catwoman

Description and Objective
Button Descriptions
Game Play
Differences Physical vs. Online
Disclaimer




Description and Objective

Pai Gow Poker is a card game played with a 53-card deck consisting of a standard deck of 52 cards plus one Joker. In this version of Pai Gow Poker, the banker (or house) always plays as the dealer and covers all bets, and the player only competes against the dealer. The player receives seven cards, which must then be set or split into two poker hands: a five-card hand and a two-card hand. Once split, the players two hands are compared with the dealers two hands to determine the winner.

The bank pays the winnerminus a 5% commissionand the game ends. The commission is 5% of the bet and is rounded up to the next quarter. For example, a minimum bet of $6 would be a commission of 50 cents. (5% of $6 = 30 cents, but since the commission is rounded up to the next 25 cents; the commission is actually 50 cents. 5% of $11 = 55 cents, which makes the actual commission 75 cents.)



Button Descriptions

Deal
Clicking on the deal button after placing the initial bet starts a new game.

Split
Click on two cards to select them.

To better see all possible ways to split the initial seven cards, re-arrange the hand by dragging cards to different locations. Automatically, cards are initially sorted from highest to lowest.

After selecting two cards to place into the two-card hand, clicking the split button arranges the seven cards into two handsa five-card hand and a two-card handand continues the game.





Game Play

The Deal
For each game, the dealer shuffles the deck and deals out seven cards into each handthe dealers cards remain unknown. The player must then set or split their seven cards into two poker hands: a five-card hand and a two-card hand.

Splitting cards and rules on the Joker
Pai Gow Poker places only one restriction upon splitting the initial seven cards: the five-card hand must have a higher poker rank than the two-card hand. The only other twist during the game is how to play the Joker. The Joker can be used to complete a five-card flush, straight, or straight flush. Otherwise, the Joker counts as an ace.

Ranking the Hands
The hands are ranked according to standard poker rules with one exception: the Ace-2-3-4-5 straight is the second highest straight. Straights rank, from highest to lowest: Ace-K-Q-J-10, Ace-2-3-4-5, K-Q-J-10-9 6-5-4-3-2. Also, keep in mind that the best two-card hand is a pair of aces; the two-card hand cannot have a flush (since a flush requires five cards).

Hand Name Description Example
Five of a Kind 4 aces plus the Joker AS, AH, AD, AC, Joker
Royal Flush 10, J, Q, K, A of same suit 10H, JH, QH, KH, AH
Straight Flush In sequence, 5 cards of same suit 3S, 4S, 5S, 6S, 7S
Four of a Kind 4 cards of same rank 6D, 6S, 6C, 6H
Full House 3 of a kind, plus a pair 2H, 2D, 2S, 3H, 3S
Flush 5 cards of same suit 2D, 4D, 6D, 8D, 9D,
Straight 5 cards in sequence 3H, 4C, 5H, 6S, 7D
Three of a Kind 3 cards of same rank 7H, 7S, 7D
Two Pair 2 pairs of different rank 4H, 4S, 6D, 6S
One Pair 1 pair (2 cards) of same rank KD, KH
High Card 5 cards of different ranks and suits AH, KS, 10D, 5C, 2


Determining the Winner
The players two hands are compared with the dealers two hands to determine the winner. If both the players five-card hand and two-card hand has a higher poker rank than both the dealers hands (5 cards and 2 cards), the player wins. If both of the dealers hands beat both of the players hands, the dealer wins. If either the player or the dealer wins only one of the two hands, the game is a push and neither the dealer nor the player wins. When either the five-card hands or the two-card hands rank exactly the same, the equal hands are called copies of each other. The dealer wins all copy hands. For example, if the player beats the dealer in the five-card hand but copies the dealer with the two-card hand, the game is a push.

The Payout
When the players two hands beat the dealers two hands, the player wins an amount equal to the original bet minus a 5% commission. The commission is 5% of the bet and is rounded up to the next quarter as described above.



Differences Physical vs. Online

Physical
Players may play more than one hand when sitting at a Pai Gow table with fewer players than hands. The extra hands are called dragon hands.
Online
The player may play only one hand; dragon hands are not supported.

Physical
A player may choose to be the banker and must cover all winning bets.
Online
The dealer is always the banker.

Physical
Splitting the seven-card hand incorrectly so the two-card hand has a higher poker rank than the five-card hand forfeits the game.
Online
The player may re-split the hand. The game only continues when the five-card hand has a higher poker rank than the two-card hand.

Physical
The player can ask the house for help when deciding how to split the hand. The house would then show how it would split the hand.
Online
The online version does not support asking the house for help.

Biscuit

I have been reading quite a lot about pai gow poker recently. Been playing some online also. You can play at Bodog for free, and its quite a lot of fun.

__________________
They can take our payment processors, but they'll never take OUR FREEEEEEDOMMMMM!!!!

catwoman

Really Bis? Is it easy and fun? Having any luck? I have never tried playing this game, and i think i may give it a try someday, also i had never played Baqui {spelling probably totally wrong..lol] but i had a blast playing it and its one of my new fav games!

Dyno_Don

I haven't dabbled too much in Pai Gow, but I have played Badugi.

That's the game where you play with just 4 cards, 3 draws, get the lowest hand from A up and now suited cards.

I've even won a few hands with 3 cards.

And for Pai Gow, I've played it on Pogo to get my stinking badges (no pun intended).

Get 7 cards dealt, two hands are played;
keep the 5 highest to beat the dealer and/or other players.
The last two cards, your second hand, you try to make high with what is left, but a lower value than that of your 5 card hand.

Beating the dealer and other players with both hands gives you the most points, and in casino play the best payout.

franky123

My some friends play Pai Gow Poker and and have great experience. Even though I did not play because I feel difficult to play it.

AdenMiller

I have been to many casinos and I have seen people playing this game. But this game has never attracted me like the way Texas Holdem and Blackjack do. Still thanks for sharing the information.

Dyno_Don

I'm with you AdenMiller. Pai Gow just doesn't seem to be an attractive game to me.
It may be a little harder than war, but about the same to holding my attention as far as I'm concerned.

I also like playing Omaha Hi/Lo too.