Pai Gow

Pai Gow Poker is a popular game that you find in both land-based and the best online casinos today. We will discuss the finer details of Pai Gow Poker in later sections. Before we do that, we take a brief look at the history of this fun and exciting casino game.

 

Top Pai Gow Casinos

Brief History

Pai Gow Poker is derived from the Chinese game of Pai Gow, which literally translates to 'make nine' and was inspired by the military in terms of the precision that was part of the game. It was created in 1985 by Sam Torosian, who owned the Bell Card Club. He took inspiration from the 13-card game of Pusoy, about which he heard from a Filipino customer.

Realising that arranging 13 cards into 3 hands could be slow compared to the speed of some of the other casino games, he modified it to a game that used 7 cards that had to be split into 2 hands – faster, simpler and therefore easier to learn and that much more fun for players. He took Pai Gow as the base and replaced with dominoes with the playing cards, while retaining the modified form of Pusoy. And so a new exciting poker game was born!

Originally known as double handed poker, Pai Gow Poker first took off in California, before casino operators in gambling hotspots like Las Vegas and Atlantic City picked it up and made it a well-known game variety. Initially played with 52 cards, it was upgraded to include an additional joker to spice things up and make winning that much easier.

Pai Gow Poker Hand Rankings

The hand rankings for Pai Gow Poker are similar to what you see in a regular poker game, with the highest-ranked hand being 5 Aces. We list the hands in order of rank below:

Term Definition
Five Aces Four Aces with a joker.
Royal Flush 10, J, Q, K, A of the identical suit.
Straight Flush Five consecutive cards from the same suit. The Joker can be used as a wild.
Four of a Kind Four cards of the same numerical value and of different suits
Full House Three cards of one numerical value with two of another numerical value.
Flush Five non-sequential cards from the same suit. The Joker can be used as a wild card.
Straight Five consecutive cards of different suits. The Joker can be used as a wild card.
Three of a Kind Three cards of the same numerical value, with two other random cards.
Two Pair Two cards of one numerical value and two cards of another numerical value. The fifth card is irrelevant.
Pair Two cards of one numerical value with three other random cards.

For the 2-card hand, the hands possible are only 2 high cards and a pair. The pair is of course ranked above the high-card hand.

Playing Pai Gow Poker

Follow the steps listed below to get started with Pai Gow Poker:

Some Pai Gow Poker Tips

Pai Gow Poker is unconventional compared to some of the other poker games, but is still quite popular among players. Here are a few tips to help you increase your chances of winning.

  • When you are playing at a land-based casino, go for the bank because that is one of the best ways to swing the odds your way. Banking is worth trying out, even though it requires a healthy bankroll. You can also look to co-bank with the dealer. Play at a table that has minimal or zero players if your strategy is to bank a lot.
  • Don't chase behind high hands. Most new players look to build high hands, influenced by their video poker experience possibly. However, remember that you have to build 2 hands here and going for the high hand could weaken your second hand, thereby sending the game to push mode. The ideal solution is to balance out both hands; you could have a Three of a Kind in your 5-card hand and a pair in your 2-card hand, for instance.
  • Never ignore the 2-card hand. That is where a lot of players slip up; the 2-card hand may be a smaller hand but is as important as the 5-card hand.
  • Manage your bankroll well and ensure you do not overshoot it. Set the playing limits for yourself before you get started with the game and stick to it regardless of whether you are winning or losing.
  • Never hesitate to ask for help if you need it, especially at a land-based casino. Read the instructions and rules carefully and know your payouts as well.

Pai Gow Poker FAQs

The following are some FAQs related to Pai Gow Poker.

What is the strongest hand I can create for the 2-card hand?

There are no craps strategies that can help you win continuously because it is, after all, a game of chance. However, there are tips you can use to reduce the house edge at times and pick up a win.

What is the strongest 5-card hand in Pai Gow Poker?

The strongest 5-card hand in Pai Gow Poker is a hand of 5 Aces. This hand is achieved when you have 4 Aces and a joker in your original 7-card hand. The hands in Pai Gow Poker are more or less the same as for regular poker, except that the second highest ranked hand of all straight and straight flush hands in the 5-card hand is the A-2-3-4-5. This hand is lodged between the hands A-K-Q-J-10 and K-Q-J-10-9.

When did Pai Gow Poker come into existence?

Pai Gow Poker was created in 1985 by Sam Torosian as he was looking for a new and fast poker game for players at his club. The game is based on the Chinese game of Pai Gow and uses a modified format of Pusoy, a 13-card game that requires the hands to be split into 3.

What is the possibility of a push happening in Pai Gow Poker?

In Pai Gow Poker a win is possible only when both the 2-card and 5-card hands are strong enough to beat the dealer’s hand. Winning only one of the hands results in a push. The probability of a push occurring is therefore significantly high.

What happens if I tie with the dealer?

The tie situation arises if one of your hands matches the dealer’s corresponding hand. The dealer always wins a tie.