Pai Gow Poker Basics

Pai Gow Poker is a variation of the Chinese domino game called Pai Gow. The two games are very different, as Pai Gow Poker is played with cards instead of dominos. The game is popular in North American casinos and online because the pace of the game is slow, and the action produces a lot of hands that end in a tie. A player’s money can go a long way and they will get to stay in the game longer than they would playing in most other casino table games. Hands are played one-on-one against the dealer, and if a player takes the time to learn optimum strategy, the house edge can be as small as 1.3%.

Play begins with each player placing a wager and being dealt seven cards. These cards have to be divided into two hands; one of five cards and the other of two. The five-card hand has to be of higher value than the smaller one, and once they’re divided, the dealer will deal and divide their hand. The highest hands win, and payouts will be made if the player wins both hands. A push will occur if the dealer and player each win one hand, and the player will lose their wager if both the dealer’s hands are bigger than the player’s hands.

Strategy in this game comes down to two things: How the player divides their cards, and the amount of action that they can bank. In most casinos you can divide the cards the “house way”, which is safe but not necessarily optimum.

The best strategy and odds you can get playing Pai Gow is when you act as the banker. As the bank you take on the other players at the table and in turn you get the house edge that the bank normally enjoys. The more action you can bank, the better your chances of success. Most casinos limit how much you get to bank, and to protect their edge you will have to pay a 5% commission on all winning hands while you’re acting as the bank.