Online Pai Gow Poker
Experience one of the most unique poker games of all time – Pai Gow Poker!
Pai Gow is a unique poker variant that originated hundreds of years ago in China. This domino-style game was transformed into a card game that is played in both land-based and online casinos. Online Pai Gow Poker offers a uniqueness that simply cannot be found in other poker games. Originally, the tile version of this game was a military-themed game where tiles were both civilian and army units, and this game was probably created to represent the nature of Chinese territories at the time.
Terminology
Banker: The banker is the person who takes bets. In a live casino, players will take turns as the banker while in an online casino the dealer is the banker.
Dragon Hand: When a seat is open at a Pai Gow table, the dealer deals to the empty spot which is known as the Dragon Hand. Another player can be on this hand and play 2 hands simultaneously.
Wheel: This is the 2nd highest ranking straight in the game of Pai Gow and it is comprised of a 5, 4, 3, 2 and Ace.
Rules
The goal of Pai Gow is to create two hands that beat the hands of the dealer. Every hand is played with 7 cards which are split into a low hand (made up of 2 cards) and a high hand (made up of 5 cards). Every hand is ranked and played like traditional poker hands but the joker acts as a wild card and can be used to make a royal flush, straight flush, flush or straight. The joker will act as an Ace in all other hands.
Strategy
In the game of Pai Gow Poker, players will need to evaluate both of their hands and this tends to be more complicated than in traditional Texas Hold’em or Omaha games. However, the hand ranking system is the same in Pai Gow as it is in traditional poker so players do not need to learn any additional rankings. Players need to use a strategy that will help them create the highest ranking hand based on the hand they are dealt. One important strategy that can be used by Pai Gow players is to study probability tables. These tables will show players how likely it is for them to complete their hands based on their current hand and how to optimize their play.
Tips
- If you receive 3 pairs, put the highest pair in the 2 card hand and the other two pairs in the 5 card hand
- When you get a 6 card flush you should always put the lower flush in the 5 card hand and put the high card in the 2 card hand – this rule is also true of straights
