The Pai Gow Poker rules described here apply to online casino play. The fastest and easiest way to learn how to play is to visit one of the online casinos listed below and play for free.
House Edge The House Edge of Pai Gow Poker varies depending on both the player strategy and the House Way rules applied by the particular casino. The House Way rules generally do not vary dramatically which allows for the application of an optimal player strategy (discussed below). This strategy generally allows for a House Edge of between 2.5-2.6%. Pai Gow Poker is a casino poker game that resulted from a combination of game elements from classic player vs player poker and traditional Chinese Pai Gow dominos. All players playing at a Pai Gow poker table play against the house. Pai Gow Poker is played with a standard 52 card deck and an additional Joker card. Most pai gow poker rules say dealers have to set their hands the house way. What the house way is will vary from casino to casino. Then hands are compared. Normal poker hand rankings are used. Some casinos consider A2345 the second-highest straight, which is something you want to beware of before you play.
In online play the dealer is always the banker (i.e. the games are casino or house banked) and the dragon hand is not available. The object of the game is to beat the banker's high and low hand.
Pai Gow Poker is played with a standard deck of 52 cards plus one joker. The joker is a semi-wild card that may be used to form a straight, flush, straight flush or royal flush. When a joker is not used to complete a straight, flush or straight flush it has the rank of an ace.
Pai Gow Poker uses typical poker hand rankings with two exceptions. The best five-card hand is not a royal flush but five aces which consist of four aces and one joker. Secondly, A-K-Q-J-10 is the highest ranking straight but A-2-3-4-5 is the next highest followed by K-Q-J-10-9.
Before cards are dealt a wager in accordance with table limits must be placed in the bet circle. Each player then receives seven cards that must be separated into two-card and five-card poker hands.
The two-card hand is known as the low hand, the front hand or the second highest hand and must be lower in ranking than the five-card hand. If the two-card hand is ranked higher than the five-card hand it is considered a 'foul' and the player automatically loses. The highest ranking two-card hand is a pair of aces while the lowest is 2-3.
The five-card hand is known as the high hand, back hand or the highest hand and is placed behind the two-card hand as shown below.
Pai Gow Dealer Rules
After the hands are 'set' they are compared to the banker's (in online play the banker is always the dealer) two hands to determine the winner.
- If the player's two-card hand and five-card hand beats both of the banker's hands, the player wins even money (1 to 1) minus a 5% house commission.
- If only one of the player's hands beats the banker it is considered a tie or push. No money is won or lost and all wagers are returned to the player (commission is not paid on ties or losing hands).
- If both of the player's hands lose to the banker's hands the banker wins and all wagers are lost.
- If the player and banker have two hands of the same rank it is called a 'copy' and the banker wins on all copies.
Pai Gow Tiles Rules
Every casino uses a strategy for setting hands called the 'house way'. Some online casinos give players the option of setting cards using the house way after the cards are dealt.
Pai Gow Poker Pages