Pai Gow

Pai Gow poker is a westernized version of the Chinese dominoes game Pai Gow. You must arrange seven cards into two poker hands: one five-card hand and one two-card hand. The five card hand must be higher than the two card hand. You win when both your High hand and Low hand beats the dealer’s corresponding two hands.

Let’s Play! | Rules | Pai Gow Poker Hands | You Win! | Pai Gow Terms and Lingo | Options Toolbar

back to the topLet’s Play!

To play Pai Gow:

  1. Select a chip value.
  2. Click the betting circle until the number of chips displayed equals the amount you wish to bet.
  3. Optionally, click Clear to remove your bet from the betting circle.
  4. Click Deal.
    You and the dealer are each dealt seven cards. Your cards are dealt face up. The dealer’s cards are dealt face down. No additional cards are dealt.
  5. Click Sort.
    Your cards are sorted and displayed in ascending order.
  6. Select your Low hand by clicking two of the seven cards in your hand.
    Your Low hand must have a hand value less than your High hand.
  7. Click Split.
    Your hand is divided into a High hand and a Low hand based on your card selection in step 6. The dealer’s hand is turned over and divided into a High hand and a Low hand. If your High hand and Low hand beat the dealer’s High hand and Low hand, you win.

To play again:

  1. Click Play Again.
    Your bet from the last round is placed in the betting circle.
  2. Optionally, click Clear to remove your bet from the betting circle.
    If Clear is clicked, the Repeat Bets button appears. You may place a new bet or click Repeat Bets to repeat your bet from the last round you played.
  3. Click Deal.
    You and the dealer are each dealt seven cards. Your cards are dealt face up. The dealer’s cards are dealt face down. No additional cards are dealt.
  4. Click Sort.
    Your cards are sorted and displayed in ascending order.
  5. Select your Low hand by clicking two of the seven cards in your hand.
    Your Low hand must have a hand value less than your High hand.
  6. Click Split.
    Your hand is divided into a High hand and a Low hand based on your card selection in step six. The dealer’s hand is turned over and divided into a High hand and a Low hand. If your High hand and Low hand beat the dealer’s High hand and Low hand, you win.

back to the topRules

Pai Gow poker uses a one deck shoe that is reshuffled after each hand.

The deck includes one joker. The joker ranks as an ace unless completing a Flush or Straight.

Each seven-card hand must be broken into two hands, a five-card hand (High hand) and a two-card hand (Low hand). The five-card High hand must always have a higher value than the two-card Low hand.

To win, your High hand and your Low hand must beat the dealer’s High hand and Low hand. If the dealer’s High hand and Low hand beat your High hand and Low hand, the dealer wins.

If your High hand and Low hand are the same (copies) as the dealer’s High hand and Low hand, you lose.

Any combination of win and loss across both hands results in a push. Your bet is returned to you.

For example, if your High hand wins, but your Low hand loses, a push is declared.

 

back to the topPai Gow Poker Hands

Hand Definition Example
Five of a Kind The highest hand in the Pai Gow poker. Hand Consists of four aces and a joker.      
Royal Flush Consists of the following cards: 10, jack, queen, king, and an ace all of the same suit Royal Flush Royal Flush Royal Flush Royal Flush Royal Flush
Straight Flush Five cards in sequence, all of the same suit Straight Flush Straight Flush Straight Flush Straight Flush 
Four of a Kind Four cards of the same denomination, one in each suit     
Full House Three cards of one denomination and two cards of another denomination     
Flush Five cards all of the same suit     
Straight Five cards in sequence of any suit     
Three of a Kind Three cards of the same denomination and two unmatched cards     
Two Pairs Two sets of two cards of the same denomination and any fifth card    
One Pair Two cards of the same denomination and three unmatched cards     
No Pair All five cards of different rank and a variety of suits     

 

back to the topYou Win!

A winning hand pays out according to the following odds:

Player's Hand Payout
High hand wins, low hand wins
1:1 less 5% house commission
High hand wins, low hand loses
Push. Bet is returned.
High hand loses, low hand wins
Push. Bet is returned

 

back to the topPai Gow Terms and Lingo

Term Definition
Banker A player who books the action of the other players at the table. In this case the banker is the dealer.
Copy Identical hands received by the player and the dealer. This may include the High hand (five-card hand), the Low hand (two-card hand), or both. Copies go to the dealer.
Foul hand A High hand (five-card hand) that has a lower ranking than the Low hand (two-card hand). A player is prompted to choose a different two-card hand.
High hand A five-card hand
Joker A wild card that can be used in Straights, Flushes and Straight Flushes or as an ace
Low hand A two-card hand
Push A tie hand between you and the dealer. Each party holds a combination of winning and losing hands. No money is won or lost.
Set The act of separating the dealt hand into a High hand (five-card hand) and a Low hand (two-card hand)
Split To set the dealt hand into two separate hands of five and two cards — High hand and Low hand

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Options Toolbar

Pai Gow’s Options toolbar gives you access to Help, Cashier, and game settings.

Options toolbar

 

Click the following icons to access Pai Gow’s options:

Icon Description
Opens Casino’s Help
Opens Casino’s Cashier
Opens the Options window where game settings can be changed
Turns the game’s background music on or off
Changes the game table’s color scheme
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