There is next to no literature on Pai Gow tiles but at least we have this simple book. It explains the game well and also has some fun anecdotes about the game. It has cut-out tiles in the back of the book that you can use as flash cards to memorize ranks and pairs, etc. Pai Gow is actually an ancient Chinese game of dominos – 32 to be exact – which later got. As stated above, Pai Gow is a slow-paced casino game, suited to the casino enthusiast who prefers a calm, leisurely game. But land-based casinos are rarely, if ever conducive to this sort of atmosphere. They’re busy, loud, somewhat chaotic and purposely keep you on your toes and reaching for your wallet.
Pai Gow is a slow-paced casino game played with Chinese dominoes. Learning how to play Pai Gow online or offline is not the easiest task but the game is worth candles. Here you have all Pai Gow rules explained as they are.
Pai Gow Practice
If you are looking for new gambling challenges, try out Pai Gow. This well-known casino game isn’t too difficult to play offline, online, or live. Check out the Pai Gow game rules and goals before playing it for real money.
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What is Pai Gow?
Pai Gow is a relatively new gambling game launched in the 1980s by one of the American casino owners. Although it is also known as an ancient Chinese dominoes game, it is Pai Gow from the mid-1980s that entered the list of the most popular casino games.
Also known as Pai Gow Poker, the game has become one of the gamblers’ favorites and found its place both in land-based and online casinos. Basically, it is a poker variation – that’s why the second name of Pai Gow is double-hand poker. It follows similar rules but is slightly different from classic poker games.
If you have never played this game, here you have all the Pai Gow rules explained. Pai Gow rules, objectives, and gaming processes are available at many online poker guides for beginners. We gathered them all together to make the learning process easier.
Pai Gow rules explained: object and process
Pai Gow is a card game played with 52 cards and a joker. The player or several players compete against a dealer in Pai Gow. There can be up to 6 players playing at the same time.
To win Pai Gow, you have to collect two poker hands: one’s a classic 5-card hand, while the other consists of two cards. If both hands beat the dealer’s hands, you win. If no hand beats the dealer’s hands, you lose. The third possible outcome means one of your hands beats one of the dealer’s hands. In this case, it is a push.
What is good about Pai Gow is that one round can last for hours. Basically, the whole game is built on pushes without changing stakes but still moving money around.
Where to play?
Pai Gow games are available at many online gambling sites nowadays. King Billy, Intertops, VBet, Betsafe, and other big online casinos offer Pai Gow games in many variations.
In addition, you can play the game live at some casino sites. While you play against a computer in its online version, the live Pai Gow game has a real dealer playing against you in real-time. It is a great opportunity to play with real people these days, so don’t hesitate to check the latest online poker bonuses and use them in your first Pai Gow game!
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Pai Gow Poker is loosely based on the Chinese game of Pai Gow which is played with 32 dominos. For this casino game, the dominos are replaced by a set of playing cards. There are 53 cards in all (the usual 52 cards plus one joker). In this game, you’re playing against the dealer. If you beat the dealer you win.
Pai Gow Poker is available at online in casinos in New Jersey. The introduction of this game to the online audience has seen its popularity increase. While Pai Gow is tactical, the software will sort the cards into the best hands for you.
This page starts by explaining how Pai Gow Poker works. Then Fortune Pai Gow poker, an online variant from SG Digital is reviewed, including details of the side bet action you can place.
How does Pai Gow Poker work?
Pai Gow Online
Your first decision is to decided how much you’ll bet in Pai Gow Poker. A number of games offer the opportunity for a side bet in addition to the main bet. Having placed your bets, you’ll be dealt seven cards, as will the banker (dealer).
Next, you’ll have to split your hand into a 5-card hand and a 2-card hand. The only rule in this split is that the 2-card hand can’t outrank the 5-card hand.
For example, if you have a pair of Aces and a pair of sevens in your seven cards (and no flushes or straights), you can’t pick the pair of Aces to be your 2-card hand. You can do this yourself, or choose the ‘house way’, where the cards are automatically assigned to each hand by the software.
A joker is also added into the mix. Unlike a joker in other games, this is not completely wild. It can be used to represent any card if you can create a straight or a flush, but aside from that, you can only count the joker as an Ace.
Comparing poker hands
Once you have split your seven cards into a 5-card and a 2-card hand (the banker will do the same with their seven cards), both hands will now be compared with the bankers.
If you are lucky enough to win both hands, you’ll double your stake.
As an example, if you bet $10, you’ll receive the $10 back with an additional $10 on top. If you win one hand, but lose the other, the bet is considered a push and you’ll receive your stake back. If you lose both of the hands, you’ll lose your stake.
If at any time you have a hand that matches the banker’s hand exactly, the banker automatically wins the hand. This is where the house edge comes into play.
How to play Fortune Pai Gow Poker online
Fortune Pai Gow Poker is an online variation, with an added ‘Fortune Bonus’ bet. You will find similar side bets in many brick and mortar casinos.
To play you’ll start by choosing your chip denomination from the colored chips at the bottom of the screen. These range from just 10c, all the way through to $50, and you can move through the chip ranges by using the arrow keys to scroll from left to right.
Click on a denomination and then click again on the white circle in the center of the screen to place your main bet. You can also place a side bet in the green Fortune to the right.
Rebet, undo and clear buttons give you additional options to save time or aid you if you change your mind.
When ready you’ll hit ‘deal’ and both yours and the bankers seven cards will be dealt. You’ll now make the decision on how to split the cards.
The software offers an ‘autosplit’ option which will split the cards in the best way, although you do have the option to override this and choose the cards in the way you want.
It is best to stick to the autosplit, as this will be the best mathematical option possible. To override, you’ll manually click on the cards themselves.
When ready, you’ll hit the split button that will now divide your hand, and the banker’s cards are then revealed and split themselves. At this point you’ll compare hands and know if you’ve been successful.
The side bet option is based on the strength of your 5-card hand. If you hit a straight, 3 of a kind or higher in your five cards, you’ll be paid out according to the following pay table:
Pai Gow Poker Payouts
- Straight 2:1
- Three of a Kind 3:1
- Flush 4:1
- Full House 5:1
- Four of a Kind 25:1
- Straight Flush 50:1
- Royal Flush 150:1
- Five Aces 500:1
- Seven Card Straight Flush with Joker 1,000:1 (based on all seven cards before the split)
- Royal Flush with Suited Royals 2,000:1
- Seven Card Straight Flush (based on all seven cards before the split) 8000-to-1
This side bet is completely independent to the main betting action. It is possible therefore that you could lose to a better hand from the banker, but still win the side bet.
For example, if your 5-card hand features three of a kind (3’s), but the banker has three of a kind (7’s). The side bet will still payout even if you lose the main bet.
Final thoughts
While many online casino games play at a fast pace, Pai Gow Poker is the perfect game for someone who wants to enjoy something more considered. The tactical element of the game makes this a slower game (both live and online), with the splitting of the cards the key element.
Once you’re an experienced Pai Gow Poker player, the optimal splitting of the hands will become second nature in a live environment. Playing online, the software will do the work for you.
You can now enjoy Pai Gow Poker online in New Jersey. ‘Fortune Pai Gow Poker’ is a popular variant in the state, with the added side bet which could turn any hand into a jackpot winner.