The Chinese domino game known as Pai Gow served as the inspiration for the casino table game known today as Pai Gow Poker. The following is a rundown of the fundamentals of playing Pai Gow Poker:
- The game is played using a deck of cards consisting of the regular 52 cards plus one joker. It is possible to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush using the joker, or you may use it as an ace.
- At the beginning of the game, all of the players place their bets on the table.
- After that, the dealer gives each player, including themself, a face-down hand comprised of seven cards.
- After that, each player takes their seven cards and divides them into two hands: a hand of five cards, known as the “high” hand, and a hand of two cards, known as the “low” hand (the “low” hand). The value of the hand consisting of five cards must be greater than that of the hand consisting of two cards.
- After that, the dealer exposes their cards and places them into a high hand and a low hand pile, respectively.
- After then, the player’s hand and the dealer’s hand are compared to one another. As compared to the dealer’s high hand and low hand, the player comes out on top when both of the player’s hands are ranked higher. If there is a tie but only one player has a superior hand, the bet will be refunded. In the event when both of the dealer’s hands are higher, the player will be eliminated from the game.
- It is referred to as a “copy” when both the player and the dealer hold the same hand, and the winner in this situation is the dealer.
- Under some circumstances, in addition to their standard wager, a player may make what is known as a “bonus” bet. This wager is resolved according to the value of the player’s high hand, irrespective of whether the player is successful or unsuccessful in the main game.
When all of the hands have been played and concluded, the dealer will collect the wagers that were lost and pay out the winners.
Objective Pai Gow Poker
The purpose of the card game Pai Gow Poker is to construct two winning hands, one consisting of two cards and one consisting of five cards, both of which are superior to the equivalent hands held by the dealer. These hands are referred to as the “high” hand and the “low” hand, respectively. To be successful, it is necessary for both of the player’s hands to have a higher value than the matching hands held by the dealer. It is termed a tie, and the player’s stake is refunded, if only one of the player’s hands has a higher rank than the other. If the dealer’s two hands are higher than the player’s, the player will lose their stake.
At some situations, players also have the option of placing a bonus wager, which, regardless of whether or not they are successful in the primary game, pays out based on the value of their best hand. The purpose of the bonus bet is to get a high hand that is powerful enough to win the extra payment regardless of the result of the main game. This may be accomplished by having a higher hand than the other players in the game.
Overview Of Playing Pai Gow
Pai Gow is a popular kind of table gaming that can be found in casinos all over the world. The traditional Chinese card game of Pai Gow, which is a variant of this game played with tiles rather than cards, is the inspiration for this game. In Pai Gow Poker, a conventional deck of 52 cards is supplemented with one joker.
The player competes against the dealer in an effort to win the game. The goal of the game is to achieve two unique hands, one with five cards (referred to as the “high” hand) and one with two cards (referred to as the “low” hand), both of which are superior to the comparable hands held by the dealer. The player is responsible for arranging their cards in such a way that the value of their high hand is greater than the value of their low hand.
When all of the players have completed their hands, the dealer will expose their cards and sort them into a high hand and a low hand according to the value of their cards. The winner is then chosen by making a comparison between the hands held by the player and those held by the dealer.
The player has won the game if both of their hands have a higher combined value than the dealer’s comparable hands do. It is termed a tie, and the player’s stake is refunded, if only one of the player’s hands has a higher rank than the other. If the dealer’s two hands are higher than the player’s, the player will lose their stake.
In addition to the main game, players have the option of placing a bonus wager, which, regardless of whether they were successful or unsuccessful in the main game itself, pays out based on the value of their best hand. The purpose of the bonus bet is to get a high hand that is powerful enough to win the extra payment regardless of the result of the main game. This may be accomplished by having a higher hand than the other players in the game.
It may take some time to understand the rules and techniques of Pai Gow Poker, but the game has the potential to be both interesting and thrilling. Before playing with bigger stakes, it is usually a good idea to get some practice playing the game for free or with modest stakes first.
Pai Gow Poker Hand Ranking
Five aces in the hole
When there are four aces and a Joker in a set, that particular hand is referred to as a Five Aces hand. Take, for instance, the hand A-A-A-A-Joker; in this context, a Joker counts as an Ace.
Straight Royal
When a player has an Ace as the highest card in their hand and all five of their cards are of the same suit and in the correct numerical order, they have a Royal Flush. For instance, ten, jack, queen, king, and ace of the same suit, such as hearts, clubs, diamonds, or spades.
A natural straight flush
A Straight Flush is a poker hand that consists of five cards of the same suit in numerical order from highest to lowest. For instance, a Straight Flush consists of the following cards: 4-5-6-7-8 of diamonds.
Four-of-a-kind
When you have four cards that are all of the same rank, you are said to have a “four-of-kind.” In the event that both the player and the dealer have a hand consisting of four of a kind, the winner is determined by which card has the higher rank. For instance, a hand consisting of the ranks 6-6-6-6 of diamonds, spades, clubs, and hearts is considered to be a four-of-a-kind.
Complete Setup
A player is said to have a full house if they have three cards of the same rank and two separate cards of the same class in their hand at the same time. For instance, if you hold the cards K, K, K, K, and 6 6, then you have a full house.
Flush A player’s hand is considered to be a flush once they have five cards that are all the same suit. In a normal Flush, the order of the numbers does not affect the outcome. For instance, a hand consisting of 2-5-8-7-Q of clubs might be referred to as a flush.
Straight A player has a straight when they have five cards that are in ascending numerical sequence from highest to lowest. In this situation, the value of the cards in your hand does not matter. Take, for instance, the sequence 3 clubs, 4 hearts, 5 hearts, 6 clubs, and 7 spades.
Three-of-a-kind
When a player has three cards in their hand that are all the same rank, they are said to have a “three-of-a-kind” hand. One such example of a strong three-of-a-kind hand is having the 7-7-7 of spades.
Two sets each
It is possible to combine two separate sets of two cards that have the same rank into a single pair. For instance, the hands 7-7 and 4-4 are considered to be a “two pair of hands.”
One Pair
The simplest possible hand, a pair consists of two cards of the same rank and is the highest possible pair. For example, a hand consisting of four fours of any suit can be counted as one pair of hands.
Topping the deck
A high card hand is one that does not contain a flush, a straight, or a pair of cards in any combination. The hand is ranked based on the card with the highest value. For instance, in the game of Pai Gow, the hand with the values A-10-5-4-3 can easily triumph over the hand with the values Q-10-8-4-2.
Pai Gow Payouts
The payouts for winning hands in Pai Gow Poker are typically even money (1:1) minus a fee, which is often 5% of the pot. Nevertheless, these payouts might vary from casino to casino. If a player wins a hand, they will not only get their initial wager back, but also an additional sum that is equal to their bet, less the commission that was taken out of the pot.
Some casinos, in addition to the usual payouts, also give bonus payments for specific hands while playing various games. These additional payments are often determined by the value of the high hand that the player has, and this is the case regardless of whether or not the player wins the main game.
The following is a list of some of the most typical bonus payments in Pai Gow Poker:
- Five Aces: 400:1 or higher (depending on the casino)
- Royal Flush: 150:1
- Straight Flush: 50:1
- Four of a Kind: 25:1
- Full House: 5:1
- Flush: 4:1
- Straight: 3:1
- Three of a Kind: 2:1
It’s important to note that bonus payouts vary widely between casinos and can change over time, so it’s always a good idea to check with the casino to see what payouts they offer.
Pai Gow Poker Tips
You may boost your odds of winning at Pai Gow Poker by following these suggestions, which are listed below:
When you start playing Pai Gow Poker, make sure you have a solid understanding of the game’s rules and how to properly arrange your cards to form the hands with the highest possible value.
- Take control of your money by establishing a spending limit for your Pai Gow Poker game and sticking to it. Try to limit your bets to an amount that you can comfortably lose.
- Take advantage of any situation: In Pai Gow Poker, you are required to build two hands, thus it is essential to strike a good balance between the two. Be sure that your hand of five cards is as powerful as it can possibly be, but also keep in mind the value of your hand of two cards.
- Know when to split pairs: If you are dealt a pair, it is advisable to break them into two distinct hands. If you do not know when to split pairs, you may end up losing money. There are, however, a few instances in which this guideline is not strictly adhered to, such as when you are dealt a pair of aces or kings.
- Take note of the dealer’s hands: Considering that you are competing against the dealer, it is essential to take note of the dealer’s hands and alter your approach appropriately.
- Take advantage of bonus payouts: Certain hands at certain casinos qualify for bonus payments at some casinos. If the casino you are playing at has bonus payments, you should make it a point to cash in on those whenever possible.
- Do not try to gain back your losses by raising the amount that you wager while you are experiencing a losing streak. This might cause you to lose even more money. Keep to your spending plan, but pause if you feel the need.
Playing Pai Gow Poker is a skill- and strategy-based game that is both entertaining and difficult. You may improve your chances of winning and have a fantastic time while you’re at the table if you pay attention to these pointers and get enough of practice at the game.
Conclusion
Pai Gow Poker is a fun and unusual casino game that provides players with a comfortable and laid-back environment in which to compete. It’s possible that it’s not as well-known as some of the other games in the casino, but if you like a more methodical and deliberate approach to gambling, you should give it a shot despite the fact that it may not be as popular as some of the others.
