Game Rules - Pai Gow Poker Directory

For example : Casino Lucky Dog

Pai Gow Poker is a game that derives from an ancient Chinese game Pai Gow combined with American Poker. The player's chance to win is rather high, yet the game is more deliberate than Black Jack.

Minimum bet is $1, maximum is $100.

How to Play

There are 53 cards used in the game, a standard 52-card deck and a joker.

At the beginning of a game, the dealer gives 7 cards to the player and takes 7 cards. The player must split the cards into two hands. The first hand is called "highest" and consists of 5 cards. The second hand is called "second highest" and consists of 2 cards. The player's purpose is to split the 7 cards so that he could beat both dealer's hands.

There is one necessary condition for split: the highest hand card combination must be higher than that of the second highest hand. In land casino, breaking this rule is called "the dead hand", and the bet is automatically taken by the dealer. In this game, the player is not allowed to split the cards incorrectly.

The player wins if both of his hands beat appropriate dealer's hands. The gain is paid out 1:1, and the casino takes 5% from the player's gain. If one of the player's hands loses, the game result is considered "push" and the bet is returned to the player. If both player's hands lose, the bet goes to the dealer.

Highest Hand

The card combination in this hand must be the highest. In Pai Gow Poker, the highest combination for such hand is 5 Aces (4 Aces and a Joker). This combination beats the Royal Flush that can not include Joker.

Second Highest Hand

The card combination in this hand must be lower than that in the highest hand. The highest combination here is two aces.

Card Comparison

In the game, the highest and second highest hand card combinations are compared. When comparing the player and dealer's hands, standard poker rules are used (see the table below).

When the player and dealer's hands being compared have the same combination, it is considered the dealer's win in Pai Gow, unlike other games where it is considered a "push".

Gain Table

In card combinations, the joker can be only used as an ace of any suit or as a card that completes such combinations as flush, straight, straight flush.
In Pai Gow Poker, there is a difference in ranking the Straight combinations, as the following table shows.

Combination Card Specifications
5 Aces 4 aces + the joker card.
For example: A, A, A, A, Joker.
Royal Flush A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit. The highest card is the ace.
For example: A, K, Q, J, 10.
Straight Flush Five cards of the same suit in numerical order.
For example:
Highest: A, K, Q, J, 10 or Joker, K, Q, J, 10.
High: A, 2, 3, 4, 5 or Joker, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Other: K, Q, J, 10, 9 to 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
Four of a Kind Four cards of the same value.
For example: Q, Q, Q, Q, 3.
Full House Three of a kind + one pair.
For example: Q, Q, Q, 4, 4.
Flush Five cards of the same suit, of any value.
For example: J, 7, 10, 5, 2.
Straight Five cards in numerical sequence, but of different suits.
For example:
Highest: A, K, Q, J, 10 or Joker, K, Q, J, 10.
High: A, 2, 3, 4, 5 or Joker, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Other: K, Q, J, 10, 9 to 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
Three of a Kind Three cards of the same value.
For example: 4, 4, 4, 10, J.
Two Pairs Two sets of two cards of the same value.
For example: 4, 4, 5, 5, J.
One Pair Two cards of the same value.
For example: 4, 4, 9, 10, A.
High Card If neither of the above hands can be created from your dealt cards, you will compete against the dealer's hand with your highest card.