Pai Gow Poker Rules
Pai Gow Poker is also referred to as the Double Hand Poker and it is an American variant of Pai Gow and this is because it is played with cards with values of poker and not the Chinese Pai Gow dominoes. This game is a development of Sam Torosian in 1985 who owned Bell card Club. You play the game with a standard deck of 52 cards and a joker. The game is played by six players and the dealer. The object of this game is to have a better hand than the banker.
Pai Gow Poker uses a standard deck of 52 cards plus one joker. A maximum of six players sit around the table along with the dealer. The object of the game is quite simple: to beat the banker. The banker can be the dealer, another player at the table, or a player-dealer “team.”. The rules of Pai Gow Poker are relatively simple: each player receives seven cards and splits them into two separate hands - a hand of five cards, called 'the back', and a hand of two cards, called 'the front'. NB The five card hand must always rank higher than the two.
The player is required to come up with two poker hands from the seven card hand they are dealt. These hands need to beat the hand of the dealer. The five-card hand needs to be better than the two-card hand. This is the reason the two card hand is referred to as the in front hand or the top, small, low, minor or the hair hand. As for the five card hand, it is referred to as the bottom, high, big or the behindhand.
The Deal
For the game to start, the cards are shuffled and are dealt on the table in piles of seven face-down. Without consideration of the number of players in the game, four cards are not used. Betting positions have numbers assigned from one to seven and the numbering starts from the player acting as the banker and continue counter-clockwise around the table. The betting positions are determined at random through a software or manually with a dice and the deal will start with the corresponding position and continue counterclockwise. A common way that’s used to determine the starting number will be rolling three dice and count the betting spaces clockwise from the first spot to the number the dice landed.
When there is no punter sitting on the spot, the hand is still assigned but it is placed on the discard pile along with the four unused cards. In some casinos, you will find that an additional dragon hand is dealt when a seat is vacant. After the punter sets their original hand, they will be asked to place an additional bet at their will for them to take part in the dragon hand. The bet on the dragon hand is usually the table minimum to as much as the amount the punter bets on the original hand. The first punter who will accept the dragon hand will receive it and they will be playing with two separate hands.
With the dragon hand, the rules will vary from one casino to the other but the dealer will turn over the dragon hand and set it according to their casino’s tradition. This happens because the punter will have seen the seven cards from their initial hand and this will affect how the dragon hand will be seen.
Ranking of hands
The five card hands make use of the poker hand rankings but there is one exception: in some casinos, the wheel which is a hand consisting of A-2-3-4-5 is said to be the second highest straight. In some casinos, they do not apply this and this hand is the lowest possible hand you can come up with. As for the joker, it is taken as the bug. As such, when used in a five-card hand, it will be used to make up a straight, or flush. If the joker is not used in completing those hands, it is taken as an ace. When used in the two-card hand, it will be used as an ace apart from a couple of the casinos where it is used as a wild.
Getting better at Pai Gow Poker
Beating the house at its game is one thing that will excite you when playing any game in an online casino. When it comes to Pai Gow Poker, a good strategy will set you apart from a newbie player and might as well lower the house edge and make it easy for you to bag a win. In this section, we will teach you how best to make it in Pai Gow Poker and implement your strategy without problems.
Overcome the House Edge
Pai Gow Poker gives you a chance to enjoy one of the best games in the online casino industry with a relatively low house edge. The house edge in this game stands at about 2.9%. Pai Gow Poker has a house edge that is slightly more than that of Blackjack. You cannot completely eliminate the house edge but there is the possibility of lowering it to about 2.57%. Also, note that there is a 5% commission on hands that win.
Tame the dragon
When it comes to casino games, we can make use of the saying by the famous philosopher Seneca that luck comes to play when preparation meets with opportunity. This is one game that’s rooted in the Chinese culture and will need you to have a strategy for you to have the dragon tamed. In Pai Gow Poker, you only play against the dealer and not other punters. The percentage at which the house edge will be lowered is small and it might seem negligible but it will work in your favour in the long run.
The house way strategy
Beating the house will require you to think and act like a casino dealer. Think of how a dealer will play his hand, would he split his two pairs? Will he place a pair in the front hand? When you start thinking like this when you are playing Pai Gow Poker, you will be mimicking the house and you will end up being on the winning side. Here are some things to consider:
- When you do not get dealt any pair, place your highest card in the backhand and the next two highest cards in the front.
- When you have a pair in your hand, keep it in the backhand and move the two highest in the front hand. This might make it easy for you to beat the dealer though these are not the best hands
- When you get two pairs, split them between each hand. The highest ranking pair should be placed in the backhand and the other in the front hand. When you do contrary to this, you will be fouling your hand.
- You need to also put the highest pair in the two card hand and two other pairs in the backhand, as long as you have been dealt with a three pair.
- In the event where you are dealt three of a kind, keep all three cards of similar rank in the backhand. When all three are aces, put two aces in the backhand and one in the front hand.
- In the event where you end up with two three of a kind hands, you need to play the lowest in the five cards and split the higher three of a kind to have a pair in the front and the other in the back.
- When you are lucky enough to have a full house where three are of a kind and two pairs, you can split the initial hand in two and have the higher pair in the front hand and the other cards in the backhand.
- When the full house is made up of three of a kind and two pairs, split the initial hand in two and have the highest pair in the front hand and the rest in the backhand.
- When you have two three of a kind, you will play the highest pair in front.
- When you get straights, straight flushes, royal flushes, and flushes, play the straight or flush in the backhand. Play the hand as two pairs if you have the following:
· a pair of aces or any pair,
· a pair of jacks and a pair of 6s,
· a single ace and two pairs.
Use the joker for your benefit
For some of the variants in Pai Gow Poker, they have Jokers and they are taken as semi-wild cards. A joker will be counted as an Ace but when used to complete a flush or pair it will be taken as any card you want to build your hand. When you have one in your hand, you are lucky.
Conclusion
With all the information we have provided above, you can be sure that you will have one of the best moments in your gaming experience. This is one game that will make things work out for you in the best way possible. You can play the free version of Pai Gow Poker before you can proceed to play the game for real money. If you want a reliable casino for this, look through the list we have built of reputable online casinos with the best gameplay and bonuses.
How to play
Face Up Pai Gow Poker is played with a standard 52 card deck, including a Joker, for a total of 53 cards.
The rank of each card used in Face up Pai Gow Poker, in order of highest to lowest rank, shall be: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. Ace also may play as the lowest card in the straight Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5. The Joker may be used as any type of card to complete a straight, flush, straight flush, or must otherwise only be used as an Ace.
The hand rankings for the game of Face Up Pai Gow Poker, in order of highest to lowest are as follows:
7 Card Straight Flush (no Joker) A hand that consists of seven cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking that does not utilize a joker. An ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, and 8 is the highest ranked 7 card Straight Flush (No Joker) hand and a 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and ace is the lowest ranked 7 Card Straight Flush (No Joker) hand.
Royal Flush + Royal Match A hand that consists of ace, king, queen, jack, and 10 suited and king and queen suited
7 Card Straight Flush (With Joker) A hand that consists of seven cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking that utilizes a joker. An ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, and 8 is the highest ranked 7 Card Straight Flush (With Joker) hand, with one of those cards being substituted with a joker, and a 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and ace is the lowest ranked 7 Card Straight Flush (With Joker) hand, with one of those cards being substituted for a joker.
Five Aces A hand that consists of five cards containing all aces
Royal Flush A hand that consists of an ace, king, queen, jack and 10 of the same suit
Straight Flush A hand that consists of five cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking. A king, queen, jack, 10, and 9 is the highest ranked Straight Flush and a 5, 4, 3, 2, and ace is the lowest ranked Straight Flush.
Four of a Kind A hand that consists of four cards of the same rank. Four aces is the highest ranked Four of a Kind and four 2’s is the lowest ranked Four of a Kind
Full House A hand that consists of a Three of a Kind and a Pair. Three aces and two kings is the highest ranked Full House and three 2’s and two 3’s is the lowest ranked Full House
Flush A hand that consists of five cards of the same suit, but that are not in consecutive ranking. An ace, king, queen, jack and 9 is the highest ranked Flush and a 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 is the lowest ranked Flush.
Straight A hand that consists of five cards that are in consecutive ranking, but that are not the same suit. An ace, king, queen, jack and 10 is the highest ranked Straight and a 5, 4, 3, 2 and ace is the lowest ranked Straight.
Three of a Kind A hand that consists of three cards of the same rank. Three aces is the highest ranked Three of a Kind and three 2’s is the lowest ranked Three of a Kind.
Two Pairs A hand that consists of two pairs. Two aces and Two kings is the highest ranked Two Pairs and two 3’s and two 2’s is the lowest ranked Two Pairs
One Pair A hand that consists of two cards of the same rank. Two aces is the highest ranked Pair and two 2’s is the lowest ranked Pair.
High Card A hand that consists of five cards that do not make any of the hands listed above. An ace, king, queen, jack, and 9 is the highest ranked High Card hand and 7, 5, 4, 3, and 2 is the lowest ranked High Card hand.
Face Up Pai Gow Poker is played on a table which seats a maximum of seven players.
Players may place wagers bearing in mind the posted table minimum and maximum. Players must make a Face Up Pai Gow Poker game wager and will then have the option to make a Fortune Bonus Bet wager and/or an Ace High Pai Gow Wager as well.
Each player puts up any bets they wish to place for the next hand. Players have the option of placing a Fortune Bonus Bet wager and/or an Ace High Pai Gow wager at this time as well. The cardroom dealer will then follow the dealing procedures and standards of play, as described above.
The Designated Player’s hand will be set by the dealer before players look at their hands. The Dealer will set the hand according to the House Way.
Then each player shall set their hands by arranging the seven cards into a two card hand and a five card hand. The two card hand is placed above the five card hand, and the five card hand must rank higher than the two card hand, according to the ranking of hands.
If the designated players hand is incorrectly set it must be corrected to the listed House Way.
No Pair The second and third high cards will be placed in the Low hand; the highest and all remaining cards will be placed in the High Hand.
One Pair Use the highest two single cards in the Low Hand; place the pair and all remaining cards in the High Hand.
Two Pairs If high pair is Aces, Kings, Queens – always split. If high pair is Jacks, 10’s, 9’s, - split unless Ace is front. If high pair is 8’s, 7’s, 6’s – split unless King is front. If high pair is 5’s, 4’s, 3’s – split unless Queen in front.Three Pairs Put highest pair in front.
Three of a kind If Aces – always split. If Kings and below – never split. If two sets of three of a kind – split highest set.
Straight, Flush, Straight Flush With no pair – always play the complete hand. With one pair – always play the complete hand. With two pairs – play according to two pairs strategy. With three of a kind – play complete hand in back, pair in front. If straight, flush, and/or straight flush – put the two highest cards in front that will leave any complete hand behind.
Full House Put the highest permissible pair in front.
Practice Pai Gow Poker
Four of a kind If Aces, Kings, Queens – always split. If Jacks, 10’s, 9’s – split unless King in front. If 8’s, 7’s, 6’s – split unless Queen in front. If 5’s and below – never split. If 4 of a kind with a pair – play complete hand behind.
Five Aces Put pair of Aces in Front.
Once the Player’s hands are set, each player’s hand is exposed, in turn, and compared to the Designated Player’s hands to determine the winners, losers, or tie hands.
If the Designated Player’s hand is an Ace High Pai Gow (no pair or better with a high card Ace) only, the Face Up wager is an automatic push.
The Ace High Pai Gow Wager is paid out according to the Ace High Pai Gow Pay Table if the Designated Player makes an Ace High Pai Gow, the player has placed a wager on the Ace High Pai Gow wager circle and the players hand beats the Designated players.
Each Player’s five card hand will be compared to the Designated player’s five card hand, and each player’s two card hand will be compared to the Designated Player’s two card hand, in turn, starting with the “Action” button, to determine the winner according to the following criteria:
- The Face Up Gow Poker game wager wins if the two card hand and the five card hand held by the player ranks higher than the Designated Player’s two card hand and five card hand. Winning Fortune Pai Gow Poker game wagers are paid 1 to 1.
- The Fortune Pai Gow Poker game wager loses if the two card hand and the five card hand held by the player ranks lower than the Designated Player’s two card hand and five card hand.
- The Fortune Pai Gow Poker game wager “pushes” if one of the hands held by the player ranks higher than the Designated Player’s corresponding hand, and the player’s other hand ranks lower than the Designated Player’s corresponding hand. In this case, neither the player nor the Designated Player wins or loses; the wager is a “push” and is returned to the player.
- If one hand is identical in rank to the Designated Player’s hand, it is a “copy hand.” The Designated Player wins all “copy hands.” The pai gow wager will push should the Players hand contain a “copy hand” and a subsequent winning hand. The pai gow wager shall lose when the players hand contains a “copy hand” and a subsequent losing hand.
- Players are allowed to play multiple consecutive betting spots in the blind and will have these hands set according to house way by the dealer. *The house reserves the right to limit players to one betting spot.
The Fortune Bonus bet considers the best hand possible among the player’s seven cards and does not take into consideration how the five card hand and two card hand were divided. The hand ranking for the Fortune Bonus bet will coincide with the bonus pay table.
The Designated Player position rotation is offered in a clockwise motion every hand among all eligible Designated Players. Players will notify a staff member if they choose to be a Designated Player.
The Joker can be used as an ace, or to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush on the Fortune Bonus Bet.
The Designated Player pays qualifying Fortune Bonus Bet wagers from his or her own chip stack only if the Designated Player’s seven card Fortune Pai Gow Bonus hand loses to the player’s seven card Fortune Pai Gow Bonus hand. A players Fortune Bonus Wager is a loss if their seven-card hand does not beat the designated players hand. Wagers are collected or paid starting at the action button, to the extent that the Designated Player’s wager covers. Once the Designated Player’s wager has been exhausted, or the table maximum payout has been reached, the wagers not covered by the Designated Player shall be returned to the respective players. Fortune Bonus Bet will have a max aggregated payout of $50,000 per betting spot per hand.
Pai Gow Poker Joker Rules
Ace High Pai Gow Wager:
What Is Pai Gow Poker
- Designated Player – Ace High Pai Gow (no Joker) – 5 to 1
- Designated Player – Ace High Pai Gow (with Joker) – 15 to 1
- Designated Player & Player both have Ace High Pai Gow -40 to1
- Fortune Bonus Bet Pay Table Hand Payout:
- 7 Card Straight Flush - 5,000 to 1
- Royal Flush + Royal Match - 2,000 to 1
- 7 Card Straight Flush with Joker -1,000 to 1
- 5 Aces - 400 to 1 • Royal Flush - 150 to 1
- Straight Flush - 50 to 1
- 4 of a Kind - 25 to 1
- Full House - 5 to 1
- Flush - 4 to 1
- 3 of a Kind - 3 to 1
- Straight - 2 to 1
The action button will rotate clockwise per hand.
Rake is collected before cards are dealt. It is paid by the Designated Player, at a rate determined by the cardroom and posted at the table.
The Action Button will signify the starting point for ALL action. Action is defined as the first spot to receive cards, first player cards are pushed too, and first hand to be compared against the Designated Player’s hand. When playing multiple hands, a player may only handle the first cards pushed towards him/her. All other hands must be in consecutive/adjacent betting spots and must be set “house way” by the dealer.
Pai Gow Poker Rules Strategy
Last Updated 9/21/2020 – Please see host for current rules and listing. The rules listed at the host will always be the most current and up to date version of these rules.