Pai Gow Poker
Pai Gow Poker is a casino game combining elements of the ancient Chinese game Pai Gow (played with dominoes) and Western poker. Invented by Sam Torosian at the Bell Card Club in Los Angeles in 1985, it quickly became a staple of California cardrooms and Las Vegas casinos. Each player receives seven cards and must arrange them into a five-card high hand and a two-card low hand, both of which must beat the dealer's equivalent hands to win. Pai Gow Poker has the lowest volatility of any major casino game, making it ideal for players who prefer extended sessions with minimal bankroll swings.
Rules & Gameplay
Seven cards are dealt from a 53-card deck (standard 52 plus one Joker). Players arrange their cards into a five-card hand (high hand, ranked by standard poker) and a two-card hand (low hand, which can only be a pair or high cards — no straights or flushes apply). The five-card hand must always rank higher than the two-card hand. The Joker can be used as an Ace, or to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush in the five-card hand only. Player's five-card hand vs dealer's five-card hand, and player's two-card hand vs dealer's two-card hand: if player wins both = win (1:1 minus 5% commission); dealer wins both = loss; one each = push. In ties, the dealer wins (this is how the house earns its edge). House edge: approximately 2.84% with optimal setting of hands.
Basic Strategy
The key strategic skill is 'setting' your hands optimally. General principles: with no pairs, put the highest card in the five-card hand and the second- and third-highest in the two-card hand. With one pair, always put the pair in the five-card hand. With two pair, generally split them unless one pair is Aces (keep Aces together). With three pair, put the highest pair in the low hand. With trips, put two in the five-card hand and the singleton kicker in the low hand (except trip Aces — split one Ace to the low hand). With full house, split unless you have an Ace-King or better for the low hand. Bankers (players who take the bank position) gain a mathematical edge due to winning ties; take the bank whenever offered.
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