Ready to master Pai Gow Poker? Dive into the rules, strategies, and expert tips to boost your game with MayaGame!
Pai Gow Poker Uncovered: Learn, Play, and Win with MayaGame
If you’re familiar with online casinos, chances are you’ve come across something called “pai gow poker.” Perhaps you haven’t given it a try because you’re unsure of the rules. Still curious? Ready to try your hand at this intriguing game?
Well, you’re in luck! Today, we’re diving deep into pai gow poker with MayaGame. We’ll explore its origins, explain how to play, and share tips on making the most of the hands you’re dealt.
Origins of Pai Gow
The origins of pai gow trace back to China’s Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD), where the game was played with 32 dominoes, making it an ancestor of the dominoes we know today. In the 1980s, two American casino managers, Sam Torosian and Fred Wolf, adapted the domino game into a card game. They created pai gow poker by using cards instead of tiles, making the game accessible and popular in casinos worldwide.
How to Play Pai Gow Poker
Pai gow poker, sometimes called double-hand poker, combines luck and strategy. To play, a 52-card deck is used, along with a single joker, totaling 53 cards. Typically, six players and a dealer play, with the objective being to beat the banker. While the banker is often the dealer, in some cases, it may be another player or a team of players.
Dealing and Arranging Cards
The dealer gives each player seven cards, dealt face down. Players then arrange these cards into two hands:
- A five-card hand (high hand or back hand)
- A two-card hand (low hand or front hand)
The key rule: your high hand must outrank your low hand. Then, players place their hands face down and reveal them simultaneously in the showdown. The goal is to have both hands rank higher than the banker’s hands to win.
Winning and Possible Outcomes
There are three possible outcomes:
- Win: Both hands beat the banker’s hands.
- Draw: Only one hand beats the banker.
- Loss: Both hands lose to the banker or match exactly with the banker’s hands, resulting in a “copy hand.”
Players can lose if they create a “foul hand” (when the high hand is weaker than the low hand) or if they touch their cards after seeing the dealer’s hand.
Pai Gow Poker Hand Rankings
Pai gow hands rank differently than in standard poker, with the top ranking hands being:
- Five aces (four aces plus a joker)
- Royal flush
- Straight flush
- Four of a kind
- Full house, and so on.
The House Way and Using the Joker
Each casino has a set “house way” that determines how the dealer arranges their hands. For beginners, it’s often helpful to follow the house way until they are comfortable with the rules. The joker can be an ace or used to complete straights and flushes.
Side Bets, Strategy, and Tips
Players may also place a “fortune bet,” an optional side bet based on making the best possible hand from all seven cards.
General Tips for Success
- Master the pai gow poker rules.
- Use the joker wisely.
- Avoid foul hands.
- Place high cards in the high hand and reserve lower cards for the two-card hand.
- When you have a full house, split it into three of a kind and a pair.
Odds, Payouts, and Strategy
The odds of winning at pai gow are about even between players and the house. The typical house edge is around 2.5%. Improving your skill in arranging your cards can help increase your chances.
The Goal and Best Hand in Pai Gow Poker
The main goal in pai gow poker is to beat the banker. The best possible hand? A seven-card straight flush!
Meaning of Pai Gow
Lastly, the term “pai gow” translates loosely to “make nine” or “card nine.”
Ready to Play?
With MayaGame’s guide, you’re now prepared to explore pai gow poker! And if you’re new to poker, we recommend trying out other poker variations online with MayaGame before taking on pai gow poker. Enjoy and good luck!
