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Pai Gow Poker

A fusion of poker and the ancient Chinese dominos game of Pai Gow, this game brings together the best of both worlds with a challenge to beat the house in cool crossover fashion.

How to play

The aim of Pai Gow Poker is to beat the dealer and the great thing about this game is that you get two hands for the price of one and it's also really easy to play. Both the player and the dealer are dealt seven cards which must be split into two - a five card hand (in the back) and a two card hand (in the front). The hand at the back is ranked just like in poker and must be the stronger of the two. The hand at the front can only be a pair at best or the highest card if no pairs can be made. If you're not too sure how poker hands work, check out our hand ranking guide.

The action starts when the cards are dealt - yours will be showing while the dealer's will be face down. Following the deal you will have to choose how to make your two hands. You can choose to pick any two cards from your seven to make your two card hand or you can take the option of the 'House Way' which automatically arranges your hands using the same method as the dealer (see how the House Way works below). The House Way is an attractive option because it makes logical choices for the win, but the beauty of this game is reading it and taking the chance to try and hedge your bets with some calculated decision taking. It may be best to start out using the House Way and then try your luck once you are used to the game.

Payouts

You can only win if both your hands are higher than the dealer's with winning hands paying an amount equal to your stake (minus the banker's 5% or 'vig'). If one of your hands is lower than the dealer's it's a 'push' (a tie) and your bet is returned. But if both the dealer's hands are higher, you lose and your stake is gone. (In the event of an exact match of hands, called a 'copy', the tie goes to the banker - the odds of this happening are extremely small!)

You should have some idea of your chances after the initial deal so before the dealer shows you must size up your options and decide whether it's best to go for the win or aim for a push. Once you have chosen two cards for your '2nd highest' hand in the front, it's the dealers turn to show his - your hands are compared and its time to separate the winners from the losers.

Making five and two card hands in Pai Gow Poker involves using your skill to win in a Draw - Hold'em hybrid. It's fast, fun and easy to pick up - try it out.

How the House Way works

The House Way is a set of rules that describes how the dealer arranges his hand. You can use the House Way on your own hand by clicking the House Way button after the initial deal.

The "front" refers to the two card hand and the "back" refers to the five card hand. Below you will see how the house way selects the two hands based on what you are holding:

No pair: Place the highest card in the back and the next two highest cards in the front.
One pair: Place the pair in back and the next two highest cards in the front.
Two pair: Play two pair in back, except split in the following situations:
- One pair is 7's or greater and no ace singleton.
- Pair of jacks or better and 6's or better and an ace singleton.
- Pair of aces and any other pair.
Three pair: Always play highest pair in front.
Three of a kind: Always play three of a kind in back except break up three aces.
Full house: Split except with pair of 2's and an ace/king can be played in front.
Full house with three of a kind and two pairs: Play the highest pair in front.
Three of a kind twice: Always play highest pair in front.
Straights, flushes, straight flushes, and royal flushes:
Always play straight or flush in the high hand except play it as a two pair if one of the following:
- Any two pair and an ace singleton.
- Pair of jacks and pair of 6's.
- Pair of aces and any other pair.
With a six or seven card straight or flush put the highest hand possible in front while maintaining the straight or flush in back.

Play straight or flush over straight flush to improve front hand to jack or better.

Play straight or flush over royal flush to improve front hand to king or better.
Four of a kind: Play according to the rank of the four of a kind - as follows:
- 2 through 6: Always keep together.
- 7 through 10: Split unless an ace or better can be played in front.
- Jack through king: Split unless hand also contains a pair of 10's or higher.
- Aces: Split unless a pair of 7's or higher can be played in front.
Five aces: Split unless pair of kings can be played in front.