Pai Gow Poker is a popular casino game that originated in China. It is played with a standard deck of 52 cards plus one joker. The game can be played with up to six players and a dealer.
In Pai Gow Poker, each player and the dealer receive seven cards. The objective of the game is to create two poker hands out of these seven cards, one five-card hand, and one two-card hand. The five-card hand must outrank the two-card hand.
To play Pai Gow Poker, you need to understand the rules of the game. Here are some rules to keep in mind:
1. Hand Rankings
In Pai Gow Poker, the hand rankings are similar to traditional poker games. The highest-ranking hand is a royal flush, followed by a straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pairs and one pair.
2. Creating Hands
As mentioned earlier, each player receives seven cards which they must use to create two hands – one five-card hand and one two-card hand.
3. Joker
In Pai Gow Poker, the joker can be used as an ace or as any card that completes a straight or flush.
4. Dealer’s Hand
The dealer also creates their hands using the same rules as the players – creating a five-card hand and a two-card hand. However, there are specific rules that dealers need to follow when creating their hands.
5. Winning & Losing
If both of your hands outrank both of the dealer’s hands, you win your bet (minus commission). If both of your hands lose to both of the dealer’s hands, you lose your bet. If you win one hand but lose the other (known as “pushing”), it’s considered a tie and your bet is returned.
6. Commission
In Pai Gow Poker, the casino charges a five percent commission on all winning bets. This is because the dealer has a slight advantage in the game.
7. Strategy
Pai Gow Poker is a game that requires strategy, but it’s not as complex as other poker games. One basic strategy is to create a strong five-card hand and a weaker two-card hand. This gives you a better chance of winning at least one of the hands.
To summarize, Pai Gow Poker is an exciting and challenging game that requires skill and strategy. By following these rules and understanding the gameplay, you can increase your chances of winning at this popular casino game.
