Pai Gow, or double-hand poker, is an Americanized version of the original Chinese game of Pai Gow. Pai Gow Poker is played using poker hand rankings, whilst the original Pai Gow is played with Chinese dominoes. Pai Gow Rules And Objectives The objective of Pai Gow Poker is to create two poker hands out of the seven cards in your hand: A five-card poker hand and a two-card poker hand. The five-card hand must rank higher than the two-card hand. The two-card hand is often called the hand ‘in front’ or ‘on top’, and the five-card hand is called the hand ‘behind’ or the ‘bottom’ hand, as they are placed in this way on the table when the hands have been chosen. How The Deal works in Pai Gow The cards are shuffled, then seven face-down cards are dealt to both player and dealer. Pai Gow Hand Rankings> The only hands you can make with the two-card hand are a pair or high cards; obviously, no straights, flushes, etc. will be possible with the Pai Gow two-card hand. The standard poker hand rankings apply to the five-card hand, with one exception: in most Nevada casinos, the hand A-2-3-4-5 ranks above a king-high straight, but below the ace-high straight A-K-Q-J-10. At most casinos in California & Michigan, this Pia Gow Rule doesn't apply; the A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest possible straight. The joker in Pai Gow Poker functions as a ‘bug’: this means that in the five-card hand it can be used to complete a straight or flush, if possible; otherwise it can act as an ace. In the two-card hand, it always counts as an ace. Determining a Win in Pai Gow If both of your two Pai Gow hands beats the banker's corresponding hands, then you win your bet. If only one of your hands beats the banker, then you push (your bet is returned to you.) If both of your hands lose to the banker, then you lose your bet.
On each individual hand, ties go to the banker (for example, if your five-card hand loses to the banker and your two-card hand ties him, you lose). |
