How to Play Pai Gow Poker Games
Pai Gow Poker is a casino card game with a twist, and one of several unique poker game variations. The below Casino Bonus guide to Pai Gow Poker rules will help you learn the fundamentals of this unique casino card game and most undeservingly neglected of poker game variations. If you want to learn to play poker, but are looking for something a little off the beaten path, Pai Gow Poker may be for you.
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Pai Gow Poker Rules: They’re easier than you think
A common refrain among casino game fans is that Pai Gow Poker rules are too difficult to learn. However, once players wrap their minds around the general principles, Pai Gow Poker rules are actually quite simple.
Pai Gow Poker Rules: The Deck
The first step towards learning Pai Gow Poker rules is to understand the deck. This unique game commences with a standard fifty two card deck plus one of the jokers. It is one of only a few poker game variations that includes the joker in the deck, so understanding this step is crucial if you want to play properly.
Pai Gow Poker Rules: Jokers Wild
According to Pai Gow Poker rules, the additional joker often acts as an Ace. However, this rule is very loose and changes depending upon the cards you hold.
If you happen to be dealt either a flush or a straight, you have the option of using the joker as a wild card. These wild cards allow for a greater number of opportunities to win the pot, and are one of several advantages that a casino card game like Pai Gow Poker has over its Stud, Omaha and Holdem counterparts.
Pai Gow Poker Rules: The Deal
Unlike most other poker game variations, this game is played with seven, instead of five card hands. Following the initial seven card deal, players must immediately split their seven cards into two different hands. One hand will consist of five cards; the other of two cards.
The five-card hand must rank higher than the two-card hand. If it doesn’t, the player will automatically lose. Because of this splitting of the hands, players must learn to instantly recognize valid ranking hands.
Pai Gow Poker Rules: Hand Combinations
By including wild cards, Pai Gow Poker rules allow players to create hand combinations that are not seen in traditional poker hand rankings. Pai Gow Poker hands are also unique because there are two of them per player per round – one hand consists of five cards; the other of two.
Despite both of these twists on traditional poker, it is necessary that players memorize standard poker hand rankings because they determine who holds the winning hand.
Five Card Pai Gow Poker Hands
Below is a chart displaying winning Pai Gow Poker hands, in descending order, for the five card combination.
| 5 Card Hand Rankings | |
| Five Aces | Highest ranking hand. 4 Aces + Joker (that is valued as an Ace). |
| Royal Flush | A, K, Q, J & 10 all of same suit. |
| Straight Flush | 5 cards all of same suit. |
| Four of a kind | 4 cards of the same rank (e.g. 4 Queens). |
| Full House | Three of a kind plus a Pair. |
| Flush | 5 cards of the same suit. |
| Straight | 5 cards in a sequence regardless of suit (example: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). |
| Three of a kind | 3 cards of the same rank (e.g. 3 Queens). |
| Two Pair | 2 cards of the same rank + 2 cards of the same rank (e.g. 2 Q, 2 J). |
| One Pair | 2 cards of equal rank (e.g. 2 Queens). |
The Jokers Wild rule means two players within a game will rarely end up with exactly the same hand; it also means that standard suit rankings take precedence.
Two Card Pai Gow Poker Hands
- The highest two-card hand is a Pair of Aces.
- From here, all two-card hands are ranked in descending order from a Pair of Kings to a Pair of Twos. Singletons then follow, also in descending order.
It is crucial that players remember their five-card hand must rank higher than their two-card hand. When they don’t, they are ousted by foul and automatically lose.
Pai Gow Poker Rules: You vs. the Dealer
The dealer also divides his initial seven cards into two hands. Both the player’s five- and two-card hands are then compared to both of the dealer’s hands in order to determine the game winner.
Several possible outcomes may occur: If you are able to master Pai Gow Poker rules and Pai Gow Poker hand rankings, you should be able to win Pai Gow Poker games without spending a great deal of money. Good luck!
This occurs when your five- and your two-card hands rank higher than the dealer’s. This outcome is very rare.
This is the most common result and is known as a “push.” When this occurs, neither player nor dealer collects winnings for the round. Because of this, Pai Gow Poker is traditionally a much slower game than other poker game variations.
Player loses his bet.