Pai Gow poker is played with a 53 card deck with the fifty-third card being the joker. The game is commonly referred to as the blackjack of Poker and is a fast-paced game played against the dealer. Pai Gow basic strategy is based on knowledge of Poker hands. It is unique from other forms of poker because in Pai Gow the player is required to make two hands. One hand is a five card hand and the other is a two card hand, both hands are compared against the dealer's hands to determine the outcome of the bet. The game begins with the player placing an ante bet, just as in the majority of poker games.
How to Play Pai Gow Poker
How to play Pai Gow Poker. If you're familiar with the rules of normal draw poker, you'll find it pretty easy to get up to speed with Pai Gow. The game is played with a 53 card deck - a standard deck plus one joker which plays as the wild card.
- INTRODUCTION TO PAI GOW POKER. Pai Gow Poker, or Double-hand poker, is a westernized version of Pai Gow, a Chinese domino game. The game was created in 1865 by Sam Torosian of the Bell Card Club. Players play against the dealer. THE DEAL & THE PLAY. Before the deal, each player (excluding the dealer) puts up a stake.
- Pai Gow Poker Dealer Rules or 'House Way' In every casino Pai Gow game the dealer is required to set his or her Pai Gow hand in specific ways. This is called the 'House Way.' This varies from casino to casino but is listed in every casino's gaming guide.
Once the wager is placed the game can begin, the game begins with the dealer rolling dice. It is the dice roll that is used to select the set of cards the player gets. With the seven cards determined, the game proceeds to the next stage. The player divides the cards into two hands, a five card hand and a two card hand. The five hand card is referred to as the back hand or behind hand. The back hand should rank higher than the remaining two cards. In fact the back hand should be the highest ranking poker hand you can make from your seven cards. A hand is formed from the two cards that are left. This second hand is referred to as the front hand. It helps if you can make the two cards a pair as this makes it a better hand. The names of the hands are taken from the position that the hands are placed. The back hand is placed behind the front hand, nearer the player.
Pai Gow Poker House Way
Once the players indicate to the dealer that they are done sorting their hands the next phase of the game begins. At this stage the banker will start the house rules. The dealer and the player compare cards to see who has a better hand. The cards are shown to everyone starting with the back hand then both the dealer and the player will reveal the front hand. If the players hand is better than the dealer's hand the player gets even money. When the player wins one hand and losses the other hand it is referred to as a push. This will result in the player getting one bet back. If the cards are a tie then the banker gets the winnings. A tie is known as a copy. The banker also earns a 5% commission on all winnings. When the dealer's hands are better than the players hands the player loses both bets.
Pai Gow Poker Bankers
The banker can be anyone on the table. The position of banker rotates around the table in a clockwise direction. The banker must have enough money to cover bets on the table. To be the banker you may be required to play a hand against the house back. Some online casinos Australia allow co-bankers in a game. To be banker, the player needs to know the house rules. Most casinos provide the banker. When you come across an opportunity to be the banker you should take it. The banker has better odds to make money on the table.
Playing Pai Gow Poker Online
This game is more of a low risk game ideal for players who are content raking in low wins regularly. You need to see the Pai Gow Poker tips before playing the game. With these tips you are likely to enjoy a leisurely day on the Pai Gow Poker table improving your bankroll.
Pai Gow Poker has roots in both poker and the Chinese dominoes game called 'Pai Gow.' In this variation, a standard deck of 52 playing cards plus one joker is used. Each player is dealt seven cards, from which two different poker hands will be formed.
Unlike traditional poker games, Pai Gow Poker is played against the dealer and not against other players. Multiple players can sit at a Pai Gow Poker table, but each player competes individually against the dealer. The goal of each player is to end up with two poker hands that each beat the dealer's poker hands.
How To Play Pai Gow Poker – Rules and Betting
Each round of Pai Gow Poker begins with each player placing a wager. Each player is then dealt seven cards. Many casinos follow a tradition in which the dealer deals seven hands regardless of how many players are seated at the table. Each player is then randomly given one of those seven-card hands.
After the players have their hands, each player arranges his cards into two different hands. One hand should contain five cards and the other hand should contain two cards. It is important to note that the five card hand should always have a higher value than the two card hand.
Hand Values
The five card hand in Pai Gow Poker is ranked according to traditional poker rules with a couple of exceptions. For one, most casinos treat the hand A-2-3-4-5 as the second highest straight behind T-J-Q-K-A in Pai Gow Poker.
Secondly, the joker card is used as a 'bug.' That means it can be used to complete straights and flushes only. Otherwise, it is considered an Ace. As a result, the highest possible five card hand in Pai Gow Poker is five Aces.
The two card hand in Pai Gow Poker is also ranked according to traditional poker rules. Because there are only two cards in this hand, the highest possible two card hand is a pair of Aces. If there is no pair, the two card hand is ranked by the strength of each card. The lowest possible two card hand in Pai Gow Poker is 2-3.
Remember that when setting your hand, the five card hand must be stronger than the two card hand. This means that you would not be able to put a couple of Aces in your two card hand and then leave your five card hand with nothing but a couple of high cards. If you set your hand incorrectly, it is considered 'fouled' and treated as a loss.
If you need help setting your Pai Gow Poker hand, you can always ask the dealer to set it for you in the 'house way.' The house way is a set of rules the dealer uses to set his own hand. It's actually not a bad strategy to have your hands set in the house way.
Winning and Losing
After all the players at the table have set their hands, each player compares his hands to the hands of the dealer. The following list details all possible outcomes in Pai Gow Poker:
- Both of the player's hands beat both of the dealer's hands: the player wins
- One of the player's hands wins and one loses: the bet is a push (nobody wins or loses)
- Both of the player's hands lose: the dealer wins
- One of the hands ties and the player wins the other hand: the bet is a push
- One of the hands ties and the dealer wins the other hand: the dealer wins
All winning bets are paid at even money odds.
Basic Strategy
If playing at a live casino, one simple Pai Gow Poker strategy is to be the banker as often as possible. Some live casinos allow players to be the banker. In this case, the player who is acting as the banker gains the advantage of winning on ties. The house takes a commission from the banker, but the banker's position is still the best. However, you have to be willing to accept the risk of paying out all the other players at the table.
Apart from that, perfect Pai Gow Poker strategy is almost impossible to memorize. Instead, a couple of simple rules will serve you best. First of all, the main rule to remember is the following:
- Set your two card hand so that it is as strong as the rules allow
Remember – you cannot make your two card hand stronger than your five card hand. But as a general rule of thumb, you will be best served by arranging your cards so that your two card hand is as strong as it can legally be.
If ever in doubt, ask the dealer to set your hand the house way. The house rules for setting Pai Gow Poker hands are close to optimal strategy. If you're not sure of how to set your hand, the house way won't lead you far astray.
Pai Gow at Land Based Casinos
When it comes to live casinos, Pai Gow Poker fans are at the mercy of geography. The best place to play Pai Gow Poker in person depends primarily on where you live and where you are willing to travel. The good news is that Pai Gow Poker is offered at casinos around the world.
In Las Vegas, nearly every casino offers Pai Gow Poker. In that area, you can choose your location based on your own casino preferences and the betting limits. Strip casinos tend to have high minimum bets while downtown casinos will let you play for as little as $5.00 a hand.
The advantage to playing live Pai Gow Poker is that you get to play with other players at the table. The social aspect of Pai Gow Poker provides most of the fun that is associated with live casino games. Being able to talk and joke around with the other players at the table makes it an entertaining game.
Another advantage of live Pai Gow Poker is that live casinos like to give away perks to their players. If you play enough Pai Gow Poker, you will earn freebies such as drinks, meals and rooms. The exact perks differ from one casino to the next, but the general idea is that the more you play, the more you earn at that casino.
Pai Gow Poker At Online Casinos
Pai Gow Poker Rules And Payouts
Online casinos also offer Pai Gow poker for real money. Every online casinos offers Pai Gow Poker, so your choice should be based on factors such as the reputation of any potential casinos and the betting limits allowed. You will find the best experience by sticking with big name internet casinos.
One nice thing about internet Pai Gow Poker is that the minimum bets are much smaller than at live casinos. Most internet casinos will let you start playing for as little as $1.00 per hand. The slow nature of Pai Gow Poker and low house advantage make it possible to play online for a long time without spending a lot of money.
Another nice thing about online Pai Gow Poker is that all internet casinos offer some sort of signup bonus to new players. Best gambling apps. If you sign up at an online casino and make a deposit, you will probably get a large deposit bonus. This extra money gives you more time at the tables and more chances to win.
Health Promotion is funded by IDPH to raise awarenss of problem gambling and responsible gambling. For more information about Prevention and Health Promtion, send us a. Home » Health Promotion » Problem Gambling Awareness. What is Gambling? Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value with an uncertain outcome in the hope of winning something of greater value. Examples include playing cards or video games for money, buying raffle tickets, and betting on the outcome of a sporting event. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND MORALS. In this chapter: (1) 'Bet' means an agreement to win or lose something of value solely or partially by chance. Gambling health promotion. Gambling is be treated as a valid leisure and recreational choice, meaning it can be freely promoted (subject to some limitations on advertising) and that licensing authorities have to 'aim to permit' gambling as long as it is consistent with the three licensing objectives. Outline the major public health issues about how gambling can affect individuals, families and communities; 4. Propose an agenda for strengthening policy, prevention and treatment practices through greater public health involvement, using the framework of The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion.
The one disadvantage to playing Pai Gow Poker online is that it's done from home without other people around. On one hand, this can be a blessing, but it does feel like a more lonely endeavor than live Pai Gow Poker. On the other hand, being able to play from home is extremely convenient.
If you decide to play Pai Gow Poker online, it is important that you do a little research before you join just any old casino. Look up a few online casino reviews before you play so that you stick with reputable casinos only. Most casinos are completely safe, but it doesn't hurt to do a couple minutes of research before you sign up and play for real money.
When playing Pai Gow Poker online, it's important to have a firm understanding of Pai Gow Poker rules and strategies. In addition, you should choose an online casino site that offers Pai Gow Poker, Pai Gow Poker variations, and lucrative bonuses specific to Pai Gow Poker. Pai Gow Poker online is best enjoyed at a site with helpful customer service and a variety of banking methods.
Pai Gow Poker Online Bonuses
Most online casinos offer lucrative initial signup bonuses to their Pai Gow Poker online players. However, players who plan to devote most of their real money play time exclusively to Pai Gow Poker should find a site offering Pai Gow Poker-specific bonuses. Usually, these types of bonuses are more lucrative than those that can be used for any casino games. Look for a bonus with a high matching percentage, high maximum value, low wagering requirement and extended expiration period. Other bonuses, such as reload bonuses, Refer a Friend bonuses and loyalty rewards programs are also useful for maximizing your bankroll while playing Pai Gow Poker online.
Many online casinos offer Pai Gow Poker bonuses in order to attract new players and maintain their existing Pai Gow Poker player base. The most common Pai Gow Poker bonuses include initial deposit bonuses, reload bonuses, Refer a Friend bonuses and VIP membership programs. In some cases, online casinos offer Pai Gow Poker-specific bonuses. These bonuses are often quite lucrative, and are restricted to certain game types such as Pai Gow Poker.
Initial Deposit Pai Gow Poker Bonuses
Initial deposit bonuses are the most common bonuses offered by online casinos, and these bonuses can be used to wager on Pai Gow Poker and other popular casino games. When you accept an initial deposit bonus for Pai Gow Poker, the online casino will match a certain percentage of your first deposit. The bonus is usually capped at a specified maximum value.
For example, you might receive a 100% initial deposit Pai Gow Poker bonus worth up to $600. You could deposit any amount up to $600 and receive the amount of your deposit as an additional bonus. If you deposit more than $600, you'll still receive a $600 bonus.
Often, online casinos offer high roller initial deposit bonuses. In this case, you might need to deposit a certain minimum amount, such as $500, in exchange for a larger initial deposit bonus, such as 100% up to $2000. This is an ideal bonus for players who plan to play high stakes Pai Gow Poker.
Pai Gow Poker Reload Bonuses
Reload bonuses for Pai Gow Poker work in a similar fashion to initial deposit bonuses, except they're awarded upon later deposits. You might receive reload Pai Gow Poker bonuses in exchange for depositing with a certain banking method or depositing on a certain day of the week. Reload bonuses are usually less lucrative than initial deposit bonuses. Common examples of reload bonuses include 10% up to $200 or 20% up to $100.
Refer a Friend Pai Gow Poker Bonuses
Refer a Friend bonuses are also commonly offered by online casino sites. With a Refer a Friend Pai Gow Poker bonus, you'll receive a cash bonus in exchange for referring a friend to the site. In some cases, your bonus will be a static value, such as $25 or $50 per friend. In other cases, you'll receive a bonus equal to a certain percentage of your friend's first deposit. For example, a 10% Refer a Friend bonus would reward you with $100 when your friend deposits $1000.
Typically, your friend will need to register for an account and make a real money deposit before your bonus becomes available.
Game-Specific Pai Gow Poker Bonuses
Sometimes, online casinos offer bonuses that are specific to a certain game type, such as Pai Gow Poker. In this case, you'll accept a bonus and then only be allowed to use your bonus funds for Pai Gow Poker. Since these types of bonuses limit the game types available to you, they're often more lucrative than other bonuses. Be sure to read the terms and conditions of any bonus to determine which game types are available for real money play.
Pai Gow Poker Online Variations
Though most Pai Gow sites offer the standard ruleset explained above, the best online casino sites offer Pai Gow Poker variations. One of the more popular Pai Gow Poker variations is Pai Gow Poker Mania, which allows for two side bets during each hand. No Push Pai Gow Poker is another popular variation, in which all ties are broken by comparing two of the extra cards left over after a full deal.
Some online casinos offer a game simply called 'Pai Gow.' Players seeking Pai Gow Poker online should be aware that Pai Gow is actually a completely different casino game that is played with Chinese dominoes instead of standard playing cards.
More and more online casino sites are now offering gamblers the opportunity to play live dealer Pai Gow Poker. This is a new variation on traditional Pai Gow Poker games, in which the player is able to view a video stream of a live dealer as play progresses. Betting decisions are still made via an interactive software interface, while players enjoy watching and hearing the live dealer directing their game. The rules of Live Dealer Pai Gow Poker are identical to those found in traditional Pai Gow Poker games.
In a traditional Pai Gow Poker game, each player receives seven cards which he or she must split into a 5-card hand and a 2-card hand. The dealer must then do the same with his or her seven cards. Next, the hands are compared against one another in order to determine a winner. There are several Pai Gow Poker game variations which involve side bets, pushes and various other rule changes.
No Push Pai Gow Poker Game Variation
No Push Pai Gow Poker is a Pai Gow Poker game variation that you'll find at several live casinos and a few online casinos. No Push Pai Gow Poker uses the same rules as traditional Pai Gow Poker with a few key exceptions.
First, the dealer must always act as the banker. Second, No Push Pai Gow Poker does not charge players a 5% commission on each win, which is standard practice for normal Pai Gow Poker.
The most important rule change, however, deals with the way in which pushes (extremely common in standard Pai Gow Poker) are eliminated from the game. As in any Pai Gow Poker game, four cards will be left over after the dealer distributes seven hands. The first of these leftover cards is placed on a marked area for the players. The second leftover card is placed in an area for the dealer. The dealer turns these cards over after arranging his hands.
In the event of a tie between a player's 5-card and 2-card hands with the dealer's hands, the tiebreaker cards are used. If the dealer's tiebreaker card is equal to or greater than the player's tiebreaker card, the dealer wins. Jokers are always treated as Aces when they are tiebreaker cards.
Pai Gow Poker Mania
Pai Gow Poker Mania is an interesting Pai Gow Poker game variation in which two side bets are available to players. The side bets are available on the first three cards received by the player, as well as the full seven card hand. Players may look at their first three cards in order to determine whether to make the first side bet, and the same is true after all seven cards are dealt.
Examples of payout ratios for the 3-card side bet include:
- Natural Straight Flush – 40:1
- Three of a Kind – 30:1
- Wild Straight Flush – 5:1
- Straight – 4:1
- Flush – 3:1
- Pair – 1:1
- Five Aces – 500:1
- Royal Flush – 250:1
- Straight Flush – 50:1
- Four of a Kind – 25:1
- Full House – 5:1
- Flush – 4:1
- Three of a Kind – 3:1
- Straight – 2:1
What Is The House Advantage?
The house advantage of Pai Gow Poker depends primarily upon how its played. With basic strategy, Pai Gow Poker has a low house advantage. That low house advantage plus the slow pace of the game make it a popular one for money-conscious gamblers.
Generally, the house advantage of Pai Gow Poker is less than 3%. The advantage can fluctuate based on how you play, but most players get the hang of basic strategy fairly quickly. House rules can also affect the advantage, but at most casinos that advantage is less than 3%.
Anything can happen over the short term with a low house advantage like that found in Pai Gow Poker. This game is attractive to the player because most rounds end up in a tie or win for the player. The casino does have an advantage over the long run, but it's lower in Pai Gow Poker than it is in most casino games.
What Is Pai Gow Poker
There are many qualities to look for in the best Pai Gow Poker sites. First, it's important to seek a site that offers Pai Gow Poker for both real money play and free play. In addition, some Pai Gow Poker sites offer multiple Pai Gow Poker variations, giving you more opportunities to hone your Pai Gow Poker skills. The best Pai Gow Poker sites also offer lucrative bonuses, comprehensive customer support, high quality software options and secure real money banking methods.
A Brief History
Pai Gow Poker was invented in the 1980s by casino game inventor and Commerce Casino manager Fred Wolf. He invented an early version of the game called Super Pan-9 and introduced it to the Bell Club in California. The game quickly become a customer favorite and it spread throughout the rest of California and into major Las Vegas casinos.
The original game of 'Pai Gow' is an ancient Chinese dominoes game. The history of that game is difficult to track, but we know that the Chinese invented it and brought it with them to the United States in the 1800s. The original game is complicated and very difficult to master.
Pai Gow Poker was invented as a sort of combination between that original Pai Gow game and the American game of poker. The combination resulted in a simplified format of both games that can be played in casinos against a single dealer. Since those early days, Pai Gow Poker has spread to casinos around the word.
The Game In A Nutshell
Pai Gow Poker is a fun but slow-paced game. Ties are common in this game so money changes hands more slowly in this game than in most. Some players view that as an advantage wile others consider it a disadvantage. In our opinion, the entire point of gambling is to have fun, and Pai Gow Poker does exactly that without burning through your bankroll quickly.
Pai Gow Poker is loosely based on the ancient Chinese game 'Pai Gow' but with much simpler rules. It can be played both live and on the internet, so a game is always available no matter where you live. We believe it is best to get started on the internet to get the game down pat and then make the switch to live casinos.
Basic strategy for Pai Gow Poker is simple to learn and it keeps the house advantage below 3%. Setting your hands is fun and the game has a generally positive and friendly feel to it. If you play for real money, you are bound to have a good outcome no matter what the outcome.
Enjoy!
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Our mission is to help those interested in learning everything about the game, including how to play pai gow poker, what countries the game is popular in, proper betting strategies to give you the best chance of winning, and other topics such as history of the game and popular culture associated with our favorite game of chance.
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