Overview of Pai Gow Poker
Pai gow poker is a game that is played against the dealer. It uses a 53 card
deck - a standard 52 card deck plus one Joker. Each player places a bet and is
then dealt seven cards by the dealer. Out of these cards, each player must make
two hands - a five card hand and a two card hand. These hands are then compared
to the dealer's corresponding hands.
Ranking the Hands in Pai Gow Poker
The two hands that the players make out of their seven cards are ranked
separately. The two card hand must be arranged as a pair or two high cards. The
five card hand is ranked in the same way as in traditional poker. The Joker is
used as an Ace unless it can be used as part of a straight flush, flush or
straight, in which case it is used as a wild card.
The five card hand is ranked as follows, from highest hand to lowest hand:
- Five Aces - four Aces plus a Joker
- Royal Flush - 10, J, Q, K, A of the identical suit
- Straight Flush - five consecutive cards of the identical suit. The Joker
can be used as a wild card.
- Four of a Kind - four cards of the same numerical value and of different
suits
- Full House - three cards of one numerical value and two of another
numerical value
- Flush - any five cards of the identical 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.
If none of the players hold a ranking hand, then the highest card of each
hand is compared. The player who holds the highest card in his hand is
determined to be the winner. This is known as the high card.
Variations of Hand Rankings
The highest ranking hand in most Nevada casinos is, in fact, A, 2, 3, 4, 5.
However, this hand is the lowest possible ranking hand in casinos in Michigan
and California. Players must make sure to be aware of the rules of the game you
are playing in the casino you are playing in as minor differences in the rules
and hand rankings can dramatically alter the way that you play the game.
Comparing Pai Gow Poker Hands
For a player to win their bet they must beat the dealer in both the five card
hand and the two card hand. If the player beats the dealer in one hand, but
loses the other, the bet is a push. If the player loses both hands he loses his
bet and if his cards are identical to the dealer's, it is considered a copy and
the dealer wins.
