How to Play Pai Gow Poker

Pai gow poker is one of the more recent casino games. It is a mixture of the Chinese game of pai gow (make nine), and American poker. It is unlike any other poker game though. Rather than playing against other players, as one would do in most poker games such as Texas hold'em and five card draw, in pai gow poker, the players are playing against the bank, which can be any player or the dealer.

The dealer initially starts as the banker, and then the position moves from player to player. Players have the option to decline the role of banker and pass it on to the next player.

One standard deck is used in pai gow poker, sometimes with one joker (depending on the casino, the joker can be used as an ace or completely wild.) The object of the game is to beat the banker in two hands, a two-card hand and a five-card hand.

In pai gow poker, the banker and up to six other players are dealt seven cards. The dealer goes through a very unique process to deal the cards. The dealer shuffles the deck and deals out seven cards for each player at the table and himself. For example if there were four players at the table and the dealer was playing as the banker, the dealer would place five sets of seven cards on the table. He discards the remaining cards. After placing the sets of seven cards on the table, the dealer rolls three dice using a teacup. The sum of the three dice is used to determine which player gets the first hand. For example, if the sum of the dice is thirteen, the dealer starts with himself and counts clockwise each player until he reaches thirteen. That player would get the first hand. The remaining hands are distributed to players in a counterclockwise motion.

With those seven cards the player must make a two-card hand and a five card-hand (the five card hand must have a higher rank than the two card hand). It is the player's responsibility to make the five-card hand better then the two-card hand. If the two card hand is higher than the five card hand, it is considered a foul and the player automatically loses his bet. In order to win the hand and 100% on you bet. You must beat the dealer in the two card hand and the five card hand. If you win one hand and lose the other, it is a tie, and you don't win or lose any money. If you lose both hands, of course, you lose your bet.

Rankings in pai gow poker are almost exactly the same as other high poker games for the five card hand except five aces (four aces and a joker) defeats a royal flush. For the two card hands, it is exactly the same as it would be in other games. Two aces is the best possible hand and 23 is the worst possible hand.

Pai gow poker is a very enjoyable and at times profitable. Hope you enjoy!