Play Pai Gow - Pai Gow Strategy

Pai Gow is a very fun and intriguing game, and has become one of the most popular table games available in casinos both online and off! The most important factor in improving your odds in Pai Gow poker is the ratio of how much the bet is when you are the banker compared to what it is as a player. The greater the ratio the better your odds are and the better your Pai Gow Strategy to improve your return. The second thing you should always remember is the most important factor is how well you arrange your hands. The house way is a very safe strategy that can be difficult to improve on. The house way is a button on your screen that will signal your computer to organize your five and two card hands in what it thinks is the best way. However if you don’t think you have better hands by organizing them a different way, you can always choose to do this as well.

Whenever you are dealt 7 cards with no pairs, you should always place the highest card in the 5 card hand and the next two highest cards in your two card hand. If you have 1 pair in out of your 7 card hand, place your pair in your 5 card hand and the next 2 highest cards in your 2 card hand.  If you get lucky enough to get 2  pairs, you should split the pairs into two hands unless the sum of the values of the pairs are 9 or less and the 2 card hand contains a king or better. You also do not split the pairs if the sum of the value as a pair is 16 or less and the 2 card hand contains an ace. If you end up having three pairs you should place the highest pair in the 2 card hand and place the remaining two pairs in the 5 card hand. Although not common, there are also the chances of getting a 3 of a kind, full house, straight, flush, straight flush or a royal flush.

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