Pai Gow Poker: Complete Guide for Beginners

Want to play classic poker combined with the ancient wisdom of the Far East? Then Pai Gow Poker is your perfect choice. In fact, it’s a variation of the Chinese domino game Pai Gow. While the title offers a familiar casino table game experience, it is known for its slow pace of play and low risk, which are clear advantages for beginners. Ready to begin your journey into the game rules? Then be sure to follow our guide. Here, you will learn how to play it, hand setting, strategy, and common mistakes.

What Is Pai Gow Poker?

Created in the USA in 1985, Pai Gow Poker combines Eastern tradition and Western card game. Unlike classic poker variations, you are competing against the house, not other players at the table. But how to play Pai Gow Poker? In short, the goal is to split seven cards into a “High” hand (five cards) and a “Low” hand (two cards). Both of these hands must outrank the dealer’s respective hands.

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Pai Gow Poker vs Traditional Poker

Still, it’s essential to explore the details of the difference between Pai Gow Poker and traditional poker. First, players in the traditional game are competing against each other. They need to use bluffing, understand the position, and, no less important, go through multiple betting rounds. In Pai Gow Poker, up to six players face off against the dealer with a single wager. Also, instead of trying to make the strongest five-card hand, you should strategically divide the seven cards into two separate hands. In the end, your five-card hand should always be stronger than your two-card hand. But are there any reasons why it is so popular among beginners?

Why Pai Gow Poker Is Popular Among Beginners

In fact, Pai Gow Poker is known for its exceptionally slow gameplay and low volatility. Moreover, it is the game where “Pushes” happen frequently. These are the moments when one hand is stronger than the respective dealer’s hand, while another is not. If such a case happens, any side wins or loses. In truth, Pushes have a place in approximately 40% of all rounds. And, of course, it has a number of advantages, including longer sessions, lower risk, and a low-pressure experience.

How Pai Gow Poker Works

Now, you already know the basic facts. At the same time, it’s still important to explore how to play Pai Gow Poker. To start, players must place their base bets and any optional side bets. Then the dealer deals each player seven cards face down. Players need to split their cards into two separate hands. Once all players have finished, the dealer opens the casino’s cards and places them based on the casino’s rules. In the end, the dealer compares the players’ hands to the casino’s hand to determine whether the bets result in a win, a loss, or a Push.

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The Goal of the Game

So, the main goal in Pai Gow Poker is to outrank the dealer’s cards. If both your hands (a five-card High hand and a two-card Low hand) are stronger, you win the round. If they are weaker, then you lose your wager. There could also be a case where you win one hand but lose another. It is called a Push, which means your wager is returned to you. In the end, it is also possible to get an exact tie on a hand, which means the dealer wins.

Understanding the Seven-Card Deal

In continuation, it’s important to mention that every round begins with the dealer distributing seven face-down cards to each player. There is a standard 52-card deck, plus one single joker in Pai Gow Poker. The dealer rolls three dice or uses a random number generator to determine who will start the round, counting clockwise from the dealer, and adds up the total of the dice. The interesting detail is that all players’ places are counted, even if some are empty. It ensures that the natural randomness of the dealing sequence is not affected. At the same time, there is a question of how exactly to create both High and Low hands?

Creating a High Hand and Low Hand

As soon as you get your seven cards, split them into two distinct hands. The High hand contains five cards according to the classic poker rankings. The Low hand contains two cards with the highest possible combination for this hand is a pair of Aces. Overall, your High hand must always be stronger than your Low hand. If the opposite is the case, you’ve automatically lost your bet.

Pai Gow Poker Hand Rankings

Players who are looking for how to play Pai Gow Poker should also understand the hand rankings. In fact, it could be helpful if you already know traditional poker. The main difference lies in managing two hands at once.

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Standard Poker Hand Rankings

Here we provide the list of standard poker hand rankings:

• Royal Flush: Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10, all of the same suit.
• Straight Flush: Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
• Four of a kind: Four of the same number in a hand.
• Full House: The combination of three cards of the same rank and a pair of another rank.
• Flush: Five cards of the same suit.
• Straight: Five cards in sequence, but not all of the same suit.
• Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank.
• Two Pair: Two different pairs of matching cards.
• One Pair: Two cards of the same rank, along with three cards that do not make a hand.
• High Card: The lowest possible hand. Here, the value is determined by the highest card, with no pairs or other combinations. 

Of course, it’s important to note that there is no Joker in these Pai Gow Poker hand rankings. But how exactly can we use it?

The Role of the Joker in Pai Gow Poker

In truth, the Joker in Pai Gow Poker features a simple rule. First, you can use it to complete a Straight, a Flush, or a Straight Flush. If it’s not possible, the Joker serves as an Ace.

Pai Gow Poker Betting Options:

Another important detail in Pai Gow Poker is understanding its betting options. It’s because it might help you to adapt your strategy to your preferred level of risk.

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Standard Ante Bet

The first betting option in Pai Gow Poker is the Standard Ante Bet. In fact, it is the mandatory base wager to get your seven cards and, of course, participate in the round. If you win the round, your payout is 1:1. There may be two variations of this bet: with a 5% house commission and without it, depending on the specific casino you play at.

Bonus Bets and Side Bets

Of course, there could be Bonus Bets and Side bets in Pai Gow Poker. They are independent of the dealer’s hand. In other words, even if you lose your Ante Bet, you still have a chance to get a payout depending on the results.

The common side bets include:

• Fortune Bonus: You get a payout if you form a Three-of-a-Kind or higher ranking.
• Envy Bonus: Guarantees you a payout if any other player forms a premium hand, such as a Royal Flush or Four-of-a-Kind. It is usually triggered automatically if you wager at least $5 on the Fortune Bonus.
• Progressive Jackpots: You get a payout if you form a rare hand, such as Seven-Card Straight Flush or Five Aces. It is usually a small bet with a massive payout.

While there is nothing complicated about side bets, their use depends entirely on your goal.

Are Side Bets Worth It?

Undoubtedly, side bets have a higher house edge compared to the base wager. In other words, you have a chance to win a significant amount of money even if you lose against the dealer. At the same time, if your strategy is to maximize your session, it may be better to avoid side bets. Overall, you can try using a small part of your bankroll on these bets to see whether they suit you and whether you have any luck with them.

Basic Pai Gow Poker Strategy for Beginners

As you can already notice, Pai Gow Poker is a low-stress game. Still, using a few strategies could improve your choices and keep your bankroll safe. Besides, all the decisions over how to split your seven cards directly affect whether you win, lose, or tie.

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Follow House Way Guidelines

First, if you are a beginner exploring how to play Pai Gow Poker, it can be helpful to follow the House Way. In fact, it’s a set of rules that dealers use when building their hands. The important detail is that the House Way is optimized to minimize losses and maximize wins. If you are unsure how to split your hands, you can ask the dealer for help. In that case, you can be sure to avoid mistakes as you learn the nuances of the game.

Prioritize Winning Both Hands

Also, it’s helpful to remember that you need to create both hands stronger than the dealer’s. In other words, don’t focus on making the absolute five-card hand while ignoring your two-card hand. For example, when you have three of a kind and a pair (a Full House), it could be better to put the first one in the High hand and a pair in the Low hand.

Manage Your Bankroll

In the end, managing your bankroll is no less important a detail you shouldn’t ignore. Of course, Pai Gow Poker is known for often Pushes. It naturally keeps your budget safer than, for example, Blackjack. Still, remember to decide on a limit you are ready to lose and end the session. Also, to make your gameplay last long enough, prepare a bankroll of at least 20 to 30 times the table’s minimum bet (e.g., for $5, the budget will be $100-$150).

Pai Gow Poker vs Other Casino Table Games

The last thing we shouldn’t ignore is the difference between Pai Gow Poker and any other casino table game. Without a doubt, Pai Gow Poker offers a unique experience. Still, it’s better to compare it to other popular titles to understand its pros and cons.

Pai Gow Poker vs Blackjack

Pai Gow Poker and Blackjack are different in three key features. First, Blackjack offers one of the lowest house edges in the casino (0.5%). Also, this game is fast-paced and known for high intensity. No less important to remember is that Blackjack demands strict mathematical discipline. Pai Gow Poker, in contrast, runs much more slowly. Moreover, you can freely ask the dealer to help set your cards using the official House Way.

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Pai Gow Poker vs Baccarat

With Baccarat, the main difference lies in the game’s pace. In Pai Gow Poker, you need to split seven cards and decide how exactly to build both hands to win. Baccarat offers the experience of passive chance. The only thing you need to think about is placing a wager on the Banker, Player, or Tie. After the cards are dealt, you just need to wait for the results.

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Pai Gow Poker vs Three Card Poker

One more fast-paced game is Three-Card Poker. It is also known for its high volatility and spontaneous, significant wins. You also need a short time to determine the result of each hand (a complete win or a loss). As a result, bankroll fluctuations are frequent. In the end, Three Card Poker focuses on a simplified, quick card evaluation, with a higher house edge (approximately 3.4%). Pai Gow Poker, in contrast, offers low volatility and a more analytical gameplay.

Can You Win at Pai Gow Poker?

Undoubtedly, everyone has a chance to win at Pai Gow Poker. It’s especially possible due to the frequent Pushes. At the same time, it’s still important to keep realistic expectations. Your best allies are luck and strategy. Also, remember that the casino’s 1.5% to 2.8% house edge is more noticeable in the long sessions. In the end, remember that Pai Gow Poker is a slow-paced game. Your main goal is to enjoy the gameplay and extend your bankroll as long as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pai Gow Poker