In 1985, Sam Torosian, the proprietor of the Bell Card Club, invented a novel card game known as Pai Gow Poker, also referred to as double-hand poker. Unlike the traditional Chinese version of Pai Gow, which utilized 32 dominoes, Pai Gow Poker is played with a standard deck of 52 cards, including a joker.
Today, Pai Gow Poker stands as one of the leading games in the gambling sector. Regrettably for Mr. Torosian, he began without obtaining a patent due to poor legal guidance.
Consequently, as the game gained traction, he was unable to benefit financially from its widespread adoption and failed to profit from his innovative creation.
This brief overview will provide you with all the essential insights into Pai Gow Poker, its comparison with more traditional games, as well as the diverse variations of this intriguing format. popular poker games In Pai Gow Poker, you are not playing against your peers; instead, players work to best the banker, who is typically the house dealer. There is an exception when players have the option to bet against one another, a practice known as 'banking,' where one player takes on the role of the banker against their fellow players.
Table of Contents
How to Play Pai Gow Poker
Unlike most poker games, such as no-limit Holdem The game accommodates up to six participants and is commonly found in casino gaming areas, often alongside other games like...
The primary goal is to win against the banker by creating two distinct poker hands. After placing your bet, each player is dealt seven cards, which they will separate into a five-card 'high' hand (often referred to as the bottom or big hand) and a two-card 'low' hand, also known as the top or small hand. It's crucial that your high hand is stronger than your low hand. Blackjack and three-card poker .
When forming your hands, you must follow the traditional poker hand rankings, such as high card... low hand .
A common rule at many venues is that the 'wheel' (A-2-3-4-5 straight) is considered the second-highest straight, falling behind Broadway (10-J-Q-K-A straight). Always check the rules at your table before playing. pairs , two pair , three of a kind , straight , flush , full house , four of a kind, straight flush , and Royal Flush .
If you're unsure about how to organize your hand or feel uncomfortable doing so, simply ask the dealer—they're generally allowed to assist you in setting your hand.
Setting Your Hand & How to Win
Once all players have arranged their hands, the dealer reveals their cards according to the established 'house way,' which will be explained in the subsequent section.
At the conclusion of the round, there are three possible outcomes:
You beat both the high and low hands, winning your wager.
- The banker defeats both the high and low hands, resulting in a loss for your bet.
- You manage to win one hand (either high or low), while the banker wins the other, resulting in a push where your bet is returned. Pushes are quite common in Pai Gow Poker.
- Important Note: In the event of a tie in Pai Gow Poker, the dealer prevails, so if both you and the banker have a low hand, such as QxJx, the banker wins.
Regarding commissions, the house typically takes a 5% cut from players' winnings. You can think of this as similar to the rake in traditional poker.
Dealers have to set their hands according to the 'house way,' which is a specific set of rules that can differ from one casino to another. Always make sure to understand the house way before you start playing.
What is the House Way?
For example, a casino's 'house way' might include the following rules:
No Pair – Use the highest card for the high hand, and then the next two highest for the low hand.
- One Pair – Place the pair in the high hand, followed by the highest remaining cards for the low hand.
- Two Pair – Never separate any low pairs (sixes or below); distribute low and medium pairs appropriately between the high and low hands; and handle medium and high pairs accordingly.
- Three Pairs – Always keep the highest pair for the low hand.
- And so forth. The essence is that there are prescribed steps the dealers must adhere to, and grasping this can enhance your strategy.
For the two-card 'low' hand, you can only form pairs or high cards. Thus, pocket pairs are quite advantageous. However, remember that the upper hand must beat the five-card hand you've set in the back.
Pai Gow Poker Strategy
For example, if you decide to place aces in the top position, you must ensure that your high hand can surpass them; failure to do so may result in a foul, causing your hand to either be forfeited or automatically reset by the casino, which can vary. aces Keep the Joker in Mind – The joker can only be used to complete a flush or straight. If it doesn’t serve that purpose, it defaults to being treated as an ace.
The game has a 'set-it-and-forget-it' vibe; after you've set your hand, the only thing left is to wait for the outcome. The skill lies in how you configure your hands to maximize your chances against the dealer.
Imagine receiving a powerful hand like A♦A♠K♠K♣4♠8♠2♠ . How might you arrange this hand?
Some players might choose to set the kings in the top hand and the aces in the back— K♠K♣ / A♦A♠8♠4♠2♠ - ensuring a strong top hand and a decent shot at winning the bottom.
Alternatively, other players might prefer to place the flush in the back while leaving a strong ace-king combination up top— A♦K♣ / A♠K♠8♠4♠2♠ . In this scenario, having ace-king on top is formidable, and the flush underneath may increase your chances of winning both hands.
You have the flexibility to arrange your hand however you desire, as long as the high hand outperforms the low one—that's the sole rule, with the rest down to personal style.
Here are some strategic tips to improve your chances of winning both the high and low hands in Pai Gow Poker:
If dealt just a single pair, ensure this pair goes into your five-card high hand, followed by placing your three highest cards above as your low hand.
Pai Gow Poker Tips
When you receive a hand capable of forming a full house, which consists of three of a kind paired with two other cards, position the higher pair on top and reserve the lesser pair for the back hand.
- If your hand includes a straight or a flush along with two pairs, it's often wiser to separate the straight or flush and distribute the pairs across the high and low hands.
- For a full house, your winning potential increases if you break it down, placing the three of a kind in your high five-card hand and the pair in the low two-card hand.
- Pay careful attention to all seven cards, evaluating how they might work together and where they should be split for optimal results.
- Start by thoroughly shuffling the deck. Deal seven cards face-down to each player involved. Before dealing, determine a random starting seat and then distribute the cards in a counter-clockwise direction around the table.
At a full table with six players, you will distribute 42 cards along with seven for yourself, amounting to a total of 49 cards dealt. With the inclusion of the joker, there will be 53 cards in play, meaning there will be four cards left over, which should be discarded.
How to Deal Pai Gow Poker
Payouts in standard Pai Gow Poker hands are straightforward, offering a 1:1 payout on your wager when you successfully beat the dealer. Players may also opt to place a bonus bet, presenting an opportunity for larger payouts.
The payout structure should be clearly visible at the table and typically appears as follows:
Pai Gow Poker Payouts
Like all games found in a casino, Pai Gow Poker has a mathematical advantage for the house. In this case, the house edge sits at 2.84%, primarily stemming from the fact that players lose whenever there is a push. The remaining portion of the house edge is derived from the commission taken on winning bets. bet Similar to many poker variations, Pai Gow Poker has adapted to include numerous variations, each providing different side betting opportunities. For instance, Fortune Pai Gow permits side bets on achieving trips or better in your high hand. If successful, these bets yield payouts according to specific bonus tables (e.g., 25 to 1 for making four of a kind).
Other well-liked variants include Pai Gow Mania, allowing for two different side bets, while Emperor’s Challenge offers a side bet on achieving a 'Pai Gow no hand,' which means no straight or better can be formed from all seven cards.
- 7-Card Straight Flush (no Joker) pays 8,000:1
- Royal Flush plus two deuces pay 2,000:1
- 7-Card Straight Flush with joker pays 1,000:1
- Five aces pay 400:1
- Royal flush pays 150:1
- Straight flush pays 50:1
- Four of a kind pays 25:1
- Full house pays 5:1
- Flush pays 4:1
- Three of a kind pays 3:1
- Straight pays 2:1
Additionally, there are Progressive variations that challenge players to make a straight flush using all seven cards to secure significant winnings.
Pai Gow Variants
Despite any initial confusion, Pai Gow Poker is quite user-friendly. Once you give it a try, you’ll likely find it enjoyable and easy to pick up. Plus, there’s no need to rush to a casino, as online platforms offer both free versions and opportunities to gamble for real money. variants There are also applications available for download, allowing you to practice or play whenever you like. If you’re inclined to play Pai Gow Poker online, a simple search on Google will reveal various options.
It may take some time to fully grasp the basics of Pai Gow Poker, but once you do, you’ll find it a fun and accessible game. It doesn't demand extensive strategic thought, yet presents enough of a challenge to keep you entertained.
Additionally, due to the frequency of pushes (which occur when you win either the high or low Hand while the dealer wins the opposite), players often enjoy longer gameplay compared to other games, such as Blackjack. How to Play Pai Gow Poker .
Setting Your Hand & How to Win
Chad Holloway, a 2013 WSOP Bracelet champion, has previously held the role of managing editor and live reporter for PokerNews.
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What is the House Way?
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