All about Pai Gow Game

Pai gow poker originated in the late 1800s during the period when the Chinese were helping the U.S. construct railroads. The game is believed to be a combination of American poker and pai gow, a Chinese domino game.

The object of the game is to have a ‘2-card hand’ and ‘5-card hand’ which is of a higher rank than that of the banker. It is typically played with a single 52-card deck and a Joker. The bets made can range from a minimum of $1 and a maximum of $100.

Select an initial bet amount and then you can begin the game.

In the game of Pai gow, Aces may be considered high or low, that means the ace can be used in an A-K-Q-J-10 or 5-4-3-2-A straight. The Joker can only be used to complete a Straight, a Flush, a Straight Flush or a Royal Flush -- otherwise, the Joker is considered an Ace.

The game begins with each player being dealt seven cards. The player then forms a 5-card hand called a high hand and a 2-card hand called a low hand. The high hand must be equal to or higher in rank than the low hand. The low hand will always be either a pair or a high card hand.

To win, the player's two hands must both have a higher rank than the banker's two hands. Should the player win one hand and lose the other, the bet is considered a push and is neither won nor lost. In all other cases, the player loses. When a player's hand and banker's hand are of equal rank, it is called a copy, and is won by the banker.

In pai gow poker 10-J-Q-K-A is the highest straight, A-2-3-4-5 is the next highest, followed by 9-10-J-Q-K, etc.

Links Directory

All about Pai Gow Game