Pai Gow Poker - Understanding the Basics
Pai Gow poker is a popular game in land based casinos, and most online casinos offer some version of it to their players. At its core Pai Gow is a simple game, and the relatively small house edge and slow pace of play makes it a great game for anyone looking to unwind and relax. While various casinos may offer their own personal ‘wrinkles’ to the game, it is essentially played as follows.
- Each player plays against the dealer, not against each other (like blackjack). In a ‘brick and mortar’ casino any given player can usually assume the role of the dealer, but in online games this is rarely the case.
- Each player places their wager in the betting square, and is dealt seven cards face down.
- After each player has received their seven cards they can ‘set’ their hands, which amounts to creating two poker hands—one five card hand, and one two card hand—from the seven cards they were dealt. There is only one rule regarding the setting of hands, and that is that the five card hand must outrank the two card hand. For example, if you are dealt the As Ad Kc Js 9h 5h 3d you cannot put either the two aces or an ace and a king in the two card hand.
- After the players have set their hands the dealer exposes their hand and forms one five card hand and one two card hand. The rules for the dealer set are laid down by the house; the dealer has no say in how the hand will be set.
- If the player’s five card and two card hands outrank each of the dealer’s respective hand then they are declared a winner and are awarded a win equal to the size of their wager. If both of the dealer’s hands outrank a player’s two hands then the player forfeits their wager. If the dealer wins one hand, but the player wins the other, then the hand is declared a ‘push’ and no money changes hands.
It should be noted that the house can realize their edge in one of two different ways. Some casinos will charge a small commission anytime the player wins both hands. Others state that any tie goes to the dealer, in which case a hand in which the player lost one hand, and tied the other, would result in the player losing their bet (or, if the player won one hand and tied the other then the hand would be declared a push). Also, most games feature a joker (alternatively called a ‘bug’) which can be used as either an ace, or to complete a flush or a straight. It is not, however, a ‘wild card’; it can only be used in one of the three aforementioned capacities.
Be the first to comment on this
If you are a Gambling.com member, please login at the top left of this page.
If you are not a Gambling.com member, please complete our sign up form—membership is free and it takes just a minute or two to sign up.
Bookmark this page: (What are these?)