Pai
Gow poker rules
A Pai Gow Poker
deck consists of 53 cards - a standard deck plus one wild card.
The game begins with each player being dealt 7 cards.
The
dealer
also
gest
7
cards,
but
these
are
dealt
face
down.
Players
must then split
their
7
card
hand
into two
hands. The first hand is referred to as "the highest
hand," and consists of 5 cards. The second hand is referred
to as "the second highest," and consists of the
remaining 2
cards.
The
highest
hand
(ie
5
card)
must
rank
higher
than
the
second
highest
hand
applying
normal
poker
rankings.
Therefore,
if
their
is
a
pair
in
the
7
card
hand,
this
must
go
to
the
highest
hand.
If
there
are
2
pair,
the
highest
pair
must
go
to
the
highest
hand,
and
so
on.
Fore
for
the
player
to
win,
both
hands
must
beat
both
the
dealers
hands.
A
win
pays
even
money,
less
a
5%
house
commission.
If
the
player
wins
one
of
the
two
hands,
there
is
a
standoff.
If
the
dealer
wins
both
hands,
the
bet
is
lost.
Some
other
rules
that
are
important:
-
The wild card,
or joker, may be used only as a single ace; or to complete a
flush, straight, or a straight flush.
-
When the player
and the dealer compare hands that have the same rank, that hand
is referred to as a "copy hand." Unlike in blackjack,
where a copy hand results in a push; the dealer wins the copy
hand in Pai
Gow.
Pai Gow Hand
Ranking
1: 5 Aces
2: Royal Flush
3: Straight Flush
4: 4 of a kind
5: Full House
6: Flush
7: Straight
8: 3 of a kind
9: 2 pairs
10:1 pair
11: High card
-
The only
difference between the system of ranking hands in Pai Gow poker
and in other poker games is that A-K-Q-J-10 ranks as the highest
straight, A-2-3-4-5 ranks as the second highest straight,
followed by K-Q-J-10-9.
