The name “Pai Gow poker” was chosen to reflect the game’s Chinese origins and to differentiate it from other casino games. The combination of these two elements creates a unique and engaging casino game that is popular with players all over the world. At first glance, the game may seem quite complicated. With this article from ABC8, you will definitely have a better understanding of the rules and general strategies that will help you win.
What is Pai Gow Poker?
Pai Gow Poker is a casino card game played with a deck of 53 cards, including a standard 52-card deck and a Joker. Typically, there are 6 players at a table, with one person acting as the Banker in each hand and one person acting as the dealer (who can also be the Banker). The social aspect of the game is quite interesting, as each player can be the Banker, which means that players have an equal chance of winning or losing.
The objective of the game is quite simple. Players must beat the Banker by making two hands: a five-card hand (the “High Hand”) and a two-card hand (the “Low Hand”). Those are the basics of Pai Gow poker, but to understand the game better, you need to learn about its other aspects.
How to Play Pai Gow Poker
A game of Pai Gow poker can be broken down into 7 steps:
One person is designated as the Banker, and all other players play against him or her. The dealer then shuffles the deck of 53 cards and divides them into 7 face-down piles of 7 cards each, corresponding to the maximum number of players in the game, even if there are empty seats. The remaining four cards in the deck are then placed in the discard pile.
All players place their bets during this round. The dealer then shakes the dice cup containing the three dice and throws them onto the table. The values of the three dice are added together, and the total determines which player receives the first hand. To do this, count starting at the Banker position and working counterclockwise at each betting position, including the empty seats.
Once all the cards have been dealt, the dealer collects the hands from the unbet seats and discards them.
Now, each player has seven cards, which they use to form two separate poker hands: a two-card hand, the “Low Hand”, and a five-card hand, the “High Hand”. When splitting into two hands, if a player has a Joker, he or she can use it as an Ace or complete a Straight, Flush, or Straight Flush. It is very important to note that the “High Hand” must always be higher in rank than the “Low Hand”. If not, it is considered a “Foul Hand” and the player automatically loses.
After all players have placed their hands and placed them face down in the designated areas, the dealer will reveal the Banker’s cards and place them in front of the tray in the “House Way”. This is a set of pai gow rules when splitting into two hands. It is created to ensure that the house plays a consistent and fair game. It is important to note that if a player touches his or her hand after the dealer reveals the Banker’s hand, the player automatically loses.
Then, in turn, each player turns over their cards and compares them with the Banker’s. Each player’s “Low Hand” is compared with the Banker’s “Low Hand,” and each player’s “High Hand” is compared with the Banker’s “High Hand.”
If the player wins both hands, they win the game and are paid. If the Banker wins both hands, the player loses all their bets. If the player wins one hand and the Banker wins one hand, the game is considered a “Push,” in which no bets are won or lost. If one of the player’s hands has the same ranking as the Banker’s, this is considered a “Copy” hand. The Banker wins all “Copy” hands.
Pai Gow Poker Tips & Strategies
There are a number of strategies that can help players increase their chances of winning. Here are some important strategies for Pai Gow poker:
Understanding Hand Rankings
You must understand the traditional poker hand ranking system, as well as the specific rules of Pai Gow poker, so that you can make smart decisions about how to split your cards into two hands.
Split Smartly
One of the most important decisions in Pai Gow poker is how you split your seven cards into two hands. You want to make the strongest two hands possible, while also making sure that your five-card hand is better than your two-card hand.
Using the Joker
The Joker can be a powerful tool in Pai Gow poker, as it can be used as an Ace or to complete combinations of Straights, Flushes, or Straights. When deciding how to split, you should consider the potential uses for the Joker.
Follow the “House Way”
In most casinos, dealers follow a set of rules called the “House Way” when splitting their 7 cards into two hands. By following the “House Way,” you can increase your chances of making the best possible two hands.
Know When to Play Conservatively
In some cases, it is best to play conservatively and split in a way that minimizes the risk of losing both hands. For example, if you have a strong high hand and a weak low hand, you will probably want to keep the high hand as your 5-card hand and the weak hand as your 2-card hand.
Know When to Play Risky
In other cases, it is probably best to play riskily and split in a way that maximizes the chance of both hands winning. For example, if you have a strong low hand and a weak strong hand, you will probably want to keep the strong low hand as your 2-card hand and the weak high hand as your 5-card hand. These are the most important strategies in Pai Gow poker.
