Pai Gow Poker is a discipline that originated in the USA in the mid-80s. In this game, participants are dealt 7 cards each, from which they form 2 hands. When comparing results, the strength of both combinations is evaluated. Although this variation of poker isn't as widely popular as Hold'em, it is frequently offered by online casinos in the slots and live dealer games sections.
Dealing Begins
Each round uses a standard 52-card deck and 1 joker. The role of the latter is determined by the rules of the online gaming platform. The joker can act as a substitute for an ace, complete a missing part of a straight, flush, or another combination.
At the beginning of the game, participants place bets. After the initial betting is completed, 7 piles of cards, each containing 7 cards, are placed on the table. The remaining cards are set aside. The piles are sequentially handed over to the players. In an online casino, this process occurs automatically; in a live game with friends, the order is determined by the roll of the dice.
If the game is in Live mode, the dealer acts as the banker. Tie results at the table are interpreted in favor of the dealer.
When players receive their cards, they can look at them and think about how to form combinations.
Mid-Game
The seven cards received by the player need to be divided into two hands – upper and lower. The combination in the upper hand must be weaker than in the lower hand; otherwise, the player will automatically lose. The upper hand consists of five cards and forms traditional poker combinations.
| Combination | Compound |
|---|---|
| Pair | Two identical cards |
| Two pairs | A couple of equal dignity and one of another |
| Seth | Three cards of the same value |
| Straight | Sequence by precedence |
| Flash | Five suited cards |
| Full house | Couple and set |
| Kare | Four cards of equal strength |
| Straight flush | Sequence in ascending order of one suit |
| Royal flush | High straight flush from ten to ace |
The other two cards are sent to the lower hand, and here, there can only be one combination – a pair. If there is no pair, the strength of the combination is evaluated based on the kicker's rank. The kicker is a regular card with the highest denomination in the hand.
Results
Once players have formed their combinations, a comparison takes place. The main objective in Pai Gow Poker is to have two stronger combinations than the banker. It is essential to beat both of the dealer's hands; otherwise, the player will be deemed defeated.
In some online casinos, a tie in combination comparison does not result in a loss of chips and is not considered a victory for the banker. In this case, bets are either carried over to the next round or returned.
Strategically, Pai Gow Poker is much simpler than Hold'em since there are no bids and most familiar actions like call, raise, and check. The entire complexity lies in properly forming hands. Cards need to be distributed in such a way as to obtain the most advantageous combinations in each set.
