Pai Gow poker has its roots in China where the game is played with tiles. To make the game more appealing to western audiences the tiles were changed to cards. Today Pai Gow poker is a popular table game in casinos across the US and Europe. The variation played with cards is so popular, it is even found in most Asian casinos.

Pai Gow is played on a table similar to Blackjack with 6 players on one side opposite the dealer. It uses a standard 52 card deck with one joker for a total of 53 cards. The joker can only be used to complete a flush, straight or as an Ace. The game also incorporates dice to determine who receives the first hand of cards dealt. In some casino the dice have been replaced with a random number generator that displays which seat will receive the first hand.

Each player places a wager on table in front of them before the hands are distributed. Each seat at the table receives a hand. Any hands not being played are picked up prior to players setting their cards. The dealer and each player receive 7 cards which they use to set 2 hands. The first hand is comprised of 5 cards and the second hand uses the remaining 2.

Each hand is ranked according to standard poker hand rankings.

Pai Gow Poker Hand Rankings:

Since 5 cards are necessary to complete a straight or a flush, the highest possible 2 card hand is a pair of Aces. When all the players have set their hands by placing them in the designated spots on the table, the dealer sets his or her hands. The only rule about setting the hands is that the 5 card hand must rank higher than the 2 card hand.

The dealer compares their hands with each player in turn. First the 2 card hands are compared, then the 5 card hands. If either hand ties, it is a push and the player takes back their bet. If the player wins one hand and loses the other, they keep their bet. If the player wins both hands, the dealer pays the player an amount equal to their bet minus 5%. The 5% is a commission paid to the casino for hosting the game. The dealer collect the entire bet when the player loses both hands.

Here are a couple simple strategies to maximize your winning potential. If you are dealt 2 pair and have an Ace, it is advisable to put the Ace in the 2 card hand and keep the 2 pairs together because Ace high is a strong 2 card hand. I f you don’t have an Ace, put the smaller pair in the 2 card hand. On those occasions you receive a full house, it is often wise to split it up by putting the pair in the 2 card hand and keeping 3 of a kind in your 5 card hand. Again, this is because both are strong hands.