Pai Gow Poker has changed drastically over the last decade. The game started in California card clubs in the 1980s. It later spread to casinos in other states. It is one of the most popular non-blackjack games in Las Vegas.
How Pai Gow Poker Is Played
The original Pai Gow Poker game was based on Pai Gow Tiles. That game uses tiles that resemble dominoes. California card clubs can only deal cards, so they improvised.
The players and banker each receive seven cards from a 53-card deck. The extra card is a joker. However, it is not a typical wild card. The joker may only be used to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush. It becomes an ace if it has no other use.
Each player and the banker receive seven cards. In the traditional game, players set their hands first. Each goes up against the banker. What other players have is irrelevant.
Two hands are created out of the seven cards: a five-card high hand and a two-card low hand. The five-card hand must beat the two-card hand. If it does not, it is a fouled hand and declared a loser. However, some casinos permit players one second chance.
Once all players have set their hands, the banker sets theirs. If a casino is banking the game, a predetermined house way must be used for setting the banker hand. If a player is banking, that person may do anything they wish. The house is one of the players in this scenario.
Once all hands are set, the banker hand is exposed. It is then compared to each player’s hand. The five-card highs and two-card lows are compared separately. If the banker wins both hands, the player loses. If the player wins both hands, the player wins, minus a 5% commission. If one hand wins and the other loses, it is a push.
The banker wins all tied hands with the player, like when both the player and banker have an ace and a king in the two-card hand. This is called a copy.
Player Banking
Traditional Pai Gow Poker allows players to bank the game. It and Pai Gow Tiles are the only examples of this in a casino. A banker button moves around the table. If the player wants to bank, they act as the house for the hand. The casino dealer becomes a player. A player-banker must pay the house 5% of net wins from a hand. Winning players pay 5% to the house. A player-banker enjoys the same copy rule that wins ties as the house when it banks.
How Pai Gow Poker Variants Change the Game
Two major Pai Gow Poker variants hit the market over the past decade. Both removed the 5% commission and changed the format to the banker setting their hand first, as opposed to the player opening. Players may not bank either game.
One version is called Face Up Pai Gow. In that game, the house pushes on ace high pai gow, regardless of what the player has. Dealer Open is the other new variant. It has two versions. The most common one has the dealer scoop all player bets when dealt two or more jacks. The less common version of Dealer Open Pai Gow plays just like Face Up Pai Gow, as the dealer pushes on ace high.
Which version is for you?
If you want to bank, the traditional game is the only option for you. Banking every other hand gets the house edge down to around 1.4% when averaging the player and banker hands together. Players who never bank give up about a 2.7% house advantage every hand.
Players who prefer the lowest house edge and do not want to bank will want to try Face Up Pai Gow Poker. The house edge is 1.81%. Dealer Open Pai Gow with an ace-high push has the same hold. When Dealer Open Pai Gow Poker wins on two or more jacks, it has a 1.82% house edge, which is nearly identical to the other face-up game.
Players who prefer not to think about setting hands should choose Face Up Pai Gow Poker or Dealer Open Pai Gow Poker. That is because the traditional game requires players to set their hands first, which requires strategy, while face-up games already show players the hand to beat. That makes decisions easy.
Pai Gow Poker can be a slow game. Some players like that. When combined with all the push hands, the pace can make the game more social. Some players see it as being a good way to get free drinks.
Players looking for the slowest game should play the traditional version with the 5% commission. The face-up Pai Gow Poker games are faster as there are fewer player decisions. When a house hand like an ace-high pai gow or a pair of jacks appears in these games, players do not need to take time setting their hands, because they already pushed or lost. The dealer only checks for bonus hands.
All Versions Have Side Bets
If you prefer side bets, you are in luck. All Pai Gow Poker games have one. Many, especially in major casinos, have progressive meters. This pays when the player makes a seven-card straight flush. The joker may be used in the jackpot hand. Progressive side bets are $1, $2, or $5, depending on the casino. Other side bets must meet the table minimum.
Play Pai Gow Poker Responsibly
Pai Gow Poker may seem like a good way to get free drinks. Pushes occur about 40% of the time. The game’s pace is among the slowest in the casino. However, it is still a house game. Side bets usually have a high house edge. Only play with what you can afford to lose, and do not take too much advantage of the free alcohol, as that can make you abandon your bankroll strategy.
