Pai Gow Poker: Rules & Basic Play

There's more to Poker than just Texas Holdem No Limit or 7 Card Stud. There are plenty of variants waiting to be played, and one of the most intriguing is pai gow poker, a game that originated in China but is now played all over. The rules of Pai Gow Poker are quite different from the usual game, but it is easy enough to comprehend. First, a 53 card deck is used. The Joker is always included, and it is valued as an Ace. Another innovation is that the game is played against a dealer, on a Blackjack table. Half a dozen can play.

In Pai Gow Poker, play begins when all players place their bets. Next, the dealer hands out seven cards to everyone, including herself. The cards must be divided into two hands, the high hand (consisting of 5 cards) and the low hand (the other two). Players may not draw or replace these cards, but they can rearrange the hands as they please.

According to Pai Gow Poker rules, a player can win by beating the dealer's high and low hands. If he only beats one of the dealer's hands, the bets stay in place and is called a push. If the player and dealer have the same values, the dealer wins. Of course, if the player has inferior high and low hands, he loses his bet.

Because of the presence of the Joker, the hand values in Pai Gow Poker are a bit different from the usual. Because the Joker equals an Ace, it can be used to make a straight and a straight flush. In addition, the highest possible hand is that of the Five Aces (the four Aces plus the Joker). The Royal Flush is only the second highest.

It should also be noted that an Ace followed by the numbers 2-5 make up the second highest straight, unlike in other games.

Rules of Pai Gow Poker state that other traditional hands like the set, two pair and pairs are all playable and ranked in the usual order.

If you want to play Pai Gow Poker but can't find it in the gambling venue nearby, you can always try the Internet. It only takes a while to get used to, and once you get accustomed to it, you'll discover why this game is quickly becoming a favorite in several casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.