Pai Gow Poker
Are you a poker fan? Then you must know about the variations that are available online for playing poker. The traditional card game has millions of followers, and it is the most played game in the world. One of the well-known variations is Pai Gow Poker. Pai Gow Poker is the blend of Chinese Pai Gow and American poker. So, let’s move on to see how to play Pai Gow Poker.
Pai Gow means nine in the Chinese language. The traditional Pai Gow game is played with tiles. But as this game came to the scene in America, Pai Gow was played using cards. The game is also simple, and you have to use small strategies to win your game. But, I would recommend you to get an idea of what the game is all about, before getting started.
Pai Gow is played using 52 cards and a joker card. This joker card is either used as ace or a wild card, if your hands make up flush, straight or straight flush. The table resembles a blackjack table, and it has the room for six players and a dealer. Interestingly, you do not play against players. You play with the dealer or the banker. In Pai Gow Poker, you can also be a banker if you wish to be. If you are very new to this game, you can ask the dealer to set your cards in the “House Way”. When the casino plays the role of a banker, then the dealer must set the cards with particular rules, and this is called the “House Way”.
To start playing the game, you have to place your bets according to the table minimum. Dealer deals you seven cards, a five card hand and a two card hand. As a rule, your five cards hand should be higher than the two card hand. The two cards are placed in front and five cards are placed behind the two card.
So, if both your hands are higher than the dealer, then you win! If one of your hands is not higher than the dealer then it is called ‘push’, and there are no winners. If your hands and the dealers are exactly the same then it is called as ‘tie’, and the banker wins. If banker’s both the hands are higher than yours then you lose. Keep in mind that your five card hand should be higher than your two cards, if it does exceeds, and then you are automatically out of the game.
There are few rules through which you should play and win the game. One pair, two pair, three pair, three of a kind, two sets, straight flush, full house, four of a kind and five aces, are the hand types through which the winner is determined.
There are strategies like placing the smallest number in front and the highest card number behind. You can follow the simple tactics, to master the Pai Gow Poker.
Hope, now you know the basics of Pai Gow poker, how to place cards and basic rules. So, try your hands in Pai Gow Poker, and win the game. Good luck!