Pai Gow Poker Review

Pai Gow Poker is free pokies game that can be played with a deck of 53 cards. A normal deck has 52 cards, and a Pai Gow deck of cards is a normal deck plus one joker. Pai Gow is a very different poker game than the rest. Each player and the dealer are dealt 7 cards. These 7 cards are used to make a 5 card hand of poker and a 2 card hand of poker. The objective in Pai Gow is to make a better 5 card hand and a better 2 card hand than the dealer can make.

Where did Pai Gow Poker Originate?

The original Chinese Pai Gow consists of dominoes with elaborate symbols representing various scenes. The game was hugely popular in the Far East and different versions evolved throughout time and regions. However, the original name and pictures were always kept. Pai Gow reached American shores around the 19th Century and was quickly adapted to suit Western tastes. The greatest change in the game came in the late 1900s when the owner of a Californian casino exchanged dominoes for playing cards and created Pai Gow Poker.

What is Online Pai Gow Poker?

With the advent of online gambling in the 1990s, Pai Gow Poker made a natural transition to this exciting and convenient world. Players now have the luxury of playing their favourite game from the comfort of their own home, around a virtual table with up to six players. You can play Pai Gow Poker at any level, and because it is not as fast-paced as regular poker, it is highly appealing to new players. Exciting promotions such as welcome bonuses, as well as Pai Gow Poker tournaments, ensure that players have a list of very good reasons to take their fun online.

Rules of Game

The rules of the game are simple to follow.  There is one joker card in play. You can use the joker to complete a straight, a flush, or straight flush. Otherwise, the joker is an Ace. The 5 card hand is ranked according to standard poker rules:  Ace-2-3-4-5 is the second-highest straight, behind Ace-King-Queen-Jack-Ten and 5 Aces is possible with the joker and is the highest hand that can be made.

The 2 card hand will always be either a pair or two different cards. A pair of aces is the highest-ranked two-card hand, and the worst 2 card hand is 2-3  Your 5 card hand must be better than the 2 card hand. If you have an ace in the two-card hand you better have a pair in the 5 card hand. In case you have a pair in the 2 card hand you need to have at least a higher pair in the 5 card hand. If your two-card hand ends up being higher than the 5 card hand, you will automatically lose both hands and your bet.

You win your bet minus a 5% commission taken by the dealer when you win both the 5 card hand and the two-card hand.

The House Way is the way that the Dealer will play his cards. If you understand this, you can avoid losing on both low and high hands.

Here is what you need to know:

1. Cards ranked 2 to 6 are low; cards 7 to 10 are Medium; jack to ace are High.
2. When the Dealer has 2 Pairs: The dealer will split the pairs up; and put the lower of the two pairs in the Low Hand if they have two medium or low pairs; except when the dealer also has a King or Ace.
3. If the Dealer has a High Pair and a Low Pair; the Dealer will put the low pair in his Low Hand unless the Dealer also has an Ace. If the Dealer has two high pairs; a high pair and medium pair or a pair of Aces; and any other pair, the Dealer will always split the two pairs
4. In case the Dealer has a Straight or Flush; the dealer will only break it up if they have one of the following: a. Pair of Aces and any other pair b. Two pairs 10’s or higher c. Two pairs and an Ace (the Low Hand uses an Ace)
5. Suppose the Dealer has a Four of a Kind: it remain intact in low rank; in medium it divides unless the dealer also has an Ace and a face card; if it is high then it divides unless the dealer also has a medium or high pair.
6. In case the Dealer has High Card; then the dealer will take the 2nd and 3rd highest card to make the low hand. If the Dealer has One Pair; then the dealer will take the highest two remaining cards to make the low hand.
7. In case the Dealer has Three Pairs, then the dealer will put the highest-ranked pair in the low hand. If the Dealer has a Three of a Kind; the dealer will only break it up if it is three Aces and the low hand needs one.
8. In case the Dealer has a Full House; then the dealer will split it up and put the pair in the low hand; except if the pair is a pair of two’s and you can play an Ace/King.

Synopsis

If each of the player’s hands beats each of the banker’s corresponding hands, then he wins the bet. In case only one of his hands beats the banker then he pushes (ties) in which case neither he nor the banker wins the bet. If both of his hands lose to the banker then he loses.

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