PAI GOW POKER

Pai Gow Poker is a derivation of an ancient Chinese game of chance that was originally played with domino-like tiles.

In the original game a player is "dealt four tiles and he must make a high and a low hand. For details on Tile Pai Gow, click to: Las Vegas Gambler Tile Pai Gow

In Pai Gow Poker, the High and Low hand rule and the roll of the dice are the only similarities to the original game. In Pai Gow Poker, the dealer shuffles a deck of 52 cards plus one joker. Seven hands containing seven cards each are dealt face down in front of the dealer. The dealer then shakes a dice cup containing three dice. The total of the three dice determines where the first hand (the hand that is at the extreme right of the dealer)will be placed. The dealer is usually hand number one, eight and fifteen. The remainder of the hands are counted from the dealer COUNTER-clockwise and distributed starting with the hand that was determined by the roll of the dice. All play is performed counterclockwise. I suppose that this is a way of paying homage to the (Chinese) origin of the tile game.

Once the players receive their cards, two poker hands must be created. The two hands must be a High hand of five cards and a Low hand of two cards. The Low hand MUST be a lower ranking poker hand than the High hand. If the hands are set improperly, it is automatically determined to be a forfeit and you lose. In order to win you must beat the dealer in both the High and Low hands. In order to lose, the dealer must beat you in both hands. If both hands are not beaten, by either you or the dealer, the hand is declared a draw and you don't win or lose any money. If you beat the dealer in both hands, you win and will be paid an amount equal to your bet. Like Baccarat, a 5% commission or "vig" is assessed on all winning hands. The vig is due at the time of your win. There are many variations that can be exercised in "setting" your hand. Like most games of chance, there are some basics that apply. Some of the things that you must know before playing include the "house way" of setting some hands as this will determine how you will set your hands.

BASIC FACTORS IN SETTING YOUR HANDS

• The Joker can only be used to fill straights or flushes or be used as an Ace.
• You are trying to create the Highest Low hand possible while still keeping it lower than the High hand.
• If you are dealt three Aces with no other pair, split the aces, that is, use one of the aces as the high card in your Low hand. An Ace with any other card is a good Low hand and you will still have a pair of aces in your High hand. Of course this rule of splitting aces does not apply if you have an additional pair along with the three aces.
• If you are dealt three pairs, ALWAYS use the highest pair as your Low hand. This action still gives you a very strong two-pair high hand with a high pair "up" (your Low hand).
• If you are dealt Nothing (Pai Gow is figuratively translates to "No Pair" when playing Pai Gow Poker, although in the original, "Pai Gow" translates to "make nine") arrange your hand in decending order, ignore the highest card and use the next two as your "Top" (Low) hand. Many a hand is won with a Pai Gow hand because your high and low hands beat the dealer. Therefore, you may hear some players cheering for a Pai Gow hand before the dealer turns his cards.
• If you get two pair that do not total 14 (6's & 7's as an example total 13)and you have an Ace, keep the pairs together in your High hand. Combine the Ace with your next highest card and use these as your Low hand. If you have two pair totaling Ten or less, with no Ace, still keep them together, Even if you have nothing on "top" your two pair on "bottom" will still produce a "Push" (tie hand)..

These are only some of the most basic strategies of this very interesting game. As you play, you will receive advice from other players and even the dealer if you ask. Don't be shy about asking for help from any of the players or the dealer as you are only playing against the dealer's hand, nothing that you do will affect the other players and the dealer MUST set his hand as prescribed by the "House".

As you can see, this is a game where many hands result in a tie, therefore extending your playing time and consequently adding to your enjoyment in the casino

Enjoy your play at the Pai Gow Tables.

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