Learn how to play Pai-Gow poker

Pai Gow Poker
For many people, the fast-paced games of the casino are a little intimidating, which is
why Pai Gow Poker is so popular. This game is slower paced but in addition, it offers
another advantage of players being able to spend ample time playing without going
broke. The key with Pai Gow Poker or any poker game for that matter is first to learn
the basics, practice building those skills, and then enjoy moving up in the game so you
can make money.

For starters, Pai Gow uses a standard 52-card deck in addition to on Joker. This Joker
can be used only for two situations in the game, which is as an Ace or to help complete
a Straight or Flush. As the player, you would place your bet in the circle located in
front of you. Then, the dealer would roll the dice, which helps determine the player
that is dealt cards first. Once that determination is made, each player is dealt seven
cards to make two individual poker hands.

Five of the cards dealt are then placed in the �highest cards� section of the table while
the other two cards go in the �low cards� section. Keep in mind that the five-card
hand has to be the highest scoring hand. Therefore, if you were to place your highest
scoring cards in the �low cards� section, you would automatically lose. However, to
win in Pai Gow, the highest and second highest hands have to beat the dealer�s
highest and second highest hands. Even so, if the player or dealer wins just one hand,
you see a push, meaning the bet is not won or lost.

While there are some exciting factors associated with Pai Gow Poker, one of the most
fascinating elements is that if you like, you can ask to be the banker of the game. In
this case, all the players at the table would compare hands with the banker instead of
with the dealer. Your job also means you would win all ties. However, as the banker,
you pay the winners from their own pocket, as well as collect the losing bets. Even
being the banker does not stop the casino from collecting a 5% commission on every
hand that wins.

To help you get started playing Pai Gow Poker, let us say you were dealt a hand
consisting of an Ace, King, Queen, and Joker of Hearts, along with a 9 and 10 of Clubs
and the Queen of Diamonds. In this case, your highest hand would be the
Ace/Queen/Joker of Hearts with the 9 of Clubs and the Queen of Diamonds. With this,
you would have a pair of Queens. The second highest hand would be the King or
Hearts with the 10 of Clubs, being the high cards dealt. If you were to get these
hands, you could easily beat the dealer�s highest hand while the second highest could
end in a push.

Similar to other types of poker, Pai Gow has specific hand rankings, which are shown
below: * Five Aces � Ace/Ace/Ace/Ace/Joker * Royal Flush �
10/Jack/Queen/King/Ace (same suit) * Straight Flush � Any five cards of the same
suit ranked in order such as 6/7/8/9/10 of Diamonds * Four of a Kind � Any four
cards of the same rank such as 9/9/9/9 (highest ranked cards win if the dealer and
player both end up with a Four of a Kind) * Full House � Three cards of a kind along
with one pair such as a King/King/King/2/2 (any tie would be broken by the highest
ranking three of a kind) * Flush � Any five cards of the same suit no matter the
ranking such as 7/8/9/10/Jack of Hearts * Straight � Any five cards of different suits
ranked in order such as 4/5/6/7/8, varying suits * Three of a Kind � Three cards of
the same ranking such as 8/8/8 * Two Pair � Two sets of pairs such as Jack/Jack and
6/6 * One Pair � Two cards of the same ranking such as 2/2 * High Card � When a
player does not have one pair minimum, the highest ranking card would win What
most people do not know is that Pai Gow Poker was actually created off the Chinese
game of dominoes. Up to seven people can play at once facing one dealer. If you were
to play Pai Gow in a formal setting such as a tournament, you would see an elaborate
method of dealing used. In this case, seven hands each of seven cards are dealt one
card at a time. The remaining four cards are automatically discarded without being
seen. Then, the dealer throws three dice, counting the players at the table going
counterclockwise, which includes him or herself to determine who is dealt the first
hand.

In the game of Pai Gow Poker, the dealer has an obvious advantage since they get the
tying hands. Therefore, for this particular game to be fair to all players, everyone
needs to be dealt an even number of times during the game. Although you will find Pai
Gow played in a number of casinos across the country, it is especially popular in
California and Las Vegas.