Pai-Gow Poker is Easy to Play

Pai Gow Poker Hands

Pai gow poker hands are basically ranked the same as standard poker hands. The one exception is that A-2-3-4-5 is the second highest straight hand, making 6-5-4-3-2 the lowest possible straight. The following chart is ranked from highest to lowest hand:

How to Play Online Pai Gow Poker

Place your bet: Begin the game by placing your wager. Choose from five chip denominations: $1, $5, $10, $25 and $100. You are betting on your High and Low hands winning over the dealer's hands.

Cards dealt: You will be dealt seven cards face-up. The dealer will receive seven cards face-down. The dealer's cards will not be revealed until you have finished your action.

Player action: Split your cards into two separate hands: High hand and Low hand. Your High hand must consist of five cards and contain your best ranking poker hand. Your Low hand must consist of two cards and be lower in rank than your High hand. The online pai gow poker game will not allow you to create a Dead Hand (a Low hand of higher value than a High hand).

Dealer action: The dealer's hand will be arranged in a High and Low hand as well. The dealer's hand will be divided according to Fair Way Rules. Please see the Pai Gow Poker Rules section for details. At this time, the dealer's hands will be revealed.

Payoff: Your High hand and the dealer's High hand will be compared against each other, as will both Low hands. A winning wager pays 1:1 less a 5% commission. For example: A winning bet of $10 will pay $9.50. No commission is applied to losing or tied hands.

The House wins if:

• Both the dealer's hands outrank the player's hands.
• One of the dealer's hands outranks the player's corresponding hand and the other hand is a copy.**
• Both the dealer's hands are copy hands.**
  **A copy hand is when a dealer's hand and player's hand are identical.

You win if:

• Both your hands outrank the dealer's hands.

You push** if:

• You win one hand, but lose the other hand.
• You win one hand and your other hand is a copy.
  **Your bet will be returned to you in all instances of a push.

Game Rules

Fair Way Rules: Dealer hands will always be played according to the following set of rules to ensure maximum consistency and fairness.

No Pair: Use second and third highest ranked cards for the Low hand.

One Pair: Always use the pair as the High hand and the highest ranking outside cards for the low hand.

Two Pair: Pairs will be broken into four groups (when splitting, always play the lower pair in the Low hand). Two pair will always be split between the High and the Low hand unless holding an outside Ace.

Three Pair: The highest pair will always be played in the Low hand.

Three of a Kind: Will always be played in the High hand unless the three of a kind is aces, then one ace will be played in the Low hand and the pair of aces will remain in the High hand. In the case of two three of a kind, a pair from the highest three of a kind will be played in the low hand.

Straights, Flushes and Straight Flushes:

Without a Pair: Play the combination that allows the highest possible Low hand if given a choice to play a Straight, Flush or Straight Flush.

With a Pair: Play pair in Low hand if Flush, Straight or Straight Flush can be preserved in High hand.

With Two Pair: Use Two Pair Rule.

With Three Pair: Use Three Pair Rule.

With Three of a Kind: Use Three of a Kind Rule.

With Full House: Use Full House Rule.

Full House: Split and play pair in Low hand.

Three of a Kind and Two Pair: Play higher pair in Low hand.

Two Three of a Kind: Play higher three of a kind as a pair in Low hand.

Four of a Kind without a Pair: Never split 2 through 9. Play in High hand. Always split 10 through King unless there is an outside Ace or Joker, then play the four in High hand. Always split Aces.

Four of a Kind with a Pair or Three of a Kind: Play pair in Low hand.

Five Aces (with Joker): Always split and play two Aces in Low hand unless five Aces are with a pair of Kings, then play Kings in Low hand.