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Pai Gow Poker

Professional Pai Gow Poker table with a dealer in formal attire dealing cards to players in an elegant casino setting with warm lighting

Pai Gow Poker is an exciting casino card game that blends elements of the ancient Chinese game of Pai Gow with American poker. Players create two poker hands (a five-card hand and a two-card hand) from seven cards, aiming to beat both of the dealer's corresponding hands. With its strategic depth and balanced pace, Pai Gow Poker offers an engaging experience for both novice and experienced players.

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Basic Rules
  • Each player receives seven cards to form two hands
  • The five-card hand must rank higher than the two-card hand
  • To win, both of your hands must beat both of the dealer's hands
  • If one hand wins and one loses, it's a push (tie)
  • If both hands lose, you lose your bet
  • If both hands tie, the dealer wins
Hand Rankings

Five-Card Hand (Standard Poker Rankings):

  1. Royal Flush
  2. Straight Flush
  3. Four of a Kind
  4. Full House
  5. Flush
  6. Straight
  7. Three of a Kind
  8. Two Pair
  9. One Pair
  10. High Card

Two-Card Hand:

  1. Pair
  2. High Card
The Joker
  • Most Pai Gow Poker games include a joker
  • The joker can be used to complete a straight or flush
  • Otherwise, the joker counts as an Ace
  • In the two-card hand, the joker is always an Ace
How to Play Pai Gow Poker
  1. Place your bet before the cards are dealt
  2. Each player and the dealer receive seven cards
  3. Arrange your cards into a five-card "high" hand and a two-card "low" hand
  4. The five-card hand must rank higher than the two-card hand
  5. The dealer reveals their hands and arranges them according to the "house way"
  6. Your hands are compared to the dealer's corresponding hands
  7. To win, both of your hands must beat the dealer's hands
  8. If one hand wins and one loses, it's a push (tie)
  9. Winning bets are paid even money, minus a 5% commission
Strategy Tips
  • Always set your hands so the five-card hand ranks higher than the two-card hand
  • With no pair, put your highest card in the five-card hand and next two highest in the two-card hand
  • With one pair, place the pair in the five-card hand
  • With two pairs, split them if they're both high pairs (10s or better) and you have a King or better for the low hand
  • With three pairs, place the highest pair in the two-card hand
  • With three of a kind, keep them together except for Aces (split Aces)
  • With a full house, split it unless you have another pair for the two-card hand
  • Learn the "house way" to understand how the dealer will set their hand
Banking and Rotation
  • In some casinos, players have the option to "bank" the game
  • When banking, you play against all other players and the dealer
  • The banker wins all ties
  • Banking rotates among players who wish to bank
  • The banker must have enough money to cover all bets
  • The house typically charges a commission on winning banker hands
Side Bets and Bonuses
  • Fortune Bonus: Pays for a five-card hand of three of a kind or better
  • Envy Bonus: Win when another player has a four of a kind or better
  • Progressive Jackpot: Linked to a growing jackpot for premium hands
  • Emperor's Challenge: Bet on achieving a pai gow (no hand)
  • Side bets typically have higher payouts but also higher house edges