Pai gow poker is a variation of the Chinese domino game gai gow. Pai
gow poker is played with a 53 card deck, including a joker. The game
is one on one, the player(s) against the banker, each competing to
make the best possible hands. Due to a rather slow pace and a lot
of ties pai gow poker is less intense than most casino games and a
modest buy in can usually last a long time. This page will discuss
the rules and strategy for pai gow as found in casinos as opposed
to card clubs. Pai gow is legal in the card clubs of southern California
but the rules are somewhat different, often in the direction of being
to the player's advantage.
Rules
Play begins by making a wager. Next everyone receives seven cards.
A roll of the dice or a randomly generated number determines which
player gets the first set of cards. The players then each arrange
their seven cards into a five-card hand and a two-card hand. The five-card
hand is ranked as in poker, with the exception that an A-2-3-4-5 straight
is the second highest straight. The two-card hand will either be a
pair or two individual cards. The highest two-card hand is a pair
of aces and the lowest is a 2-3.
After all the players have arranged their hands the banker arranges
theirs according to a set of fixed rules known as the "house
way." Then the player's five-card hand is compared to the dealer's
five-card hand. Likewise the player's two-card hand is compared
to the dealer's two-card hand. The highest hand wins. In the event
of an exact match between hands, called a copy, the tie goes to
the banker. If the player beats the dealer with both hands the player
wins even money, less a 5% commission. If the player wins one and
loses one the bet is a push. If the player loses both the player
loses the entire wager.
When setting the hands the two-card hand may not be higher then
the five-card hand. If it is then both hands are deemed "foul"
and both lose. The joker can only be used to complete a straight,
flush, or straight flush, otherwise it is treated as an ace. At
some places if there is an empty seat the dealer will also deal
a "dragon" hand. Another player may assume the dragon
hand if they wish, essentially playing two positions rather than
one. The player may have to use the house way in setting the dragon
hand.
In pai gow poker any player may elect to be the banker in turn.
If a player banks the 5% commission is charged on the net win. When
a player is the banker the dealer will still play, betting an amount
equal to the last bet the player made when the dealer was banking.
It is strongly to the advantage of the player to be the banker as
much as possible because the dealer wins on copies and the 5% commission
is charged after losses are set against winnings.
The opportunity to bank usually rotates from person to person,
including the house, but sometimes will zig-zag between the players
and the dealer. If the player wants to bank they must have enough
money on the table to pay off all winning bets of the other players
and dealer. The player must also have played a previous hand against
the house banker to bank. Some casinos will allow the player to
co-bank with the house. If this option is elected the casino will
assume half the financial responsibility of the outcome. The player
must set their hand according to the house way if co-banking.
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