Pai Gow Poker, or “Asian Poker,” like other new casino table games, uses poker hands for its basic structure. The player should know poker hand rankings before attempting to play the game. This is an exciting game that is played with an ordinary deck of 52 cards plus one joker. The joker is the major exception to the traditional forms of poker in that the joker is used as an Ace or to complete any straight or any flush.
OBJECT OF THE GAME
The object of the game is to win your bet by having both your High Hand and your Second Highest Hand rank higher than the respective hands of the Dealer. Knowledge of traditional poker is helpful because poker ranking procedures are used in determining which hand is higher.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Once the cards have been shuffled, and the Dealer has announced “no more bets” the Dealer will shake the dice cup, which is used to determine who will receive the first hand, or the random number generator will determine who will receive the first hand. The dice are totaled, and the dealer counts counter-clockwise from the “chung” (or marker), which indicates where the deal begins. The Dealer is always counted as position #1, 8 or 15.
Each player is dealt seven cards which he will then arrange into two hands. One hand will contain five (5) cards and is known as the High Hand and the other hand will contain two (2) cards and is the Second Highest Hand. Once the two hands are formed, they are placed face down in the positions indicated on the layout and at this time, the player may not touch the cards again. The player’s seven cards must remain over the table and in full view of the dealer at all times.
The only requirement in forming the two hands is that the Highest Hand must contain only five cards and must be equal to or higher in rank than the hand containing two cards.
After all players have arranged their hands, the dealer will turn over and set the House’s hand.
When your hand is compared to the House hand and both the Second Highest Hand and the High Hand rank higher than the House hand then you win! If both hands rank lower, you lose your wager. In order for money to exchange hands, the second Highest Hand and the High Hand must either both win, or both lose. If one hand wins and the other loses, then the wager is a “push” and no money exchanges hands.
RULES TO REMEMBER
Players are not permitted to expose or discuss their hands with other players.
An incorrectly set hand is “foul” and loses. Foul hands are: A) two-card hand that is higher than the five-card hand, and B) the wrong number of cards in each hand.
“Copy Hand” means either a two-card or a five-card hand of a player, is identical in rank to the corresponding two-card hand or five-card hand of the banker. The banker wins all copy hands.
COMMISSION: The House will handle all bets and will charge a 5% commission on all winning wagers. A winning wager pays even money. No partnership may exceed the table maximum.
There is no commission for “pushed” or losing wagers.
If you require assistance, the dealer or floor person will be happy to assist in setting the highest possible potential ranking hand according to Seneca Niagara’s House Ways. Although we can help you set your hands, we cannot be responsible for any losses that may be incurred.
The order of hands from highest to the lowest is as follows:
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- 5 Aces (including Joker)
- Royal Flush
- Straight Flush (A,2,3,4,5 is the highest straight flush, K,Q,J,10,9 is the second highest straight flush)
- Four of a Kind
- Full House
- Flush
- Straight (A,K,Q,J,10 is the highest straight, A,2,3,4,5 is the second highest straight)
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- One pair
- High Card