The Rules of Pai Gow Poker

Pay Gow poker is a card game that utilizes a deck of 53 cards, which includes a joker. The joker's sole purpose is to complete a straight or a flush and is regarded as an ace in any situation. When it comes to a flush, the highest unused card is taken into consideration.

Before your hand is dealt, you will need to place a bet. The individuals playing with you will also have to wager. If you are playing Pai Gow online, you will likely not be playing against other people. Everyone receives seven cards from the deck. When multiple individuals are playing, rolling the dice will determine who gets the initial set of cards.

Once everyone has received their cards, you will have to strive to do your best with your two-hole cards and five community cards. The hand strengths remain unchanged from regular poker. The only exception, when compared to regular poker, is that the "wheel" (A, 2, 3, 4, 5) will be considered the second-best hand, followed by the royal flush (10, J, Q, K, A).

The different combinations in poker hands are as follows: a pair, two pairs, a three of a kind, a straight, a flush, a full house, a four of a kind, a straight flush, and a royal flush. Additionally, you can obtain two identical cards with four aces and a wild card that acts as an ace. In this scenario, you might consider splitting the aces between the two hands to try and win both.

Important Rule: Your smaller hand can never beat your larger hand. For instance, you cannot beat a pair of sixes in your smaller hand because it would go against the pair of fours and the high cards of ace, queen, and three in your larger hand. The optimal move you can make is to play the ace and queen in your smaller hand, even though you could play the fours.

In the event that both the player and the dealer possess identical hand ranks in a five-card hand, such as when both the dealer and the player have a pair of aces, the highest card will determine the winner. Following the pair, the highest card will be used to break the tie. In the unlikely scenario that the dealer and the player have precisely the same cards in their higher hand, this is referred to as a copied hand and will result in a tie, which will be awarded to the dealer.

For smaller hands like a two-card hand, any pair you can form will be able to defeat a hand without pairs. A higher pair will triumph over a lower pair. In the event that there is no pair, the highest card takes the lead, so an Ace and a 2 will conquer a King and a Queen. If you and the dealer have the same hand, then it will result in a tie and go to the dealer.

 

Playing against the hands of the dealer.

The casino sets the rules by which the dealer plays their cards, leaving them with limited freedom to strategize against other players. This implies that the dealer's decisions are bound by predetermined guidelines, restricting their autonomy in determining how to outwit opponents.

The dealer is your opponent in Pai Gow poker, and your main goal is to win both the higher and lower hands against them. If you manage to win both hands, you will receive the money you wagered on the table, subtracting 5% as the house percentage. In the event that you and the dealer each win one hand, there will be no monetary gain or loss. However, if you happen to lose both hands to the dealer, you will forfeit your entire bet.

Due to the 5 percent commission on your earnings, the house advantage is 5 percent since the dealer has few advantages over you. The usual house percentage is typically 2.5 percent, as there are instances where the copied hand goes to the bank.

The Dragon Hand

You may be wondering why a dragon is associated with the game Pai Gow. Well, the fact is that the game originated in China. Another reason for this association is that there is a hand in this game called the dragon hand. This occurs in physical casinos when multiple players play at the same table.

If there is an available seat, the dealer will reach out for that vacant spot. This action is commonly referred to as the dragon hand. Any player can place a bet and take the dragon hand. Essentially, this means you are playing with two separate hands.

Be the Bank

The player can act as the house at any given time. The house represents the opposition to the other players. The dealer will keep playing and bet an amount equivalent to the last bet made by the player when acting as the house. The turn to be the house will be determined randomly. The player can accept or decline the opportunity to be the house, and if declined, the turn will pass to the next player.

To become the house, it is necessary to possess an adequate amount of funds to cover all payouts for winning hands. In order to assume the role of the dealer, one must also have prior experience playing the game. Additionally, being knowledgeable about the rules and strategies of the game is paramount. Only with a solid understanding of the game can one effectively control the pace and flow of the gameplay, ensuring a fair and enjoyable experience for all players involved.

What are the advantages of being the bank?

The primary benefit lies in the fact that there is a 2.5 percent advantage for the bank as they profit from a copied hand. A commission of 5 percent is applied, but only after all your winning and losing hands have been accounted for. The bank gains an edge in case of a replicated hand, ensuring a favorable outcome in their favor. Once all your triumphs and defeats have been tallied up, a 5 percent commission is levied.