Pai gow Poker Basics, Rules and Strategy

Introduction to Pai Gow Poker

The game of Pai gow poker, or Pai gow, is a combination of the ancient Chinese game of Pai gow and the popular well known game of poker.  In Pai gow, much like in blackjack, the players do not play each other.  Each player competes individually against the banker.  The banker is usually the house, though anyone can be the banker.  pai gow is fun and easy to understand.

http://www.onlinegambling2002.com introduces you to this great game to help you become a better player and increase your enjoyment

Now, unlike other forms of poker in which the player with the highest hand wins, in Pai gow every player has two hands.  One five-card hand, or a high hand, and one two-card hand, or a low hand.  The object of the game is two form two hands that will be higher than the banker’s hands.

pai gow Game Play

The game of Pai gow is played with a standard 52-card deck plus one joker.  The joker can serve only as a wild card that completes straights or flushes or as an ace.  The participants in the game are the banker and 6 other players.  The rank of each hand is determined according to the basic poker hierarchy with some slight variations due to the inclusion of the joker:

1. Five aces – 4 aces plus the joker
2. Straight flush – 5 cards of the same suit in a sequence
3. Four of a kind – 4 cards of the same rank
4. Full house – 3 cards of the same rank plus two other card of the same rank
5. Flush – 5 cards of the same suit
6. Straight – 5 cards of any suit in a sequence
7. Three of a kind – 3 cards of the same rank
8. Two pairs – 2 cards of the same rank plus two the cards of the same rank
9. One pair – 2 cards of the same rank

Note that the normal tie-breaking rules of a standard poker game apply here.  For example: 3 kings would beat 3 queens; a full house of 3 queens and 2 fours would beat a full house of 3 jacks and 2 aces.

At the beginning of each game the deal divides the deck to seven 7 card hands.  Each player makes his wager, receives is hand, and has to decide how to distribute the cards between the 5-card hand and the 2-card hand, with one rule.  The 5-card hand must be higher than the two card hand.  For instance if you are dealt A-A-K-K-8-5-3, you cannot form the two card hand with your two aces because it would of a higher poker value than the 5-card hand.

If, by mistake, a player’s 2-card hand is higher than his 5 card-hand, he automatically loses.  After the players form their hands and reveal their cards it’s the banker’s turn to form his hands.  Then each player’s hands are compared to the banker’s hand.  The player’s 5-card hand is compared to the banker’s 5-card hand and the same applies for the 2-card hand.

Now when comparing hands’ values, in a case that two hands have a similar poker value (for example if both the player and the dealer have a pair of aces for their 2-card), the hands are said to be tied or “copies”.  In this case the banker’s hand is considered to be the winning hand.  If both of the player’s hands are higher than the banker’s hands, he wins, however, in Pai gow the house charges a 5 percent commission on all wins.  If both of his hands are lower, he loses.  If the player wins one hand and the banker wins the other hand, this is said to be a draw or a “push”.  In this case nobody wins and the player would get his wager back.

pai gow Strategy Tips

The only decision a Pai gow player has to make is how to distribute his 7 cards between both hands.  Remember, as tempting as it may be to form a strong 5-card hand, it would be meaningless if you lose the 2-card hand.  www.onlinegambling2002.com brings you these tips that can help you decide how to distribute your hand.

• If you hold two pairs: use the lower pair for the 2-card hand.
  
• If you hold three pairs:  use the highest pair for the two card hand
  
• If you hold a full house:  use the pair for the 2-card hand
  
• If you hold a hand of no poker value at all: use your 2nd highest and 3rd highest cards for the 2-card hand.
  
• If you hold three of a kind:  use them for the 5-card hand.
  
• If you hold two pairs and also have the opportunity to form a flush- play it as though you hold two pairs.

Most houses will allow player to be bankers.That gives the opportunity to win more money, however, onlinegambling2002.com warns you that this way you can also lose more. If you are new to Pai gow it is recommended that you wave the chance to be the banker until you improve you game skills.

It is recommended as well that you make small wagers.  In Pai gow, wins and loses are mostly small and wagering conservatively will allow you to play for a longer time.