Pai Gow The Game
Pai Gow Poker combines elements of the ancient Chinese game of Pai Gow and the American game of betting Poker.
The game is played with a traditional deck of 52 playing cards plus one Joker
The Joker can be used only as an Ace or to complete a Straight, a Flush, a Straight Flush or a Royal Flush.
Ranking the Hands
Each Player at the table is dealt seven cards which the Player arranges to make two hands, a two-card hand and a five-card hand.
Pai Gow Poker is essentially two separate Poker hands according to traditional Poker rankings
Thus, the highest two-card hand would be two Aces, and the highest five-card hand is five betting Aces (four Aces and the Joker)
The five-card hand must be equal to or higher than the two-card hand.
Object of the Game
The object of the game is for both of your hands to rank higher than both of your opponent's hands
Your five-card hand must rank higher than your opponent's five-card hand, and your two-card hand must rank higher than your opponent's two-card hand.
Should one hand rank exactly the same as your opponent's hand, this is a Tie
Ties are also called Copy Hands, and whoever is Banker wins all Copy Hands
If you win one hand but lose the other, this is considered a Push.
In Push hands, no money exchanges hands,
Winning hands are paid even money, less a 5% commission
Losing hands lose the money wagered.
Playing the Game
The House Dealer or any Player may be the betting Banker.
All Players bet against the Bank
(The Bank is offered to each Player and each Player may accept or pass, in which case the Bank is offered to the next Player,
the Dealer will always take the Bank in turn, then all Players are again offered the betting Bank until the Dealer banks again
). In order for a Player to be the Bank, the Player must have placed a wager against the Dealer the last time the Dealer was the Bank, and the Player must have sufficient gaming chips on the table to cover all of betting the wagers at the table for that round of play.
The Banker will be identified by a white plastic marker.
A Player who is the Bank may use the option to have the Casino cover 50% of the winning wagers; this is known as "Co-Banking
How The Game is Played
A random number appears on the table to determine which player receives the first cards
each player and the Banker receive seven cards.
The cards are arranged into two hands; a two-card hand and a five-card hand
The five-card hand must be higher in rank than the two-card hand
Traditional poker rankings pai gow casino will be used
(Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5 is the second highest straight in Pai Gow)
All winning hands are paid even money, less a 5% commission.
Must Beat the Banker
The player must beat the Banker
If both hands are higher, the player wins
If only one hand is higher, the player pushes (does not win or lose)
If neither hand is higher, the player loses
The Banker wins all ties (if the player and Banker hands rank exactly the same)
Pai-Gow poker strategy is usually based around the opportunity to be the banker.
Statistically you have a greater chance of winning while being the banker.
Your best pai gow poker strategy should be to be the banker as much as you can, if you bet more while you are the banker, statistically you will be playing an advantage.
Make sure you're betting more than you usually do while you're not the pai gow casino banker.
Logically you will make more with this strategy.
Your next best pai gow strategy is to split your cards up right!
The best way to go about this is to study and understand the house way (which does vary a very small amount from casino to casino) which as you might expect is about as good as it gets.
Good Stragtegy
No pair: Place the second and third highest cards in the front
One pair: Place the pair in back and the two highest singletons in the front
Two pair: Split the two pair except for the following three situations:- Both pairs are 6's or less; Both pairs are 10's or less plus ace singleton; One pai gow casino pair of face cards, one pair of 5's or less, and an ace singleton
Three pair: Play highest pair in front
Three of a kind: Play three of a kind in back except break up three aces
Three of a kind twice: Play higher pair in front
Straights and flushes: Always play straight or flush in the high hand except play as a two pair if one of the following: Aces and any other pair; Both pairs 10's or over; Both pairs 10's or under with an ace singleton
With a six or seven card straight or flush put the highest hand possible in front while maintaining the straight or flush in back
If hand contains both a straight and a flush play put the hand in back with the highest hand in front, as long as the front hand is a king or better
Otherwise play flush in back
Full house: Split except pai gow casino with pair of 2's and an ace/king can be played in front
Full house with three of a kind and two pairs: Play the highest pair in front
Four of a kind: Play according to the rank of the four of a kind: 2 through 6: Always keep together; 7 through 10: Split unless an ace and a face card or better can be played in front; Jack through king: Split unless hand also contains a pair of 10's or higher; Aces: Split unless a pair of 7's or higher can be played in front
Straight Flush: Play the straight flush in back except play as a two pair with: Aces and any other pair; Both pairs tens or higher; Both pairs tens or less and an ace singleton
Play a straight or flush instead if an ace and a face card or a pair can be played in front
Royal Flush: Play the pai gow casino royal flush in back except play as a two pair with: Aces and any other pair; Both pairs tens or higher
Break up royal flush if a straight or flush can be played in back and a king or better in front
Five aces: Split unless pair of kings can be played in front
