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The purpose of Pai Gow Poker is for the player to make their two poker hands beat the banker's two hands.
Pai Gow Poker is played with a standard deck of 52 card deck along with one joker. A roll of the dice or a randomly generated number determines what player receives the first set of cards. Each player is dealt seven cards and must split them into two separate hands. This is called "setting the hand". The first hand is made up of five cards and is called "the highest hand" or "the back". The second hand is made up of the remaining two cards is called "the second highest" or "the front" or "low" hand. The 5 card hand must always rank higher than the 2 card hand.
If both of your hands beat the dealer's hands, you'll receive even money or 1:1 for your bet. The bank takes a 5% commission from your winnings. If both your hands lose against the dealer's hands, the dealer takes the bet. If you win only one of the two hands, the round finishes in a tie.
Five Card - Highest Hand (the back)
The five card hand needs to rank higher than the two card hand. The player needs to set the best potential five card hand from their seven dealt cards.
Two Card - Second Highest Hand (the front)
The two card hand needs to have the second-highest rank of the two hands. If the two card hand is not made up of a pair, the face value of the cards establishes the hand's rank. A pair of aces is considered as the highest ranking two card hand.
Joker Card
The joker or wild card, can be used to finish/complete a flush, straight, straight flush or as a single Ace.
House Ways
If you're not sure how to set a hand, many online casinos offer a "house ways" button. By pressing this, your cards will automatically be set for you using the same rules the dealer/casino uses.
Copy Hand
A copy hand happens when the player and the dealer have identical hands or rank, the banker will win the hand.
Foul or Dead Hands
A foul or dead hand happens when the player sets their front hand higher than the back hand. If the player sets their two best cards in the second highest hand, the hand is automatically foul. At many online casinos, the casino software will let you know that the cards need to be reset. At most land-based casinos, you will automatically lose if you set a foul hand.
Player Banking
In Pai Gow Poker, a player may choose to be the banker on some hands. When you're the banker, you have the benefit of winning copy hands. When you play as the banker, you need to bet against the dealer first. Also, if you lose you will need to pay all the players at the table to cover their bets. Your cards will first be compared to the dealer's and then against the cards of the players at your table. Your winnings will be charged a 5% commission by the house. |
