While not considered one of the most popular casino games, poker pai gow boasts a lower house edge, thus increasing the likelihood of winning. With a higher probability of success, players can enjoy the excitement and thrill of this game.
Discover the art of playing pai gow poker, a variant that is much simpler than it appears. Mastering the fundamentals of pai gow is a breeze, and with a bit of practice, you can surely enhance your winning prospects.
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Learn how to play online Pai Gow poker like a pro
Pai Gow poker offers a more leisurely pace, allowing players ample time for thoughtful consideration. While bearing similarities to traditional poker and its variations, Pai Gow poker boasts a few distinguishing features.
Differences between classic poker and pai gow poker
- Each player is dealt a hand of 7 cards, rather than a hand of 2 cards (Texas Hold'em poker).
- The poker pai gow deck utilizes a single wild card instead of two as seen in classic poker.
- In this variant, you must divide your initial hand into two poker hands: the front hand and the bottom hand.
- There is no way to bluff in pai gow.
- Players directly compete with the dealer.
- The hand ranking is slightly different, although it is generally similar to the poker hand rankings.
Pai Gow poker is a game that combines elements from the traditional Chinese game of Pai Gow dominoes and regular poker, played with a deck of 52 French cards plus one Joker. Its rules are a unique fusion of these two popular games, providing players with an exciting and strategic card gaming experience.
If you feel that this casino game is challenging to play, take a look at the video below featuring a comprehensive guide on playing real money pai gow poker.
The process of playing online pai gow poker is identical to the version played on physical game tables. In the digital format, you have the option to click on "deal" or "split." Prior to the dealer distributing the cards, it is necessary for you to place your bets. The betting amounts can range from as low as $1 to as high as $500, depending on each online casino. Once you have placed your bet, the corresponding amount will be deducted from your casino account.
Once you place your wager and click on "deal," the cards will be dealt to both you and the dealer (7 cards facing downwards). Your cards will only be visible to you.
Once you have checked your cards, you will need to rearrange your 7-card poker hand into two pai gow poker hands, namely the front hand and the bottom hand. The front hand consists of two cards, while the bottom hand consists of five cards.
When you make the decision to separate two specific cards from the remaining cards, you have the option to click on "split". Once this action is taken within the game, the outcome will be revealed.
- Let's say your two hands are better than the dealer's, so you win. When you win, a 5% commission will be directed to the house.
- If only one of your hands is better than the dealer's, it will result in a push and you will get back everything you've bet.
- If both of the dealer's hands win against the player's hands, the dealer wins and the amount you bet goes to the house.
- If you tie with the dealer's hand, he automatically wins the game.
- Once you find out whether you won or not, you can click on "rebet" to bet the same amount again.
Classification of hands in pai gow poker
Which hand is worth more, the bottom or front? And how are the hands classified? The initial rule of pai gow poker is that the 5-card hand, the bottom, always holds greater value than the front hand.
Front Hand Classification
The ideal front hand is one that comprises a pair of Aces or a two-card hand that does not allow for a flush. It is crucial to have a strong starting hand in order to increase your chances of winning. By having a pair of Aces, you have a powerful hand that can dominate the table. On the other hand, a hand without the possibility of a flush can also be advantageous, as it reduces the likelihood of your opponents hitting a strong hand. Remember, the key to success in this game is to carefully assess your starting hand and make strategic decisions based on the cards you hold.
Let's say you don't have a pair to make your front hand, you can create a hand with a high card and another card. In the front hand, your two-card hand, the best option is to make a pair of Aces. The second best hand is K-K, followed by Q-Q down to 2-2. An A-K is the best non-pair hand, followed by A-Q-A-J down to A-2.
Below that, a royal flush is the best hand, followed by a straight flush, and so on up to three of a kind, which is the worst hand you can have.
To gain a deeper grasp of the regulations governing pai gow poker, acquaint yourself with the descending order of card ranks: A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
Bottom Hand Ranking
The bottom hand, a hand of five cards, nearly adheres to the typical ranking of poker hands, much like Draw 5 cards, Stud 7 cards, and Texas Hold'em. The only distinction lies in the order, where the straight from Ace to 5 is deemed the second-best straight.
The top-notch straights are:
- A-K-Q-J-T
- 5-4-3-2-A
- K-Q-J-T-9
Pai Gow poker entails utilizing a standard 52-card deck along with an additional wild card. This wildcard serves the purpose of completing straights and flushes. In the absence of such an option, the wild card assumes the identity of an Ace. Possessing five Aces is an infrequent occurrence, but it represents the ultimate hand in Pai Gow poker.
Other than that, most players should already be familiar with the hand rankings, so check them out:
Poker Hand | Description | Example | Classification |
---|---|---|---|
5 of a Kind | Four Aces and a Jack in the Hand | Ace of spades, ace of hearts, ace of diamonds, ace of clubs, Joker. | 1o |
Royal Flush | A hand of 10, J, Q, K, A of the same suit. | As, King of Spades, Queen of Spades, Jack of Spades, 10 of Spades | or |
Straight Flush | Five cards of the same suit in sequence. | 3♥, 4♥, 5♥, 6♥, 7♥ | A |
4 of a Kind | Four cards in the same sequence. | 4♦, 4♠, 4♥, 4♣ | what |
Full House | Three cards of the same kind, plus one pair. | 2♥, 2♦, 2♠, 4♥, 4♠ | 5o |
Flush | Five cards with the same suit. | 2♦, 3♦, 4♦, 5♦, 7♦ | what |
Straight | Five cards in a row | 3♥, 4♣, 5♥, 6♠, 7♦ | H |
3 of a Kind | Three letters with the same value. | A♥, A♠, A♦, 5♣, 2♣ | 8o |
2 Pair | Two pairs of cards with different values. | 4♠, 4♣, 2♥, 2♣, 5♦ | Q |
1Pair | Two letters with the same denomination. | K♦, K♥, 4♣, 9♠, 10♦ | 10o |
High Card | suit. Five cards that are not of the same suit or of the same. The denomination that holds high value when standing alone. |
A♥, K♠, 10♦, 5♣, 3♣ | 11o |
Another way to form a pai gow poker hand
Have you grasped the concept of how to play pai gow poker, but still don't feel confident in how to arrange your hands when the cards are dealt? In online pai gow poker, you have the option to click on "house way." This feature enables you to organize your hands in a pre-programmed manner determined by the house. Utilizing this function can greatly benefit novice players.
But remember that one of the most intriguing aspects of poker is precisely deciding your own hands to play. So, don't give up and keep trying until you feel confident enough to play on your own.
The advantage of the house in pai gow poker
The poker pai gow house edge typically stands at 2.9%, meaning players have a much higher likelihood of winning and can further diminish the house advantage by employing effective pai gow poker strategies.
Payments made by hand in pai gow poker.
If you're engaged in a game of pai gow poker and find that luck is on your side, it's worth noting that players with winning bets receive a 1:1 payout. However, it's important to bear in mind that a 5% commission is typically deducted from the total value of a winning wager as house fees.
For instance, in the event that you wagered $500 and emerged victorious in both of the dealer's hands, it signifies that you have won; however, you will be required to surrender 5% of the overall amount you have gained to the establishment.
Play the game of Pai Gow poker right now.
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Discover how to play three-card poker as well.